Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Wednesday's Afternoon Update

Florida tourism on pace for third consecutive record year

New numbers out show more people are visiting Florida's beaches, theme parks, and attractions than ever before. Governor Rick Scott's office announced Wednesday that VISIT FLORIDA, the state official marketing group, reported 23.4 million visitors from April to June 2013. More at WTXL and the Orlando Sentinel, or read the official press release here.


Are tech firms helping to create jobs for the rest of us?

Economic development officials argue that the investment in new tech jobs has a payoff in creating even more jobs in the broad service sector as tech workers spend their money on housing, food and other services. More at the Gainesville Sun.


Government job jump likely a statistical blip

Business Profile

Biscayne Pharmaceuticals

ecosystem
For more than half a century, Nobel Prize-winning scientist and University of Miami faculty member Andrew Schally has been researching the hormones that stimulate growth in the body’s tissues. Now his work is being used by Miami-based Biscayne Pharmaceuticals, which was founded last year and licensed from UM the rights to Schally’s inventions related to that research.

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Inside Florida's job report for June was a bit of data that economists and public officials haven't seen much in the last few years. Public-sector employment at the state and local level increased by 7,300, hitting its highest point since June 2012. More at the Orlando Sentinel.


Online bakery finds recipe for success

Sometimes smaller is better. Much better. Fort Lauderdale entrepreneurs Shaun Hunte and Sarah Whalley are taking classic American fare and squishing it into mini-cupcake form. The duo own Batter Co., an online bakery they founded in June that delivers sweet and savory cupcakes throughout South Florida. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.


Back to school stress hits parents, too

As parents, we experience back-to-school anxiety, too. We want the school year to go smoothly. We want our kids’ school schedules to blend well with our work schedules and for our kids to thrive. As we scurry around setting up carpools, buying school supplies and stocking up on lunch-box snacks, we worry about what’s to come. For some working parents, angst stems from new routines. More at the Miami Herald.

Florida's Best Companies To Work For 2013
Family values at Crossman & Co.

crossmanScott Crossman founded Crossman & Co., a retail leasing and management company in Orlando, in 1990 and built it through the years with strong central Florida business contacts. A key player in the firm’s rise is Scott’s younger brother, John, who had helped close more than $1 billion in deals for a major national firm. John Crossman is now president of Crossman & Co., which has more than 20 million square feet of space under lease or management in six Southeastern states.

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