Some of Florida's most vulnerable areas are right in the path of Category 4 Hurricane Michael

As Hurricane Michael barrels through the Gulf of Mexico, it is bearing down on one of Florida’s poorest and most vulnerable regions, with limited infrastructure and little coastal protection. Michael is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane near Panama City, with the deadliest eastern mass of the storm curving through some of the Florida Panhandle’s poorest communities. More from USA Today, the AP, and the Tampa Bay Times.

See also:
» As Hurricane Michael bears down on Tallahassee, eyes are on Andrew Gillum
» Democrats sue to further extend voter registration in counties affected by Hurricane Michael
» Hurricane Michael may affect red tide and blue-green algae. Here's how
» Insurers begin to stop writing new homeowners policies ahead of Hurricane Michael
» As Hurricane Michael nears, Florida businesses hang tough
» In Florida, Hoteliers Brace for Hurricane Michael

Drop shipping: The latest trend to take Florida-based small businesses by storm

Businesses face a number of logistical hurdles; particularly those which have only recently gone active. One daunting task is successfully managing inventory and shipping while on a limited budget. There are many times when Florida businesses simply do not have the manpower or the experience to tackle such concerns. Drop shipping aims to address these situations in an entirely unique manner. [Source: South Florida Reporter]

Plans gel for first Florida Economic Water Summit

Prompted by public outcry, the summit will gather industry and community leaders, economists and scientists - all of whom have all been affected by toxic waters - from across Southwest Florida to address the catastrophic damage to the region's economy as a result of red tide and blue-green algae blooms. [Source: Fort Myers Beach Talk]

BBB warns Floridians of scams during cleanup, repairs after Michael

The Better Business Bureau is warning Floridians to beware of con artists after Hurricane Michael passes and the clean-up begins. BBB officials said they get hundreds of complaints every year concerning shoddy work by contractors, and encourages consumers to take the time to properly research contractors to avoid creating a bigger problem. More from WJXT and Florida Politics.

Florida Trend Column
Sausage: Change seems to bring more complexity instead of simplicity

In their effort to be “fair,” the drafters of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act revised Section 118 so that corporations now must pay tax on money they receive for the capital improvements as well as the fees they receive later. This was unwise. Read the full column from Florida Trend's Executive Editor Mark Howard.

Related Florida Trend video
» Interview with Michael Minton of Dean Mead
Minton discusses how tax law changes from Tax Cuts & Jobs Act are affecting agribusiness development and business relocation trends.

Trend analysis: Tax changes impacting Florida businesses

 

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Mote wants more land for aquarium at Nathan Benderson Park [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Sarasota County and Mote Marine Laboratory will work toward an agreement that would allow the nonprofit to lease and eventually assume ownership of almost 27 acres at Nathan Benderson Park as the site for its proposed new $130 million aquarium.

› Florida MBDA Export Center won’t settle for simply ‘outstanding’ [Miami's Community Newspapers]
In order for a Minority Business Development Agency Program to become a member of the “Century Club,” it must meet 100 percent of the national performance goals — an outstanding feat, indeed. Not settling for simply “outstanding,” the Florida MBDA Export Center recently soared well past that benchmark for program success, by announcing they hit more than 120

› Seminole County approves deal with Airbnb to collect bed tax [Orlando Sentinel]
Seminole County commissioners approved a deal Tuesday with Airbnb that will allow the popular home-sharing company to charge and collect the county’s tourist development tax. The 5-percent tax has long been added to the bill of guests staying at Seminole hotels and resorts.

› Trulieve opening its first medical marijuana dispensary in Broward [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Trulieve is opening its first medical marijuana dispensary in Broward County on Wednesday. The Jacksonville-based company is set to debut its new store in Dania Beach. It is Trulieve’s 19th in the state, including a dispensary that opened Oct. 4 in Boynton Beach.

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› Airbnb, Rosen Hotels offer deals to those fleeing Hurricane Michael [Orlando Sentinel]
Airbnb hosts and some hotels in Central Florida are offering discounts and free stays to those displaced by Hurricane Michael. Rosen Hotels & Resorts has lowered room rates to its distress rate level, meaning guest can stay for $59 per night at six local hotels and $79 per night at three others.

› Florida company was trying to force Croatian music fest promoter to sign deal, lawyer says [Florida Record]
A nine-person jury in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida recently found that Florida-based Worldwide Entertainment Group Inc., promoters of the Ultra Miami Music Festival, had intentionally set out to defraud Adria MM Productions Ltd. by taking over a music festival promoted by Adria and confiscating the proceeds.

› Florida Airport Wraps Major Runway Rehab [AIN Online]
Florida’s Page Field has completed a major nearly two-year-long runway and taxiway rehabilitation project. Work on Runway 5/23 and its associated taxiways began in January 2017, milling the runway down and overlaying new pavement.

› Sunrise-based virtual health service snags top deal worth $50 million in quarter [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Virtual health service MDLive raised $50 million in the third quarter, which was the top venture capital deal in South Florida and the second-highest in the state, according to the third-quarter MoneyTree Report released Wednesday.