Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Tuesday's Daily Pulse

Gulf oyster reefs are hurting. Now there's help from oil spill aid money.

All along the Gulf coast, it's not a good time for oysters. Scientists say eighty percent of the Gulf's oyster reefs have been lost in recent decades. And harvests are way down. In Florida, and throughout the Gulf, a lot of work is going on to help oysters and the communities that depend on them. Read more from NPR and listen to the report below:

 

Florida Trend Exclusive
Growing to Compete: Hospitals undergo renovations and expansions

NOAA forecast

The lobby of the Mastroianni

Family Pediatric Emergency

Department at Jupiter Medical.

As hospitals search for the scale to be economically viable, expansions are under way throughout Southeast Florida. Jupiter Medical Center has six new buildings and programs under way, including a 6,300-sq.-ft. pediatric emergency department, a five-story patient tower with neonatal intensive care, a comprehensive stroke center, open-heart surgery suites, an 18-bed observation unit and a cancer wing. [Source: Florida Trend]

Disney pays $23 million for almost 1,000 acres in Central Florida

Walt Disney Co. paid $23 million for 965 acres of Osceola County ranch land southeast of Celebration that’s zoned for development. The transaction follows the same model as Disney's 2014 purchase of Mira Lago, a failed 3,000-acre residential development south of Poinciana. More from the Orlando Sentinel and WSVN.

Holiday gas price outlook looking merry

The holidays can be hard on wallets, but gas prices may not add as much to that strain this year. AAA, the Auto Club Group, predicts that Florida is heading for two-year gas price lows for the holidays thanks to lower oil prices. See the news release from AAA and read more from the Tampa Bay Times.

Florida’s first Latina lieutenant governor to play an active role in an obscure post

Heading into the Jan. 8 inauguration, signs suggest that Jeanette Nuñez will not only have a role to play in the DeSantis administration, but she may become one of the most important lieutenant governors in recent memory. [Source: Miami Herald]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Florida State Fair looking to hire more than 400 seasonal and part-time employees
The 2019 Florida State Fair looks to fill more than 400 seasonal and part-time positions for the upcoming state fair, one of the largest events in Florida. Positions available include admission sellers, ticket scanners, greeters, guest services, décor assistants, phone operators and more.

› FBU National Championship is a 'little piece of gold' for Collier County's economy
This year Football University's national tournament could draw an even bigger crowd. That means it could have an even bigger impact on Collier County's economy than it did in 2017. Last year, the annual tournament attracted 2,300 attendees and an additional 3,500 spectators.

› South Florida’s priciest industrial sales in 2018
Industrial properties in South Florida were in hot demand in 2018, with the top five industrial sales totaling $478 million, outperforming last year’s $401.5 million. The increase stems in part from thriving e-commerce and the resulting need for more distribution centers.

› St. Pete Downtown Partnership CEO sees new chapter ahead
Tropicana Field site redevelopment, marine science, art and commercial real estate are on the agenda for the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership. The partnership’s board determined those priorities and others during a retreat last week, said Jason Mathis, CEO.

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› Hillsborough County's growing housing affordability crisis
Housing experts point to a perfect storm of events for the county’s growing home affordability crisis, and say that several key issues are responsible for driving up prices. First, there is simply not enough federal or state assistance for the lowest income people. Also wages are stagnant and Florida’s population is booming.

› MTV’s ‘Siesta Key’ announces second season
Sarasota County’s time in the national television spotlight will continue. “Siesta Key,” MTV’s locally set and filmed reality show, will return for a second season, the network revealed in a trailer Monday. The new season is scheduled to premiere on Jan. 22 at 9 p.m.

› In sign of real-estate slowdown, Orlando home sales are down and listings are up
Orlando’s red-hot real estate market may be cooling off. The November real estate report from the Orlando Regional Realtor Association released Monday shows home sales are down and the supply of houses on the market is up as interest raise continue to increase.

› U.S. Navy's Blue Angels to perform in Fort Lauderdale Air Show
As the navy blue jet with gold-tipped wings descended to Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport on Monday, a crowd of elected officials and fans pushed their faces against a chain-link fence to watch the F/A-18 Hornet glide along the tarmac.