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Wednesday's Afternoon Update

Duke drops bid to seek rate hike to raise $513 million for Hurricane Irma costs

Duke Energy on Wednesday dropped its request to raise rates on customers to recover $513 million in Hurricane Irma-related costs. Instead of increasing customer rates, the company plans to apply federal tax reform savings toward those storm costs. The announcement comes eight days after Florida Power & Light dropped plans to seek $1.3 billion in Irma-related costs through a surcharge on customers. See the announcement from Duke, here. Also read more at the Orlando Sentinel.

Enterprise Florida plans first services-only trade mission to Brazil

State economic development agency Enterprise Florida will for the first time field a trade mission exclusively for service providers when it travels June 23-27 to São Paulo, Brazil. “The reason we’re doing this is because we are among the top four states in exporting services,” said Manny Mencia, Coral Gables-based senior vice president of international trade and development for Enterprise Florida. More from Miami Today.

South Florida leads the nation in sales and real estate jobs, study finds

The Fort Lauderdale area leads the nation in concentration of sales and real estate jobs, according to a new study by Abodo. Fort Lauderdale isn’t the only South Florida metro area with a large concentration of sales and real estate opportunities: Miami scored number three in the study after Orlando. Abodo reports:

For the best chances of both finding work and affording housing, sales and real estate workers find an apartment in Fort Lauderdale- Pompano Beach- Deerfield, FL; Orlando- Kissimmee- Sanford, FL; or Lubbock, TX.

Full story here. Also read more at Curbed Miami.

Gift of $20 million supports Mayo Clinic’s “destination medical building” now being built

The Harry T. Mangurian Jr. Foundation donated $20 million to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville for what previously has been described as a “destination medical building.” The 190,000-square-foot building will provide complex cancer, neurologic and neurosurgical care. More from the Florida Times-Union.

Southwest Florida construction worker shortage leads to free training

A desperate need for construction workers in Southwest Florida is threatening to delay projects and forcing some workers to put in excessive overtime. One of Southwest Florida's largest construction companies is teaming with CareerSource and other agencies to help recruit workers from Lee County with high unemployment. More from NBC-2.

Hospitals
Another year of leadership for Nicklaus Children's Hospital

 No other hospital in Florida has more ranked pediatric programs than Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. “Eight of our programs are in the top 50 nationwide,” says Michael Harrington, president and chief operating officer of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. “And we have several subspecialties that were in the top 25.” [Sponsored report]

» Read the full report here.

 

Sports Business
Four Years Later, David Beckham Soccer Team Set to Launch in Miami

florida originalsIt took four years, but Major League Soccer appears ready for a high-profile launch of a David Beckham soccer team in Miami. Beckham representatives declined to comment, but privately people close to the soccer bid say the tentative plan is for a Monday announcement.

» Read more from the Miami Herald.