Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Thursday's Afternoon Update

Florida unemployment claims explode amid coronavirus layoffs

The number of Floridians who applied for unemployment benefits exploded last week, driven by efforts to quell the coronavirus pandemic that shut down businesses and caused mass layoffs. A total of 74,021 people signed up, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday, smashing the old record of 40,403 set in 2009 during the Great Recession. The total was an astronomical jump from the 6,256 claims filed a week earlier. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

Save Our Y announces $4.4 million deal to purchase Sarasota YMCA properties

The former Sarasota Family YMCA has been saved. Save Our Y announced on Wednesday the completion of a $4.4 million real-estate transaction that gives the organization ownership of both the Euclid Avenue and Potter Park properties. The deal was made possible in large part by two gifts of $500,000 from members Jon and Libby Soderberg and an anonymous donor. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Airbnb not responsible for lodging taxes, Florida court rules

Airbnb Inc. and HomeAway.com Inc. are off the hook for potentially millions of dollars in uncollected Florida lodging taxes, after an appeals court ruled the companies have no collection duties because they don’t own the properties on their platforms. More from Bloomberg Tax.

Winter Park-based Timbers Resorts lays off or furloughs staff worldwide

Winter Park-based Timbers Resorts is laying off, furloughing or cutting the pay of a large amount of its workforce across the globe, according to a report in GrowthSpotter. In an email sent to employees Sunday, CEO Greg Spencer said a significant number of its total workforce will either have their hours significantly reduced, will be furloughed, or will be laid-off. Those cuts will affect one out of eight employees at the headquarters office. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

In the face of a pandemic, Miami’s hospitals are going from competitive to cooperative

In South Florida, where healthcare competition can be cutthroat, a group of five non-profit hospitals are creating an informal coalition in response to the novel coronavirus. They’re working together and sharing information — on everything from patients to supplies to financial performance — to ensure that Miami is prepared for a surge of patients due to the pandemic. More from the Miami Herald

Out of the Box
Diner leaves $10K tip at Florida restaurant

 Restaurant workers are feeling the pinch as more people are staying home to avoid exposure to coronavirus. One diner in Florida wanted to help out so he left a tip massive enough for one restaurant’s entire staff to share. “And he said ‘I want each person in this restaurant to get 500 dollars. The manager distributed it to all the employees,” Restaurant owner Ross Edlund said.

» More from WKRG.

 

Business Profile
South Florida Tissue Paper Co.

floridaA South Florida toilet paper manufacturer has, not surprisingly, seen an increase in business during the coronavirus pandemic. The South Florida Tissue Paper Co. in Miami Gardens is working to wipe away the woes of families in short supply. The company typically makes 120,000 rolls of toilet paper per day. However, since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, that number has steadily increased.

» Read more from WPTV.