Thursday's Afternoon Update
New unemployment claims drop again, yet furloughs in Florida drag on
As the first day of fall draws near, the number of Americans filing new weekly unemployment claims is dipping downward — even while businesses around Florida keep extending furloughs for their workers. In Florida, new unemployment claims dropped to a pandemic-low 33,821 for the week ending Sept. 12, although the state’s numbers tend to be revised upward after a few days. More from the Tampa Bay Times, the News Service of Florida, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, and the Orlando Sentinel.
Florida Trend Exclusive
VerdeGo Aero wants to provide new power to aircraft makers
In a hangar in a research park at the airport just across the road from Daytona International Speedway, a team led by pilot engineers with noteworthy backgrounds has built a small, profitable company with a large ambition: To provide the powertrains that will make the electrification of flight not only possible but also economically feasible. More from Florida Trend.
Spirit Airlines to resume direct flights to Colombia for first time since COVID restrictions
Spirit will be the first airline to enter Colombia on an international commercial flight since borders were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. On Saturday, the Miramar-based airline restarts direct travel from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport with a flight to Cartagena. Spirit Airlines will restart flights from Bogota, Medellin and Cali to Fort Lauderdale on Sept. 21. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
As Sally fades, hurricane center focused on 5 more systems including growing Hurricane Teddy
Tropical Sally continues to weaken over Alabama and Georgia Thursday morning, while the National Hurricane Center continues to monitor a crowded Atlantic basin with five more systems churning. The first is the strengthening Hurricane Teddy, which has maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, according to the NHC’s 5 a.m. update. Teddy is expected to become a major hurricane with maximum sustained winds over 111 mph by Friday morning. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
EB-5 fund invests $50M in Hialeah warehouse park - looking for more Florida projects
An EB-5 investment firm searched the state for a potential prosperous development, and decided to bet on a Hialeah warehouse project. And it has another $125 million to drop. CanAm Enterprises, founded 33 years ago in Canada, invested $50 million into the Countyline Corporate Park project in August. The money will fund construction of 1.2 million square feet of warehouse space. More from the Miami Herald.
Business Profile
Jax Pickleball
After operating the European Street Sweets store in San Marco for more than a year and a half, owner Andy Zarka wanted to take a swing at running a new business in the space. On Sept. 8, Zarka, who owns the European Street Cafe restaurants, opened Jax Pickleball, the area’s first equipment store dedicated to the increasingly popular sport in Northeast Florida. He said he became “immediately addicted” to the paddle sport last year.
» More from the Jax Daily Record.
Out of the Box
A Hillsborough native bought a ghost town. He’s riding out the coronavirus there alone.
As the coronavirus pandemic swept the U.S., 32-year-old Brent Underwood was dealing with isolation like the rest of us. He became the newest resident of an abandoned mining town. It wasn’t the first time he’d been to Cerro Gordo. He’d visited multiple times since purchasing the ghost town in the summer of 2018, with big plans to make it a booming tourism destination. But this was the first time he’d be living there — alone.
» Read more from the Tampa Bay Times.