Aspiring pot companies had big dreams for Florida. Reality has hit hard.
Florida is all about freewheeling fun in the sun — except when it comes to marijuana. And the state’s pot businesses are learning that the hard way. When the Florida agency responsible for approving medical marijuana licenses began accepting applications for 22 state licenses for selling and growing, applicants envisioned a market destined for adult recreational use, with heavy federal restrictions dialed back. But three years later, those dreams seem long gone. More from Politico.
UM students get a boost to expand their businesses
The third annual USTAAR Pitch Competition awarded $100,000 each to five promising student teams for their ingenious startup ideas and potential. Founded in 2024 with a generous donation from alumni Angel and Victor Alvarez, USTAAR has so far offered small-scale Ignite or Catalyst awards to nearly 70 student startups. These groups spend months working with USTAAR staff and local mentors to develop a prototype before the spring pitch competition. More from Refresh Miami.
Winn-Dixie expands grocery delivery across Florida with Amazon partnership
A major expansion between Amazon and Winn-Dixie is set to reshape how Floridians shop for groceries. Same-day delivery is now available to the majority of households across the state. The partnership, which launched in late 2025 in select markets, has rapidly scaled into nearly every major metro area in Florida, signaling strong demand for online grocery options tied to familiar local brands. More from the Florida Times-Union.
New hangar at Punta Gorda Airport promises 200 new jobs
Now in its final stage of construction, NAS MRO Services will soon open a large maintenance, repair and overhaul hangar at Punta Gorda Airport, bringing about 200 high-paying jobs to Charlotte County. Economic Development Director Kay Tracy told county commissioners during an April 14 update that starting salaries for those positions begin at $75,000. She credited the aviation program at Charlotte Technical College, located at the airport, as a key factor in attracting the Miami-based aircraft component repair firm. More from Gulfshore Business.
Tampa’s Gasworx just hit a milestone. What’s next for the neighborhood?
On the edge of Ybor City, a new neighborhood is rising from the ashes of former industrial land: Gasworx. The 50-acre project, headed up by local business mogul Darryl Shaw and Washington D.C.-based developer Kettler, has been under construction for nearly three years now. Two apartments have already opened. On Friday, a third called Olivette reached its full height, topping out at 10 stories. It is the tallest and largest building in Gasworx to date. The goal is to create a fully walkable neighborhood that seamlessly connects historic Ybor City to the more modern Channel District. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Sports Business
How much are tickets to FIFA World Cup games in Miami? Prices, dates
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be the largest in history, with 104 matches played across 16 cities in three countries – Mexico, Canada and the United States. In the U.S., Miami will play host to seven of those games. As of April 20, tickets for the Miami games start at $11,750 per ticket.
» More from the Gainesville Sun.
Florida Trend Exclusive
FAU’s quantum leap
The state and Boca Raton will provide more than $5 million in incentives to D-Wave Quantum, a California company relocating its headquarters and research and development to Boca by year-end with a promise of creating at least 100 jobs. Florida Atlantic University pledged to buy one of its quantum computers for $20 million.
» Read more from Florida Trend.