Record 4.6 million Floridians expected to travel for July 4 holiday
A slight increase in Floridians taking to the roads is expected for the upcoming Independence Day holiday, even with inflation up and pump prices across the state higher than a year ago. AAA projected 4.62 million Floridians will travel at least 50 miles for the holiday period, 1 percent more than in 2025 and about 4.3 percent more than in 2024. The auto club, which evaluates the holiday period from June 27 through July 5 in its projections, attributed the increase to strong consumer demand offsetting higher travel costs. More from the News Service of Florida and WTSP.
Investor demands sale of Jacksonville chemical company
A Boston-based hedge fund is pushing for the sale of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. in a letter made public that urges RYAM’s board of directors to unlock the full value of the company’s assets. The Jacksonville-based chemical and materials company, which has manufacturing operations in Fernandina Beach, has been eyed for acquisition since at least November. More from the Jacksonville Business Journal.
State moves to fix Apalachicola water utility
Apalachicola residents experienced a water crisis in the summer of 2025, with foul-smelling, discolored tap water. A new bill, HB 4103, proposes creating the Apalachicola Water and Sewer District to manage the utility. This measure would transfer control from the city to a new five-member board appointed by state and local officials. More from the Tallahassee Democrat.
Inside MOBY Robotics, the Miami startup rethinking how we get critical minerals
The world needs critical minerals more than ever, but almost every way we get them today inflicts real damage. MOBY Robotics thinks there is a better source sitting untouched on the deep ocean floor, waiting to be picked up rather than extracted from the earth. The Miami company builds autonomous robots that collect critical minerals from the seabed, and in doing so it is wading into one of the most debated topics in the environmental space. More from Refresh Miami.
Sarasota cybersecurity company lands NFL team as client
A rapidly-growing Sarasota-based cybersecurity company has landed a new big-name client: the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs. Tenex is now the team's official cybersecurity partner. “As someone who grew up in Kansas City, this partnership is personal,” Tenex CEO and founder Eric Foster says in a statement. “The Chiefs represent a standard of excellence that the entire city rallies around, and protecting that experience matters.” More from the Business Observer.
Dining Trends
Food truck academy set to launch new entrepreneurs
The City of St. Petersburg is moving forward with plans for a Food Truck Academy, a new program designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs start and sustain mobile food businesses. City officials recently issued a solicitation seeking a vendor to develop and deliver the academy, which is envisioned as both a workforce development initiative and a small-business incubator. The program’s stated goal is to create an accessible pathway to entrepreneurship while supporting job creation and neighborhood economic development.
» More from St. Pete Catalyst.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Donor Perspective
St. Petersburg philanthropist Beth Morean, an ardent supporter of arts and medical causes, believes many nonprofits will fold if they don't change the way they operate. Sustainable revenue streams, she says, are essential because previously reliable sources of philanthropic dollars dried up after the 2008 global financial crisis, and wealthy baby boomers like her are getting to the age where they'd rather spend their money on "fun things" instead of charitable causes.
» Read more from Florida Trend.