Monday's Daily Pulse

Posted 9/22/2014

Updated 10 yearss ago

Energy rates and policies hang on outcome of governor's race

The outcome of the governor’s race could have a significant impact on state energy policy and utility rates for millions of Floridians. The major utility companies are supporting Scott and the Republican Party in this election cycle, to the tune of $3.7 million in contributions through August. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

Florida Trend Exclusive
Tops among foreign real estate buyers

For year the fifth year in a row, Florida was the top destination for international home buyers. Twenty-three percent of all sales of U.S. homes to international buyers occurred in Florida. Access full story.

Engineers call for national approach to flooding

An organization of civil engineers is calling for a national strategy for mitigating flood risks, saying the U.S. has not fully heeded lessons from Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy. [Source: AP]

2016 may loom, but Jeb Bush is focused on business

While other Republicans considering the 2016 presidential race are openly laying the foundations of potential campaigns, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is busy tending to a growing personal business empire. [Source: AP]

Space Coast slowly regaining lost jobs

The Space Coast's post-shuttle economy appears to be on its way to recovery, buoyed most recently by NASA's big "space taxi" contract award last week. But even if you tally up all the new jobs expected when those expansions are complete, Brevard County will be far short of its peak employment. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Building boom powers South Florida employment [Miami Herald]
The construction boom and a healthy hospital sector helped propel employment numbers higher in South Florida. In the South Florida metropolitan area, the construction and hospitals sectors showed impressive job gains in August of 7.1 percent and 4.5 percent.

› Businesses buying trucks as the economy improves [Fort Myers News-Press]
Truck sales have shifted into overdrive in Southwest Florida, boosted by buying for small businesses and commercial fleets, area dealers say.

› Women rule the South Florida arts world [Miami Herald]
For all the progress women have made in shattering glass ceilings, barriers to top leadership jobs, career progress and equal pay still exist in plenty of fields. But in South Florida’s arts-and-culture community, it’s a different story.

› Oystermen fear closing of Apalachicola Bay [The News Herald]
Frustrated over talk Apalachicola Bay might be shut down to oyster harvesting this winter, Franklin County seafood workers angrily confronted the president of their workers association at a meeting Friday evening.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Number of women small-business owners increasing, but not their borrowing power [AP]
Women are a growing force in the business world, but if they own a company, they may still struggle to get a loan from a bank.

› SpaceX Falcon Rocket Blasts Off From Florida [Reuters]
An unmanned Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Sunday to deliver a cargo ship to the International Space Station for NASA.

› Manatee furniture maker Tropitone is purchased [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
A California furniture maker with manufacturing operations in southern Manatee County has been purchased by its top competitor, creating one $400 million company.

› Beginner's classes in the pot business take root [Fortune]
Marijuana Business Academy teaches people to be “ganjapreneurs,” reflecting the pot industry’s rapid growth and appeal to legions of novices.