The gig economy is moving to Florida, just like everyone else
Florida has long been a hub for those settling into retirement, and it's also becoming a destination for freelancers and other independent workers. An analysis of large US metros showed two Florida locations had the fastest growth in independent workers. Americans could be attracted to freelance or independent work in the stagnant labor market. [Source: Business Insider]
Business Beat - Week of December 5th
Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video newsbrief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.
New Florida laws take effect January 1, 2026
After the champagne is popped symbolizing the start of 2026, a few new laws will take effect in Florida. From requiring pet insurance companies to clearly explain to people applying for or holding pet insurance how they decide on claim payments to having diagnostic or additional breast exams fully covered for employees on state health insurance plans, here are the new laws to know. [Source: WTVT]
Questions and answers for Florida business owners as their employees lose TPS
Florida businesses can no longer legally employ workers whose TPS and work authorizations have expired. Employers are responsible for reverifying the work status of their staff and may face penalties for hiring undocumented workers. The end of TPS for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans and Haitians is expected to cause labor shortages and impact Florida's economy. [Source: Palm Beach Post]
NASA's closure plans for Goddard could be felt in Florida. Here's how
Could ongoing plans to downsize at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland be felt in Florida? It's possible, at least, according to a workers' union that is among those sounding the alarm about changes taking place at Goddard's main campus in Greenbelt, Maryland. The Kennedy Space Center, located in Florida's Space Coast along the Atlantic, is among several organizations that collaborate with Goddard. [Source: Palm Beach Post]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Wealthy New Yorkers show renewed interest in Miami’s Billionaire’s Beach
The marketing agent for the Ritz-Carlton Residences, an upcoming project of 30 “beach house” condos ranging from single-bedroom apartments below $10m to its stunning $125m penthouse, has logged a 166% spike in interest from prospective buyers in New York from this time last year. It is a pattern high-end realtors say is being reflected in other upscale developments across the city.
› Fifth Third opens its 200th Florida branch as growth shifts south
Fifth Third has opened its 200th financial center in Florida, a milestone that signals how far the bank’s Southeast strategy has come and how much further it plans to go. The new Champions Crossing location in Davenport is part of a wider push that also includes the bank’s 100th branch in the Carolinas. Fifth Third now operates more than 1,100 banking centers across the country and expects that number to climb after its planned acquisition of Comerica closes in early 2026.
› Tourist tax revenue surges again in Orange County
The tourism industry, as measured by tourist tax collections, continues its boom in Orange County. On the heels of a record-setting 2024-25, the Tourist Development Tax (TDT) raked in $33.9 million in October, the start of the new fiscal year, according to numbers released Thursday by Orange County Comptroller Phil Diamond, whose office tracks the receipts. Diamond said the surge out of the gate was surprising.
› Jax Hub drives fintech innovation, global partnerships
Jacksonville is emerging as a key player in the global fintech landscape with the launch of Jax Hub, a new corporate innovation initiative led by L Marks, a UK-based firm specializing in accelerating innovation for large organizations. Daniel Saunders, CEO of L Marks, shared in a recent interview that Jax Hub aims to bring cutting-edge financial technology solutions from around the world to Northeast Florida.
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› St. Petersburg’s tallest tower, 400 Central, is move-in ready. See inside.
After more than four years of construction, St. Petersburg’s tallest tower will soon welcome its first tenants. Developer Red Apple Group secured the certificate of occupancy for the first 25 floors of the Residences at 400 Central this week. Buyers will start moving in by the end of the year. The 46-story tower rises 515 feet, making it the tallest on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
› Flex lands $60M Series B to become the private bank for America’s overlooked wealth creators
Flex, the Miami-born startup positioning itself as an AI-native private bank for high-net-worth business owners, announced this week that has raised a fresh $60 million in Series B equity. The round, which was led by Portage and included Florida Funders, brings total equity raised to $105 million. The funding lands after a year in which Flex quadrupled revenue and pushed its annualized payments volume from $1 billion to $3 billion.
› Final littoral combat ship — USS Cleveland — destined for Mayport
The last littoral combat ship of its kind will be heading to Mayport Naval Station after the U.S. Navy accepted delivery from the manufacturer in Wisconsin. When the USS Cleveland arrives in a year, it will become the ninth of its class based at LCS Squadron 2, the nation’s East Coast littoral base.
› Futuristic design for new City Hall a winner for Fort Lauderdale
The new Fort Lauderdale City Hall would be a sexy landmark, curvy and futuristic — nothing like the boxy old gray bunker taken out by the flood of April 2023. On Tuesday night, commissioners ranked four development teams vying to build the new City Hall. One activist referred to the competition as a beauty contest. In the end, the team with the most head-turning design snared the top ranking.