Florida ranks high for growth in women-owned businesses

The Sunshine State is particularly sunny for women-owned firms, according to a new study. Florida had the second-highest growth in the number of women-owned businesses over the past 20 years, according to a study by American Express Open. The number of firms jumped from 338,000 in 1997 to just over 1 million in 2017. Read more at the Tampa Bay Times and see an overview of the national report here.

Florida Trend Exclusive
Sea-level rise and Florida: 2050 - 2075

Millennial generation Floridians, by this period in their senior years, will be living in a Florida much changed from that of their youth. In Pinellas, as sea-level rise reaches three to four feet, major chunks of the barrier islands will be lost. In central Florida, Lake Monroe, far inland, swells to absorb connected lakes. Full story here.
See also:
» What we'll see through the end of the century, 2075-2100.

Over 139,000 Puerto Ricans have arrived in Florida since Hurricane Maria

During the initial aftermath of the storm, conservative estimates by experts, put the number of Puerto Ricans fleeing the island to Florida at 100,000. Now that it has surpassed 139,000, and with thousands more arriving daily, it’s clear the number will be much higher. [Source: NBC News]

Florida regulators say 23 nursing homes yet to follow rules

Florida regulators say 23 nursing homes across the state are not following new rules put in place after residents died in a South Florida nursing home. The rules have been legally challenged by industry groups. But the Agency for Health Care Administration has said nursing homes must still comply with them. See the report that lists all 23 nursing homes from the Agency for Health Care Administration, here. Also read more at the AP.

Publix named No. 3 best retail workplace

Retail jobs may not always carry the best reputation, but Publix employees have reason to come to work happy. Several reasons, actually, according to a national report, "Great Place to Work." The report named the Lakeland-based grocer No. 3 on a list of the 20 best places to have a job in retail. See the announcement from Publix here, and read more at Fortune and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Port Canaveral getting new Royal Caribbean megaship in 2019 [News Release]
Royal Caribbean International is bringing one of the cruise industry's newest megaships to Port Canaveral in May 2019. The cruise line announced that the Harmony of the Seas will be based at Port Canaveral, offering seven-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Also read more at Florida Today.

Your turn:
» Is a cruise in your future, in the next year? (quick poll)

› Brevard commissioners not pushing use of tourist tax for lagoon cleanup projects [Florida Today]
Brevard County has a 5 percent Tourist Development Tax on hotel rooms and other short-term rentals that can be used for tourism-related initiatives.

› Miami's startup scores $1.6M in funding to scope out locations for Amazon's HQ2 [South Florida Business Journal]
The Miami-based startup that recently applied its zoning technology to identify potential Miami-Dade County parcels for Amazon.com Inc.'s second headquarters has raised $1.6 million in funding.

› Meet Nancy Tower, Tampa Electric’s incoming CEO [Tampa Bay Times]
In just a few weeks, the electric company that has powered Hillsborough County and the city of Tampa for more than a century will be under new management.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› St. Petersburg’s HSN reports 20 percent drop in quarterly profits [Tampa Bay Times]
HSN Inc. reported Wednesday third quarter profits of $16.2 million, a 20 percent drop over the same quarter last year. The St. Petersburg-based company said it had a net income of 31 cents per share.

› Jacksonville’s Ikea opens to the cheers of hundreds of its most dedicated fans [Florida Times-Union]
Jacksonville’s Ikea opened for business Wednesday morning — five minutes early — to end a two-year wait for local fans of the iconic Swedish retailer whose stores represent more than affordable European style with some assembly required.

› New proposal puts localized tree protections in Florida in jeopardy [WFTS]
The rules protecting large, historic trees are now in jeopardy. A new bill proposed to the Florida Legislature would, if passed, ban cities and counties in Florida from regulating tree trimming.

› With Penny for Pinellas approval, wishlists get more real [Tampa Bay Times]
With an estimated $2 billion coming in the next decade or so, county and city officials can now start planning to build bridges, fire stations and sewer upgrades. But it’s still too early to start cutting checks.