Publix’s big announcement: 700 new jobs at expanded Lakeland HQ

On Thursday, Publix announced it will add 200,000 square feet to its corporate headquaters and 700 new jobs.

Publix CEO & President Todd Jones said, “Publix’s growth is made possible by the hard work of our associates and the loyalty of our customers. We are proud of the role we continue to play in the great state of Florida.” The dominant grocer in Florida and largest private employer operates stores in six other states: Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee and Virginia. See the news release about the expansion here. Also read more at the Tampa Bay Times and the Orlando Sentinel.

Cybersecurity training could be a boon for Florida’s future workforce

“Right now, we have 13,000 cybersecurity jobs that are unfilled in Florida," says Eman El-Sheik, the director of the Center for Cybersecurity at the University of West Florida. "These are jobs that have an average starting wage of $85,000.” El-Sheik added that by 2030 the nationwide cybersecurity deficit will be in the millions. [Source: Florida Politics]

See also:
» Innovative university partnerships advance the "Fintech" landscape in Florida

Space Florida connecting aerospace entrepreneurs with investors, cash

Space Florida wants to match early stage aerospace companies with private investors. The state agency is also offering up $100,000 in prize money at a forum in November. The inaugural Florida Aerospace Capital Forum is looking for early stage, Florida based aerospace companies to compete for the prize money and pitch their ideas to private investors. [Source: WMFE]

Florida Trend Regional Report
Hard act to follow

Michel Hausmann takes an innovative approach to theater in Miami. Venezuelan-born theater director, producer and writer Michel Hausmann is taking some new approaches to theater with his Miami New Drama company and the historic, city-owned Colony Theatre, which Miami New Drama began managing in 2016. Story here, includes more business briefs for Miami-Dade and the Florida Keys.

More than 28,000 lionfish removed during 2018 Lionfish Challenge

A total of 28,260 lionfish were removed during the 2018 Lionfish Challenge, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Lionfish are considered to be an invasive species that have a negative impact on native species in the area. The FWC encourages folks to remove lionfish from Florida's waters. [Source: First Coast News]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Miami Commission votes down Ultra Music Festival’s return to Bayfront Park [Miami Herald]
In a surprise move, the Miami City Commission on Thursday unanimously voted down a contract for Ultra Music Festival to stay in Bayfront Park. Downtown residents who oppose the festival left City Hall smiling and high-fiving each other.

› What should people in Northern Florida cities like Gainesville know about red tide? [WUFT]
Red tide can spread anywhere in Florida so it should be on everyone’s radar, said Dr. Todd Osborne, assistant professor of aquatic biogeochemistry at the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience in St. Augustine.

› New scratch-off Florida Lottery deal likely worth millions [Florida Politics]
A new contract to provide scratch-off tickets, just announced by the Florida Lottery and possibly worth as much as a quarter-billion dollars, could be decided during the lame-duck period of the Rick Scott administration.

› Life's great for Orlando restaurants after 'Triple D's' Guy Fieri comes to town [Orlando Sentinel]
Rafaela Cabede recalls turning to her husband during episodes of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” to imagine participating in the Food Network show. Similar to imagining a lottery win, she dreamed of host Guy Fieri coming to her Brazilian restaurant, Mrs. Potato, but never believed it would happen.

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› Miami Beach commission approves flat property tax rate, but some fees will go up [Miami Herald]
Miami Beach commissioners approved a new budget that includes funding for new initiatives like placing police at schools and creating a city hall watchdog, but did not raise the property tax rate.

› Florida company grants first license for hydrogen power tech to MarineMax [Tampa Bay Business Journal]
A company headquartered in the Kennedy Space Center has granted its first license for its hydrogen power production technology to a Clearwater boat retailer.

› $47.9 million contract awarded for Port Tampa Bay’s long-awaited project to deepen and expand Big Bend channel [Tampa Bay Times]
Big news today for Port Tampa Bay: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced it has awarded a $47.9 million contract to Great Lakes Dredge & Docks Co. to deepen and expand the port’s Big Bend channel.

› Baptist Health of Northeast Florida President and CEO Hugh Greene to retire [Jacksonville Daily Record]
Hugh Greene announced Wednesday his retirement from Baptist Health of Northeast Florida. Greene, 65, joined the organization in 1989 as chief operating officer and has served for the past 18 years as president and CEO.