No tax on tips: What it means for diners, Florida restaurant workers
In hospitality-rich South Florida, the new federal law making tips and overtime tax-free won’t touch the wallets of tipped restaurant workers until next tax season, but it’s already having a snowball effect on the diners they serve. That’s because misinformation, confusion and even online ire has polarized workers and customers. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida Trend wins 7 Editorial Excellence awards from Alliance of Area Business Publishers
The Alliance of Area Business Publishers (AABP) presented its annual Editorial Excellence awards to newspaper and magazine business periodicals at the closing celebration of its three-day annual Summer Conference on Friday, June 20, 2025, in Ottawa, Canada. AABP conducts an Editorial and Design Excellence Competition annually. The competition is coordinated and judged by faculty in the University of Missouri School of Journalism. [Source: Florida Trend]
Buyers wield more power in housing market, especially in Sun Belt, with contract cancellations on the rise
Florida and Texas, often the leaders in home sales during the last five years, are now leading in rates of cancellation. Several local factors are at play, from the influx of newly built homes increasing available inventory to soaring insurance premiums, especially in disaster-prone regions. These are a drag on the housing market generally and are playing into cancellations as some potential buyers are abandoning deals after receiving quotes. [Source: Fortune]
South Florida layoffs more than double in 1st half of 2025, driven by these industries
Layoff notices filed with Florida's Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act in the first six months of the year show over 3,800 employees affected across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. That’s up over 120% from 1,700 during the same period in the previous year. A large part of that increase came from the renovations of multiple hotels in the region, which collectively impacted 1,190 workers, accounting for over 31% of South Florida layoffs so far this year. [Source: South Florida Business Journal]
Billions in federal 2024 storm aid still flowing to Florida as FEMA's future debated
FEMA is still paying on Florida claims for the damage wrought by 2024's trio of storms, hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton, amid debate about whether the federal agency should continue to exist. FEMA has been called in for major disasters 21 times over the last 14 years. And as of July 14 — 278 days since Milton’s last winds died down — FEMA reported sending $1.6 billion to individual assistance to Floridians, $1 billion in aid to the state and local governments and $7.1 billion in flood insurance settlements for nearly 75,000 Florida property damage claims. [Source: Palm Beach Post]
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ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Miami construction boom spurs employment high
A Miami-Dade construction boom is propelling employment gains in a rapid growth not seen across the rest of Florida or the nation as contractors struggle to find qualified workers. The construction cranes on Miami’s skyline paint vivid pictures of the county’s 8.2% annual gain in construction jobs that has set construction employment records for five consecutive months as the industry now employs 63,400 workers in Miami-Dade, the most ever.
› ‘Egg water’ outrage in Apalachicola sparks tourism drop, state response
The city of Apalachicola is assembling a package of water and sewer department audits for Attorney General James Uthmeier to review. Uthmeier's office enforces consumer protection laws. He wants to know how and why after residents paid for clean potable water, the city's water department delivers water with such an extreme sulfurous odor that residents deride it as “egg water,” and say it is unfit for cooking or bathing.
› Brevard County moves forward on budget with increased firefighter pay
Brevard County commissioners on July 22 moved forward with a budget that includes major increases to firefighter pay, with proposed cuts in other area. The $2.48 billion budget proposed by interim Brevard County Manager Jim Liesenfelt for the 2025-26 fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 includes $13 million in cuts to previously planned road, bridge and parks projects from the budget, as well as planned upgrades to some county-owned buildings.
› In Florida’s eviction capital, major landlord under the spotlight
For the second time within a year, one of the largest and most politically connected property management companies in Jacksonville has settled allegations that it violated the rights of its tenants. The Department of Justice announced in June that it struck an agreement with JWB Rental Homes for the firm to compensate six military tenants after, according to federal officials, illegally charging them to end their leases early.
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› Magnificent Queen Anne Victorian on Orlando’s Honeymoon Row hits the market
Once upon a time, five historic homes made up Honeymoon Row on Lake Cherokee. Most are gone but one of the remaining homes is listed for sale at $3.75 million, according to a report in GrowthSpotter. The 6,261-square-foot house has most of the original 19th-century millwork, pocket doors, floors, clawfoot tubs, and more.
› Tampa Bay man-made islands serve as a refuge for shorebirds
Thousands of shorebirds gather off dredge disposal islands – islands around the Tampa Bay area created when material is dredged to make water deeper for ships. Christopher Cooley, Director of Environmental Affairs for Port Tampa Bay said the port has partnered with wildlife agencies and the Florida Audubon to create a balance between industry and wildlife.
› What’s happening with Miami’s Olympia Theater? Sale could get approval this week
A for-profit charter school network and the family of a Miami philanthropist are at the center of a controversial proposal to give away a historic but deteriorating downtown theater. City officials say the proposed deal, in which Miami would give the 1920s-era Olympia Theater to a public charter school, is an opportunity to restore the dilapidated property to its former glory.
› Comerica looking for Northeast Florida opportunities
Comerica Bank is expanding its Jacksonville and Northeast Florida operations, but don’t look for any Comerica ATMs or drive-thrus. Christopher Clark, senior vice president of Comerica’s North Florida market, called his company a boutique bank. It primarily serves middle market commercial customers with revenue between $20 million and $2 billion.