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Wednesday's Afternoon Update

Florida’s economy forecast to grow but could suffer from lack of housing

Florida's economy will grow in 2020, but the state will experience growing pains from a lack of housing and a weak transportation network, according to an economic forecast from the University of Central Florida. The forecast released from the school's Institute for Economic Forecasting said that Florida's equivalent of gross domestic product will grow by 2.8% in 2020 and 2021, but it will slow down to 2.4% in 2022. More from NBC Miami and the AP.

See also:
» Florida’s economic growth forecasted to outpace the nation’s, according to economists

DeSantis drives agenda as lawmakers take on teacher pay, abortion, school safety and more in 2020 session

Gov. Ron DeSantis rides into his second legislative session with high approval ratings, universal support from the GOP-led Legislature and even grudging praise from some Democrats. But his political clout is likely to face its toughest test yet in the 60-day legislative session that begins Tuesday, as he pushes an agenda that some of his fellow Republican lawmakers could push back against. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

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On Miami’s menu for food trucks: red tape

More speed bumps could be rolling out for food trucks wishing to operate in the City of Miami. The city commission is to vote on first reading on adding requirements for food trucks operating on private land in the city. The legislation, sponsored by Commissioner Ken Russell, would add more requirements for food trucks present in the same location more than three times a week or parked on site overnight. More from Miami Today.

The future of Tampa’s port: Growth, hurricanes, and rising seas

Paul Anderson says the 2020s will be a decade of growth for Port Tampa Bay. He can see that growth from his fourth-floor office in Tampa’s Channelside district, which overlooks drydocks and cruise ship berths. Anderson was hired as the port’s CEO in 2012. He previously led Jacksonville’s port and was a federal maritime commissioner in the George W. Bush administration. More from WUSF.

City of Jacksonville urged to add new hurdles for any future JEA sales talks

The continuing fallout from JEA’s collapsed sales negotiations shifted this week toward potential changes in the City Charter that would give the City Council a decisive voice in whether a “for sale” sign ever again goes on JEA in the future. More from the Florida Times-Union.

Transportation
More scooter companies apply to operate in Orlando

 Two more e-scooter applications are under review by Orlando City Hall, including one company that has devices with a seat and a helmet attached. Lynx City and Wheels filed the applications in recent days, about a week after two other companies had done so. Between the four applications, they could bring as many as 1,600 total devices to the city if they’re approved in their entirety.

» More from the Orlando Sentinel.

 

Business Profile
Sarasota’s CROP Juice expanding stores, menu

floridaNot too long after trying cold pressed juice for the first time, Karen Odierna had a kind of crazy idea. She wanted to start a juicing business, but not one where the product would be mass-produced and quantity would be emphasized over quality. She wanted it to be vegan, gluten free, served in glass bottles and made with organic produce 100% of the time — not just when available.

» Read more from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.