Thursday's Afternoon Update
Florida sees unemployment claims jump by 170,000 as U.S. jobless hit 6.6 million
Unemployment claims in Florida swelled by about 170,000 last week, as the U.S. added another 6.6 million to its jobless rolls due to the economic fallout from coronavirus. Combined with the last weeks’ figures of 228,484 and 74,021, nearly half a million Floridians now find themselves on the street looking for work. The state layoffs across its economy, including agriculture, construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, retail, and other services industries. More from the Miami Herald and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
AIF, Space Florida and FloridaMakes team up to connect manufacturers with businesses
The Associated Industries of Florida, Space Florida and FloridaMakes have teamed up to launch an online database for Florida manufacturers to connect with businesses in need of their products. Connex Florida was developed in the wake of Hurricane Irma for disaster risk mitigation, but its functionality is just as suited to the chronic woes of coronavirus pandemic as it is the aftermath of a storm. More from Florida Politics.
Florida vegetables an unexpected victim of COVID-19
Mounds of harvested zucchini and yellow squash ripened and then rotted in the hot Florida sun. Juicy tomatoes were left to wither — unpicked — in farmers’ fields. Thousands of acres of fruits and vegetables grown in Florida are being plowed over or left to rot because farmers can’t sell to restaurants, theme parks or schools nationwide that have closed because of the coronavirus. More from the AP.
St. Petersburg salon offers help for Tampa Bay domestic violence victims
As the businesses declared non-essential struggle to remain afloat, St. Petersburg’s B. Blaze Hair Boutique is using its unique drive-through to not only sell wigs and hair extensions, but also to provide help for domestic violence victims. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Orlando Magic hope to start on downtown practice facility in June. It will include a sports medicine clinic open to the public.
The Orlando Magic filed plans with the city last week seeking approvals for the team’s $70 million practice facility with the hope of starting construction in June, according to a report in GrowthSpotter. The plans call for a 100,000-square-foot facility plus a 30,000-square-foot orthopedic and sports medicine clinic operated by AdventHealth, the team’s longtime medical partner. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Business Profile
Performance Copying & Printing
One of the many effects for businesses related to the COVID-19 pandemic is new printing needs. Restaurants offering takeout have to print up new menus, for instance, and health care organizations, hospitals and others have to print new coronavirus guidelines and signage. Manatee County-based printing company Performance Copying & Printing is hoping to ease the cost burden by offering a deep discount on the printing of materials related to the coronavirus.
» More from the Business Observer.
Sports Business
Florida Jai alai makes a comeback
Simply put, jai alai loses less money in a much smaller footprint than horse and dog racing. The business case for it owes to Florida’s patchwork of gambling legislation. Outside tribal casinos, state law allowed casinos only at parimutuels in Miami-Dade and Broward that maintained dog, horse or jai alai operations. To keep the slots, they had to keep racing — and slinging pelotas.
» Read more from Florida Trend.