Florida Trend Exclusive
Current clash
Customers, large and small, residential and business, across Florida will see the future of their power bills play out this year before the state Supreme Court. Consumer groups and the state Office of Public Counsel have a challenge pending over the Public Service Commission's approval of TECO rates. A similar challenge looks likely over Florida Power & Light rate increases reached in a settlement with several groups including big business. More from Florida Trend.
Nassau County pursuing 12-month moratorium on data center development
If adopted, the temporary action would pause the acceptance and processing of new applications for data center development projects. County officials say the move will provide them time to evaluate the overall scale, intensity and potential impacts of data center development in the county. That includes consideration of land use compatibility, infrastructure demands and long-term community priorities. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Ulta Beauty World draws 3,000 attendees to Orlando, generates millions in economic impact
Ulta Beauty is bringing its viral Ulta Beauty World to Orlando this week, drawing more than 200 national and emerging brands to the Orange County Convention Center for a two-day, immersive beauty event expected to generate millions in economic impact. The second annual Ulta Beauty World will kick off with a masterclass April 15, followed by its highly anticipated expo April 16. More from the Orlando Business Journal.
Medtech companies lift Miami area VC to $1.15B in Q1
Helped by three mega-rounds by healthcare technology companies, startups in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metro area drew $1.15 billion in venture capital in Q1, according to PitchBook’s Q1 findings released today. More broadly, nationally venture capital hit a record high – $267.2 billion – yet almost three-quarters of it came from five AI deals. More from Refresh Miami.
Collier boosts borrowing cap to $300M for growth
To fund burgeoning growth in eastern Collier County, commissioners approved temporarily borrowing up to $300 million from a state pooled-loan program as gap funding before issuing bonds. The Board of County Commissioners unanimously voted April 14 to raise the limit from $200 million under the Florida Local Government Finance Commission’s Pooled Commercial Paper Loan Program. More from the Gulfshore Business.
Out of the Box
‘Vacuum cleaners’ may suck pollution from Miami River tributary
Wagner Creek, one of Florida’s most polluted waterways, could soon see a fleet of vacuum-like cleaning devices deployed to pull contamination from the water and keep it from flowing into the Miami River. Miami commissioners on April 9 reviewed a proposal from Fast Cleaning Solutions to install additional water-cleaning and monitoring devices in Wagner Creek, building on a yearlong trial period that officials say reduced bacterial contamination by over 75%.
» More from Miami Today.
Economic Development
Sarasota EDC launches CEO Academy
To help leaders of growing companies enter the next phase of expansion, the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County is starting a new program in partnership with the nonprofit GrowFL. The EDC is accepting online interest forms for the initiative, called the CEO Academy, through May 8. Designed for leaders of companies that have found success and are gearing up for second-stage growth, the CEO Academy will enroll eight to 12 CEOs in its first cohort.
» Read more from the Business Observer.