Corporate income tax collections dip
General tax revenue in Florida for September came in just below expectations of state economists due to “lower-than-expected corporate income tax collections.” The Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research in a report Monday said Florida collected about $4.117 billion in net general revenue in September, $27.5 million less than the economists’ forecast. The report noted that corporate income taxes for September totaled $813 million, coming in about $156.4 million below the forecast. More from the News Service of Florida.
Palm Beach County launches NYC billboard campaign after mayoral election
The billboards, sponsored by the county’s Business Development Board (BDB), feature the slogan “Dear NYC, it’s not you. It’s me” and promote Palm Beach County as “Wall Street South.” The campaign, launched Nov. 7, will also see materials promoting relocation sent out to targeted executives, including offers of private site tours for prospective movers. More from the South Florida Business Journal.
Santa Rosa looks for state help to take flight as an aviation hub
With increased interest from aviation-related businesses that are considering locating company operations at Santa Rosa County's Whiting Field Aviation Park, the Board of County Commissioners will ask state lawmakers to provide funding for expansion of a taxiway under construction. The extension would not only improve access for potential tenants, the staff summary said, but also increase the overall value of the site by making it more versatile and attractive for aviation operations. More from the Pensacola News Journal.
$3B global wellness company opens American HQ in Manatee County
A $3 billion global wellness company specializing in nutritional supplements has opened a new American headquarters in Manatee County. PM-International says its location, in an industrial area near south Bradenton, will also create about 100 jobs — with the potential for about 1,000 employees by the time it is done with its expansion plans. More from the Business Observer.
City of Jacksonville begins issuing funds through its Veteran Grant Program
Two years after the city created its Veteran Grant Program, the first payments under it are starting to reach recipients. The program is part of a $10.16 million appropriations bill approved by the Jacksonville City Council during Mayor Donna Deegan’s first months in office. Council member Will Lahnen proposed devoting $50,000 to the program, aimed at helping service members leaving the military to start small businesses in Jacksonville. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Bright Futures, brighter path
Aidan Coffey knew from a young age that a future in volunteerism would require a heavy commitment throughout his youth — time that would challenge him to find the resources to pay for college. Paying tuition could have been a worry, with his parents back home in Fort Lauderdale working with his twin brother, Parker, who has autism. Yet, thanks to the Bright Futures Scholarship, Coffey was able to focus on his studies and volunteer thousands of hours during his four years at the University of Florida without incurring college debt. [Sponsored report]
Profile
No slowing down for Gerard Schwarz, South Florida’s busiest conductor
When Gerard Schwarz was a teenage trumpet student, he dreamed of being a member of the New York Philharmonic. At age 25, his dream came true as he became assistant principal trumpet of that storied ensemble, the youngest member in the orchestra’s history. Since 2019, the center of Schwarz’s podium activity has been South Florida. Schwarz, 78, is distinguished professor of conducting and orchestral studies at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, music director of the college’s Frost Symphony Orchestra and music director of the Palm Beach Symphony.
» More from South Florida Classical Review.
Tech Trends
Tampa startup uses AI to protect drinking water before problems arise
SkyTL, a Tampa-based technology company, has launched a joint pilot program with global infrastructure leader ACCIONA to predict water quality changes before they reach utility intake points. The project, developed with the support of Tampa Bay Water, combines satellite imagery, fixed cameras, drones and machine learning to alert operators to salinity, turbidity and red tide events up to two hours in advance.
» Read more from Tampa Bay Business & Wealth.