Citrus budget OK’d as industry seeks rebound
The Florida Citrus Commission on Wednesday moved forward with a $23.4 million budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, as the industry comes out of a year with historically low production. The commission, which oversees the Florida Department of Citrus, had expected to receive an initial forecast this month from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the 2025-2026 growing season, but the forecast was not released because of the federal-government shutdown. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Opinion: What every Florida CEO is wondering -- What will the next five years hold for Florida’s economy
In 2019, the Florida Chamber Foundation set out on a bold mission: unite Florida leaders around a roadmap that would position Florida among the world's top 10 economies. After gathering input from over 10,000 Floridians, we launched the Florida 2030 Blueprint, a comprehensive strategic plan to grow and sustain Florida, measuring everything from improving early childhood education outcomes to enhancing Florida’s transportation and international trade infrastructure. Now, as we reach the halfway point in the Florida 2030 Blueprint, it's time to assess our progress and recalibrate [Source: Florida Trend]
Florida Trend Exclusive
Seeds in space
Four types of seeds bred at the University of Florida were sent to the International Space Station via the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to see how they grow. This could hold clues to crop growth on Earth as drought and extreme heat become more common. “This could be a way of generating more crops that are resilient to those kinds of stressors,” says Wagner Vendrame, a professor in the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Science environmental horticulture department and part of UF’s Astraeus Space Institute. [Source: Florida Trend]
Progressive to return nearly $1 billion to Florida auto insurance customers
Progressive, one of the nation’s top auto insurance companies, plans to return nearly $1 billion to Florida policyholders, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday. Policyholders will receive an average of $300, DeSantis said. “It might be a check,” he said, “It might be a credit on your bill.” A Progressive spokesman said later Wednesday that policyholders will receive “a credit” in 2026. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Federal changes to SNAP will make Florida and other states pay for mistakes
As early as 2027, states will have to cover a chunk of the food benefits that more than 2.8 million Floridians rely on. The change is part of H.R. 1, or the Big, Beautiful Bill Act, approved by federal lawmakers earlier this year. This structural change marks the first time states will be forced to contribute to the cost of benefits themselves. As outlined in H.R. 1, the amount owed to the federal government will be decided by the state's error rate. [Source: WFSU]
See also:
» Florida SNAP recipients may face November benefit delays
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› VISIT FLORIDA London trip puts spotlight on the Sunshine State
VISIT FLORIDA recently hosted a two-day travel trade show in London to help draw up tourism to the Sunshine State. More than 150 people attended the Florida Huddle event last month, which featured 20 destination partners and helped British and Irish tourist agents learn more about Florida’s offerings. Florida Huddle is Florida’s official travel trade show.
› Babcock Ranch debuts largest commercial center yet
Shopping, dining, business and health care options at Babcock Ranch just expanded with the opening of the town’s largest commercial development to date — The Shoppes at Yellow Pine. Developed by Kitson & Partners, The Shoppes at Yellow Pine spans 120,000 square feet and marks another milestone for the solar-powered community that straddles Charlotte and Lee counties.
› Orlando Air Show canceled amid ongoing government shutdown
The Orlando Air Show scheduled for this weekend has been grounded due to the government shutdown. The Air Dot Show Tour, which was set to soar above the Orlando Sanford International Airport Oct. 25-26, had military performers forced to drop out amid the shutdown, which is now entering its fourth week. The show’s headliners, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, are unable to perform right now, affecting the Orlando Air Show and others across the country.
› New Fort Lauderdale City Hall to open by 2028, mayor says. Next up: Choosing a builder
Three years from now, Fort Lauderdale should have a new City Hall to replace the one it lost when floodwaters destroyed the building in April 2023. It’s too early to say what the building will look like, how tall it will be or how much it will cost. But this much is sure: The new building will be nothing like the old building.
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› Miami public company raises $500 million
Miami-based Summit Therapeutic raised $500 million in a private placement, with more than half coming from members of its C-suite. The biopharmaceutical company is focused on developing and commercializing new therapies to treat unmet medical needs, with a focus on oncology. Its leading drug candidate is ivonescimab, a biospecific antibody for lung cancer that is undergoing clinical trials.
› Fort Myers reviews marketing plan for culinary district
Fort Myers City Council members are reviewing a marketing plan designed to help the city’s new culinary district gain momentum and attract more visitors downtown. Chris Spiro, CEO of Spiro & Associates, presented the 17-page draft to council members during a recent workshop. “We think downtown Fort Myers is the perfect place to have this happen,” Spiro told Council.
› A major Fort Lauderdale hotel faces an opening delay. What to expect next
A new 801-room hotel at the Broward County Convention Center will not open next month as originally planned, project officials confirmed this week. The Omni hotel, at 1950 Eisenhower Blvd., was originally expected to open its doors to travelers this fall, but unspecified delays have put the long-awaited opening on hold.
› Sarasota biotech company regains NYSE compliance
A Sarasota biotech company has regained compliance with the New York Stock Exchange’s American listing standards. Oragenics Inc. (NYSE American: OGEN) is now positioned to focus exclusively on advancing its lead clinical program. The clinical-stage biotech company, which is working on an intranasal treatment for concussion and mild traumatic brain injury, was alerted in April 2024 that it fell out of compliance with NYSE standards.