Florida Trend Exclusive
Whole lotta shakin’ going on
Demand for space transportation, a rare Florida heavy industry, is set to make the world’s busiest spaceport even busier. Florida launches numbered a record 109 in 2025, 101 of them from Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies, SpaceX. Planners anticipate more this year. Beyond Bezos, Musk and the Moon shot, smaller operators have their own launch plans. [Source: Florida Trend]
Business Beat - Week of February 13th
Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video newsbrief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.
Column: Mental health reform strengthens Florida’s workforce
For decades, the workplace norm was to separate personal challenges from professional performance. Today’s reality and modern science show that the approach does not work. Florida is home to many working-age individuals living with serious mental illness who want to contribute productively to their families, employers and communities. Yet employees often face administrative insurance barriers that delay timely access to mental health care — creating ripple effects that impact not only patients, but also businesses and the broader economy. [Source: Florida Politics]
Unemployment claims in Florida declined last week
Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Florida dropped last week compared with the week prior, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday. New jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs, fell to 5,427 in the week ending February 7, down from 5,645 the week before, the Labor Department said. [Source: Daily Commercial]
New report calls Florida one of the riskiest states for Valentine’s Day scams
A new report from online security resource PasswordManager.com finds Florida is one of the riskiest states in the nation when it comes to exposure to Valentine’s Day scams. The report assessed four types of online scams that relate to how people spend and interact around Valentine’s Day: romance scams, travel scams, online shopping scams and business impostor scams. [Source: 352 Today]
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| LAST DAY to register — don't miss out. | ||
| Registration for the 2026 Best Companies To Work For In Florida closes today, Feb. 13. Florida employers still have time to put their workplace forward for consideration, with selected companies featured in the August 2026 issue of Florida Trend. » Register NOW at BestCompaniesFLA.com by Feb. 13, 2026! |
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ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› 2026 a balancing act for Northeast Florida commercial real estate market
Jacksonville commercial real estate firms say in their Q4 2025 industry reports that the Northeast Florida office, industrial and retail markets are resilient and adjusting to economic conditions, with the benefit of population growth and the area’s expanding reputation on the national landscape.
› Appeals court weighs home rule in Gainesville utility governance dispute
The city of Gainesville and the Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority are in a legal battle over control of the city-owned utility. A Florida state law, HB 1645, created the authority in 2023, but Gainesville voters have since passed referendums to dissolve it. The core of the dispute centers on whether the city's home-rule power allows it to override the state-appointed authority.
› Crypto infrastructure company chooses Brickell for new U.S. headquarters
An office tower in Miami has secured three new tenants, including a remote-first company planning its U.S. headquarters and two New York-based firms. Elektron Energy, a global cryptocurrency infrastructure company, inked a deal for 2,243 square feet at 801 Brickell for its U.S. headquarters. Senior executives plan to relocate from London, where the company has a large contingent of employees.
› Major shipping site in Central Florida to close, lay off over 200 workers
DHL Supply Chain revealed this week that it is planning to shut down its Lakeland site later this year, according to documents obtained by News 6. In a WARN Notice to state and local officials, the company said that the site is expected to fully close by Dec. 31. The document further states that the closure is set to be permanent.
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› New Florida Panhandle forest deal to aid Apalachicola Bay
Commercial oyster harvesters have returned to a limited season on Apalachicola Bay for the first time since 2020, reviving a cornerstone of Florida’s seafood industry and the Franklin County economy. Meanwhile, a new 10,000-acre forest conservation project near Port St. Joe in Gulf County aims to support the bay’s long-term recovery by safeguarding the fresh water that flows into it.
› Downtown Jacksonville redevelopments could generate nearly $225 million in completion grant requests
The city of Jacksonville could be asked for a total of nearly $225 million in completion grants for Downtown redevelopment projects over the next three to five years, the head of the Downtown Investment Authority said Feb. 9. In a presentation to the City Council Special Committee on the Future of Downtown, DIA CEO Colin Tarbert listed four projects that had yielded requests for completion grants, plus six more that could come forward.
› Final auction lots set for SWFL Wine & Food Fest
Southwest Florida Children’s Charities Inc. announced the final slate of live auction lots for the 2026 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest, adding a mix of high-end culinary experiences, luxury travel and one-of-a-kind philanthropic moments to the annual fundraiser. The event will take place Feb. 28 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs, with proceeds benefiting Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.
› With Australia partnership, Ballard Partners’ reach spans six continents
Top global lobbying firm Ballard Partners is heading down under. The Florida-grown powerhouse this week announced a strategic partnership with Canberra, Australia-based TG Public Affairs, giving the firm a foothold in the Asia-Pacific region and further expanding the Ballard Global Alliance. The move marks another step in Ballard’s steady international growth, adding Australia to a global footprint that already spans North America, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Asia.