Initial jobless claims in Florida dip
New unemployment claims fell slightly in Florida last week but continue to come in at a steady pace indicating little change in hiring or layoffs. The U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday estimated 5,483 claims were filed in Florida last week, down from a revised count of 6,387 for the week ending April 11. More from the News Service of Florida.
More than 1,000 jobs could be going away in these 4 Florida cities
More than 1,000 jobs in four Florida cities could be lost in late June, according to a notice filed under the Florida Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. Reyes Holdings "has entered into an agreement to purchase certain assets" of Republic National Distributing Co. in 10 states and Washington, D.C., according to the WARN notice. The agreement is expected to impact four Florida facilities. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
eMerge Americas returns with a big show of tech – and Miami momentum
With a high energy light show featuring live music and dance, Melissa and Manny Medina kicked off the eMerge Americas Conference at the Miami Beach Convention Center on Thursday. This year’s conference is bringing together 400 exhibitors, 300 speakers, pavilions for AI, national security, healthtech and SMBs, and content spanning AI, quantum, healthtech, fintech and national security. More from Refresh Miami.
How Southeast Toyota's new facility drives growth at JaxPort
Southeast Toyota Distributors opened a new $170 million vehicle processing facility at Jacksonville's Blount Island terminal. The facility performs final checks and customizations on Toyota vehicles before they are sent to 178 dealerships. The project was a partnership, with the state contributing $22.9 million, JaxPort $6.6 million, and Southeast Toyota $140.5 million. This new location will become Southeast Toyota's largest processing facility, with rail service to be added in 2027. More from the Florida Times-Union.
Hillsborough tells Rays it is unlikely to meet team’s stadium deadline
Hillsborough County has told the Tampa Bay Rays it is unlikely to meet the team’s deadline for the completion of a stadium deal, which could jeopardize the entire proposal. Earlier this month, the Rays released a draft memorandum of understanding that set a strict deadline: June 1. That deadline, the team has said, is necessary not only for the ballpark to open in time for the 2029 Major League Baseball season, but for the deal to be feasible at all. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Business Beat - Week of April 24th
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Entertainment Business
180,000 people will see BTS in Tampa. The impact is already huge.
BTS mania has officially taken over Tampa. Fans have sold out not just the three concerts at Raymond James Stadium this weekend, but themed events around town. The city shut down Tampa Bay Boulevard through next Wednesday to accommodate merch lines around the stadium. There are welcome tables, a photo backdrop and pop-up dance performances at Tampa International Airport. “People are coming here from all over the place,” said Santiago Corrada, president and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay.
» Read more from the Tampa Bay Times.