Tropical Storm Andrea, hurricane season’s first named storm, forms in Atlantic
The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season got its first named storm of the year, even though the National Hurricane Center says it will be short-lived. In most years, the Atlantic hurricane season has generated at least one storm by this time, more than three weeks into hurricane season. It’s the latest since 2014 that tropical activity hasn’t bred a tracked system. That year, the first tropical depression didn’t form until June 30. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Miami-based Waltz raises $25M line of credit to fuel its real estate push into Latin America
When international buyers look to invest in U.S. real estate, they’re often met with a maze of paperwork, slow-moving banks, and outdated processes. That friction is what led Yuval Golan to start Waltz, a platform built to cut through the complexity and make cross-border property investment easier. Now, the Miami-based startup has raised a total of $50 million in equity and debt to ramp up its presence across Latin America. More from the Refresh Miami.
Manatee County commissioners deny development of hundreds of homes in Parrish
Manatee County commissioners unanimously rejected a proposal by SimplyDwell Homes, a Neal Communities subsidiary, to build 440 homes in a flood-prone area of Parrish. Concerns included wetland impacts, insufficient drainage plans, potential gopher tortoise burrows, and increased traffic beyond Rutland Road's capacity. Residents and commissioners cited existing flooding issues and questioned the developer's assurances that the project wouldn't worsen them. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Allstates WorldCargo acquires Seattle firm to expand Pacific Northwest presence
Allstates WorldCargo has acquired a Seattle-based company to strengthen its shipping footprint in the Pacific Northwest. Allstates WorldCargo, an Orlando-based logistics and freight company, acquired Seattle-based Red Arrow Logistics, which was founded in 2003 and specializes in time-sensitive and high-value shipments. More from the Orlando Business Journal.
New cranes being assembled at JaxPort, allowing for service of wider ships
New container cranes that will allow the Jacksonville Port Authority to serve wider vessels are being assembled at the port’s Blount Island Marine Terminal. JaxPort announced in a June 23 release that the two 50-gauge ship-to-shore cranes arrived in large components and are being put together at the terminal. The equipment is expected to be operational by the end of 2025. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Out of the Box
Florida has a snorkel-friendly 'reef trail' with an underwater museum that helps restore coral
Florida’s newest must-see attraction is, quite fittingly, under the sea. Art and marine conservation have converged off the coast of Hollywood Beach, where the state’s newest snorkel-accessible artificial reef trail, Guardians of the Reef, has recently been deployed. Developed by Ocean Rescue Alliance International (ORAI), a nonprofit focused on conserving and restoring marine environments via innovative artificial structures, the trail is part coral nursery, part art installation—and fully open to the public.
» More from Travel + Leisure.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Historic hotel
The commercial real estate development firm Gateway Jax is planning to restore a historic hotel as part of its Pearl Square project, a multiuse development in Jacksonville’s urban core. The Ambassador Hotel, located at 420 North Julia Street, originally opened in 1924 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the early 1980s. However, the hotel has been vacant since 1998, when it was condemned due to disrepair.
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