Business advocates give thumbs up to Florida eliminating business rent tax
The move by the Legislature to eliminate the state business rent tax is drawing high praise from business advocacy groups. The legislation ends taxes that businesses pay on a rental space or building. It’s a move that the National Federation of Independent Business, along with small-business owners in Florida, have been arguing to get done for about a decade. Some local governments say it will hurt municipalities because of lost tax revenue. More from Florida Politics.
Jabil to invest $500 million in new AI infrastructure
Jabil, an electronics manufacturing company based in St. Petersburg, announced Tuesday that it will invest $500 million over the next several years to expand its cloud and artificial intelligence data center infrastructure. The company plans to build the new facility in the Southeast United States and is in the final stages of site selection. The move would allow Jabil to further support its customers as use of AI and cloud-based programs become more mainstream across America. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Jacksonville tourism leaders roll out ambitious plan
Downs & St. Germain recently presented six key investment strategies for the Duval Tourism Development Council and Visit Jax to further extend tourism in Jacksonville and Duval County. The Tallahassee-based market research firm shaped these suggestions from an extensive, 18-month marketplace study of the region’s tourism. More from the Jacksonville Business Journal.
St. Pete insurance startup picks up 12K Citizens policies
St. Petersburg-based Patriot Select Property and Casualty Insurance Co., which started selling policies earlier this month, has picked up nearly 12,000 homeowners “multi-peril” insurance policies from Citizens Property Insurance Corp. The policies are spread statewide, with the exception of Monroe County in the Florida Keys, according to a statement. More from the Business Observer.
Miami hotels hit rough patch but avoid cutting rates
Despite the hotel industry anticipating a slowdown, Miami is expected to overcome headwinds. A lot of uncertainty revolves around the outlook for the summer, said David Whitaker, president & CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The good news is, if we’re going to face a period of uncertainty, isn’t it encouraging to come off and have some momentum, some wind at our back.” More from Miami Today.
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Tecch Trends
Meet the dental AI startup looking to revolutionize Florida's dentistry sector
Artificial intelligence is changing the way Florida trains its next generation of dentists. Overjet, a Boston-based dental AI startup with a former University of Florida dean among its C-suite, is bringing its technology to clinics and classrooms across the state. What was first incubated in Harvard’s innovation lab in 2018 is today a private startup building what Chief Dental Officer Dr. Teresa Dolan called the “standard of care for dentistry.”
» More from First Coast Inno.
Out of the Box
Companies vie for 'coolest thing made in Florida'
The inaugural Coolest Thing Made in Florida competition is a statewide celebration recognizing innovation and manufacturing excellence across the Sunshine State. Hosted by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the competition kicks off its popular voting round from June 17 through July 1, 2025. Supporters from across Florida can vote once per product each day at CoolestThingMadeInFlorida.com.
» Read more from WGCU.