Florida’s famed agriculture industry faces bumper crop of natural disasters
The Sunshine State is an agriculture powerhouse, one of the nation’s top producers for crops like oranges, strawberries, sugarcane and sweet corn. Yet even before this year’s weather events, farmers were hurting: Rising input costs, sprawling new land development and severe weather damage from years past have pushed generational growers from one of the state’s foundational industries. More from Politico.
USF stadium construction fuels $210 million in Florida work
USF stadium construction has produced more than $210 million in awarded contracts for Florida companies as construction accelerates toward a September 2027 opening for the university’s football stadium and football operations center. University officials said about $155 million in contracts has gone to companies in the Greater Tampa Bay region. The project is now one of the largest active construction sites on USF’s Tampa campus, generating work for local contractors, subcontractors and suppliers. More from Tampa Bay Business & Wealth.
Bills for small JEA commercial customers would increase under proposed rate changes
If approved in June, the changes for commercial customers would include 2.8% to 4.2% rate increases for electricity. JEA staff proposed the new rates for both commercial and residential customers to address revenue deficits due in part to large capital projects the not-for-profit utility says are necessary to meet increased demand and modernize systems,. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Brevard's litter problem grows as national trends decline
In recent years, the amount of litter in America has been decreasing. Unfortunately, that's not the case in Brevard County. The litter along the nation’s highways and waterways has decreased by 34% since 2020, according to Keep America Beautiful. That works out to 96 bits of trash from each American, down from 152 pieces six years ago. But on the Space Coast, those in the trenches of our local litter say: 'here, not so much.' More from Florida Today.
Nearly 1,000 homes are coming to West Boca as GL Homes expands presence in Palm Beach County
Planned along a West Boca corridor are nearly 1,000 GL Homes-branded residences, further marking the developer’s stake in Palm Beach County. GL sells the home sites and then constructs the buyer’s selected floor plan, which means all the homes won’t be complete until after all are sold, according to a spokesperson from the developer. Home prices start at $1.7 million. More from the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Sports Business
Sarasota sports landmark poised for luxury condo comeback
One of Sarasota’s most storied athletic institutions appears ready to return along with more than 250 homes. Bath & Racquet Residences & Club, the reimagined version of the iconic Sarasota facility that drew Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova to its courts in the 1970s, is rising on the same 13.4-acre property off Robinhood Street where the original club opened in 1969 and thrived for decades before closing in 2020.
» More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Cruise control
Conservationists and residents fear building and operating a cruise port on 328 acres along Interstate 275 could devastate the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve and much of the bay ecosystem. A 2023 Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council and Tampa Bay Estuary Program study estimated the bay generates $32 billion in annual economic impact, with tourism and recreation representing nearly $5 billion.
» Read more from Florida Trend.