Scaled back sales tax holiday returns to Florida

Florida parents shopping for the new school year are getting a slimmed down back-to-school tax holiday. The tax holiday kicked off Friday at 12:01 a.m. and will last the entire weekend. Three years ago, the back-to-school tax holiday lasted 10 days. Legislators this year also eliminated a tax break for computers and computer related accessories. More from the AP, the Miami Herald, and the Tampa Bay Times.

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» How to save this tax-free weekend at Walmart, Target, Publix and Winn-Dixie

New Cuba regulations for private enterprise on the island have a long list of don’ts

The regulations seem to be an attempt at addressing growing inequities. While the state sector has stagnated, those who work in the tourism-related businesses who can get tips in hard currency, Cubans with access to remittances and the self-employed — who now represent 13 percent of the workforce — have done noticeably better. [Source: Miami Herald]

Orlando's diverse economy noticed, national LGBT chamber leader says

Orlando’s collaboration between LGBT-owned businesses and mainstream ones stands out among U.S. cities, said Justin Nelson, president of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. “I think we’re in a constant battle for recognition that we’re more than just LGBT people,” he said. “We’re business owners, we’re taxpayers, we’re a part of the community, we’re employers." [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

One Florida village went into debt waiting for FEMA’s Irma money

As of Thursday, El Portal has 363 days to pay off a debt worth one third of its annual budget. The small village's financial future rides on the gamble that FEMA's reimbursement for Hurricane Irma-related expenses will come in time. [Source: Times/Herald]

Florida Realtors picks its next CEO

Florida Realtors has chosen its next CEO. The statewide professional group said Thursday that its chief operations officer and general counsel, Margy Grant, will become CEO on Jan. 1, taking over from the retiring Bill Martin. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› UHealth's Mobile Clinic delivers doctors, medical solutions to kids in need [Sponsored Report]
University of Miami pediatricians have a 25-year history of putting comprehensive community health care services on wheels. [Sponsored Report]

› Jaguars owner Shad Khan unveils plan for convention center, hotel on Shipyards, Met Park [Florida Times-Union]
Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan unveiled plans Thursday to construct a 490,000-square-foot convention center and hotel on land sandwiched between the long-vacant Shipyards property on downtown’s waterfront and Metropolitan Park, an ambitious project that would transform formerly industrial land.
» See also: 3 companies offer bids for new Jacksonville convention center

› Layoffs at Art Institute, Aramark cause South Florida’s job-cut count to swell this summer [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
South Florida’s job-cut count swelled in July due to 148 layoffs at the Art Institute in Fort Lauderdale and 452 at Aramark catering at Florida International University in Miami. Statewide, there were a total of 2,547 announced job cuts in July.

› Sales taxes from Mall at UTC stores went to Manatee. The problem? The mall is in Sarasota [Bradenton Herald]
Manatee County Commissioners adopted a proposed property tax millage rate to fund a nearly $1.4 billion budget Tuesday, but there is a complication. The Florida Department of Revenue has notified the county it has been erroneously receiving sales tax revenue paid by stores at the Mall at University Town Center in Sarasota County.

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› Longtime CFO of Mednax to retire [South Florida Business Journal]
Mednax Inc. announced that CFO and treasurer Vivian Lopez-Blanco has decided to retire. The Sunrise-based medical practice ownership company (NYSE: MD) said that Lopez-Blanco will stay on until it finds a replacement, and remain for a transitional period thereafter.

› OSHA cites Florida pavement company for safety violations [Construction and Demolition Recycler]
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Washington, has cited Pavemax Corp. for safety violations after an employee died at an Orange City, Florida, work site.

› Told to remodel, Venice Sonny’s BBQ closed instead [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Sonny’s BBQ in Venice has closed after 20 years in business, following the franchise owner’s decision that it wasn’t financially feasible to give the restaurant a compulsory corporate makeover.

› Tampa International Airport CEO Joe Lopano gets 5 percent raise to $475,542 [Tampa Bay Times]
With Tampa International Airport on a record pace for revenue and passengers, the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority board on Thursday gave airport CEO Joe Lopano a 5 percent raise, bringing his base compensation to $475,542 a year.