Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Tuesday's Afternoon Update

Florida's analysts won't revisit economic impact of minimum wage, utility ballot initiatives

The state's top fiscal forecasters said Monday they won't revisit their original financial impact statements for two 2020 ballot initiatives that could cause huge economic ripples in Florida – despite a recent Supreme Court opinion that it should. One measure would boost the minimum wage to $15 an hour over the next five years, and the other would lay the groundwork for dismantling the state's large, investor-owned electricity companies. More from the Tallahassee Democrat and TCPalm.

Florida avocado volume back to normal

Volume of Florida’s green-skin avocados is back to normal this year, following tight supplies last season spurred by Hurricane Irma. Florida growers are expected to produce about 800,000 bushels of avocados between June and April. Last year’s crop was reduced by about 40% as a result of the hurricane. More from the Packer.

Women making inroads in Sarasota-Manatee construction industry

Teresa Mast was surprised when 50 women showed up at the first Professional Women in Building meeting about a year ago. Mast, who is president of the Sarasota custom building and remodeling company The Davin Group, has been blazing her own path in the industry for 26 years. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Downtown Clermont looks to redevelop parking lot into first phase of future arts district

Later this year, Clermont will lay down bricks replacing part of an old downtown parking lot — the first phase in developing what officials hope will catch on as the city’s arts district. Part of Clermont’s $30 million master plan to revitalize downtown, the bricked thoroughfare will be known as the "Art Walk,” where residents can shop and eat. The project is the brainchild of a private-public partnership between the city and The Art District LLC, owned by developer Jayson Stringfellow. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Marion County thoroughbred farms busy despite slow down

Thoroughbred breeding will weaken slightly in 2020, extending a decade-long slow slide in the number of foals born in North America, according to estimates by the breed’s official registry. On Sunday, The Jockey Club estimated only 20,500 foals for 2020, the fewest number of foals produced dating back to 1990. At the same time, the organization lowered the 2019 foal crop estimate fro 21,500 to 20,800. More from the Ocala Star-Banner.

Florida History
'Nightmare scenario’: 15 years since Florida was beaten, bruised by 4 hurricanes in 6 weeks

 The 2004 season painted Florida as a target for strong tropical development thanks to the 'perfect nightmare scenario.' The 15th anniversary of the 2004 storms comes as the 2019 season approaches the peak time of tropical development.

» More from the Orlando Sentinel.

 

Business Profile
BloqUV

floridaAfter Corina Biton quit her job at Neiman Marcus, she was looking forward to one thing: running on the beach. But after 10 months of spending her free time in the sun, Biton noticed her long-sleeved shirts hadn’t protected her from sun spots. Biton went to stores and outdoor retail shows to look for clothing that would protect her outdoors. But she couldn’t find anything she wanted to wear. So she decided to create her own brand to solve the problem: BloqUV.

» Read more from the Miami Herald.