Wooing New York City: Florida recruiters head north to lure businesses south
It’s the December holiday season and time for many travel-minded celebrants to head for New York City to take in a Broadway show, shop along Fifth Avenue or skate the Rockefeller Center ice rink. Early this week, leaders of Florida economic development agencies are scheduled to touch down in Manhattan for a shopping trip of their own — but the priority won’t be to browse through Bergdorf Goodman or Saks Fifth Avenue. Their holiday lists include unnamed New York-based companies that might be interested in relocating operations. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Forced to end minority business program, Orlando seeks to favor small and local companies
Forced by the Trump administration to cancel its program offering a leg up to companies owned by women and minorities, Orlando officials are seeking to boost small and local businesses instead. The city council is planning to vote Monday to create a program that would provide preference to companies based on their size and location when they bid on lucrative city contracts for work like construction, purchasing of goods and professional services. The program won’t launch right away, as commissioners will also need to approve the policies governing the program. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
A new Wharf, with hotel and clubs, will soon rise along the Miami River
After over 10 years of discussions and two Miami city referendums, a $350 million development that backers promise will transform the downtown riverfront will finally break ground in December. Riverside Wharf Miami will span 1.35 acres, stretching from the Interstate 95 overpass to Northwest First Street. The property’s southern end covers the former site of The Wharf Miami, a popular outdoor gathering spot. More from the Miami Herald.
Serious playtime: New Jacksonville parks aimed at bringing residents Downtown
The city of Jacksonville has begun opening a planned string of riverside public parks Downtown, with the intention to not only provide activities for families but spur revitalization of the city’s core. The parks are a key part of the Downtown Investment Authority’s strategy to improve the quality of life Downtown and create more activity in the center of Jacksonville. If the approach works, it will spur an influx of new residents Downtown, which in turn would attract new restaurants, retail establishments, mixed-use developers and companies. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Tampa seeks proposals for downtown police headquarters
The boxy blue building is up for sale. Tampa will seek proposals for its downtown police headquarters at 411 N. Franklin St., nicknamed “Big Blue” for the dark tinge of its windows, according to a request for proposals obtained by the Tampa Bay Times. The starting bid for the site, which includes the 10-story police building and an adjacent parking garage, is $36 million. The sale is the first step toward relocating the police department. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
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Arts Business
Art Week holdovers: Here are some exhibits you can still catch in Miami
Deep inhale, now exhale. Miami Art Week — the chaos, the traffic, the endless event RSVPs — is over. International fairs like Art Basel Miami Beach, NADA and Untitled are packing up and heading out now that Art Week has come to a close, but that doesn’t mean Miami locals and visitors are left without any cool new art to explore. Several art exhibitions, installations and shows that opened for Art Week are still on view.
» More from the Miami Herald.
Florida Trend Exclusive
‘We promote resilience’
Florida’s largest university, the University of Central Florida, is graduating more nursing students than ever. And beginning this semester, it’s teaching them in a new building with a new dean in charge. Following the retirement of the previous dean, UCF has named Sharon Tucker as the dean of its College of Nursing. She takes over as the university’s nursing program moves into the state-of-the-art Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, which opened in August in Orlando’s Lake Nona community.
» Read more from Florida Trend.