Florida sees nation’s best jump in job growth

Florida moved from worst to first in a new federal survey of job creation released Wednesday. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in the fourth quarter of 2017, Florida gained 601,026 jobs, and lost 386,654, for a net gain of 214,372 private-sector jobs. It was the largest net gain of jobs by any state, according to the federal data. [Source: Miami Herald]

Strong demand fuels industrial activity in South Florida

The industrial real estate market in South Florida continues to show no sign of weakness, posting robust leasing and investment demand and an impressive development pipeline. At the mid-year point there is currently more than 5.5 million square feet of industrial space under construction in South Florida, a record high for the past 10 years. [Source: GlobeSt.com]

Canadian insurer backs autonomous car startup in Florida retirement community

There’s a village in Florida where self-driving cars rule the road, and a Canadian insurance firm wants to come along for the ride. Intact Financial Corp. is investing $3 million in startup Voyage, which runs a dozen self-driving cars in The Villages in Florida, as the companies seek to shape the future of driverless-car insurance. [Source: Bloomberg]

Florida Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday 2018: What you need to know

The sales tax holiday is a budget-friendly option for families who are preparing for the upcoming school year. During the sales tax holiday, no sales tax will be collected on purchases of: Clothing, footwear, and certain accessories selling for $60 or less per item, and certain school supplies selling for $15 or less per item. See the full list of what is tax-exempt and what isn't, here. Also read more at WFLA, WESH, and Tampa Bay Newspapers.

Toxic algae blooms concern 86 percent of Floridians, FAU poll says

Eighty-six percent of Floridians are concerned about the toxic algae blooms plaguing the state’s east and west coasts, according to a university poll released Wednesday. Among the 800 registered voters polled July 20-21, 53 percent said they are "very concerned" and 33 percent said they are "somewhat concerned," The question about algae is part of a larger statewide survey by the Florida Atlantic University Business and Economics Polling Initiative that covered poitics and other top areas of concern for Floridians. See all the poll results here. Also read more at TCPalm.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Destin fisherman’s tuna catch ruled a Florida record [Palm Beach Post]
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recently approved the record status for an 826-pound, 8-ounce bluefin tuna caught by a Sandestin-based charter boat last year. Full news release from the FWC here.

› Miami Beach is fighting sexual assault. Now hotel housekeepers will get panic buttons [Miami Herald]
Beginning next year, Miami Beach’s hotel housekeepers will be armed. Their weapon, panic buttons, will help combat sexual harassment and assault in the workplace, a problem that is being more widely discussed and addressed following the emergence of the #MeToo movement.

› Mississippi bank to buy north Florida bank for $80 million [AP]
A Mississippi bank is buying another bank in northern Florida. The First Bancshares Inc. of Hattiesburg announced this week that it's buying FMB Banking Corp for $80 million in stock and cash. More information in the press release from First Bancshares Inc..

› Tampa drops eminent domain lawsuit to secure land for road into Water Street Tampa [Tampa Bay Times]
City Hall has dropped a lawsuit to use its power of eminent domain to secure a small patch of land needed for part of a road leading in to the $3 billion Water Street Tampa project, but that’s probably not the end of the matter.

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› Earnings up for FPL and parent NextEra Energy [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Florida Power & Light Co. grew earnings 19 percent on 6 percent lower revenue in its second quarter, due to continued investment in its infrastructure and customer growth. The Juno Beach-based utility has said it doesn’t expect to request a base rate increase from state regulators for a year or two after its 2017 base rate agreement ends in 2020. See the earnings announcement from NextEra, here.

› Orlando pizzerias rise above chain-store fare [Orlando Sentinel]
Two decades ago, Pizza Hut won first place for pizza in the Orlando Sentinel’s first Food Awards, and chains were a mainstay on the list until 2014. But now locally owned restaurants such as Pizza Bruno, Pizzeria Roberti and Pizzeria Valdiano are getting more attention.

› A Miami airport worker puts in 17-hour days at two jobs. He might get a raise. [Miami Herald]
Before Miami-Dade commissioners voted to extend the county’s living-wage rules to shops, restaurants and other vendors at Miami International Airport, they heard Hiram Rodriguez’s account of working two jobs there and barely getting by.

› Winn-Dixie scores with customers following gas giveaway in Tampa [Tampa Bay Times]
People love free things. People really love a free tank of gas. Winn-Dixie and its parent company, Southeastern Grocers, took over a Shell gas station in Tampa on Wednesday morning to promote a new rewards and loyalty program by giving out free fuel.