PPP loans in Florida cost $31.9 billion and saved 3.3 million jobs

The Paycheck Protection Program meant to keep workers employed at small businesses during the first months of the coronavirus pandemic saved 3.3 million jobs in Florida, according to new data on borrowers and loan amounts released by the Small Business Administration. PPP, a program developed in part by Senate Small Business Committee chairman and Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, was part of a massive $2 trillion relief bill that became law in March. [Source: Miami Herald]

Florida consumers more pessimistic heading into holiday season

Heading into the critical holiday shopping season, consumer confidence sagged again in Florida. Consumers, whose spending propels the state economy, showed growing pessimism about future economic conditions and – in a potential danger sign for Christmas shopping – whether now is a good time to buy a big-ticket item, according to the University of Florida’s Consumer Sentiment Index for November released on Tuesday. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

Florida cruise lines extend cancellations into next year. Are your travel plans affected?

Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas voyages that were expected to resume sailing in January 2021 are now canceled until later in the year, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings announced Wednesday. All voyages on Norwegian Cruise Line that were set to embark between Jan. 1 through Feb. 28 and select voyages in March are now canceled, the company said. All voyages on Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises that were set to embark between Jan. 1 through March 31 are also suspended. [Source: Miami Herald]

Thousands of dead rays, shrimp, fish wash up in Florida, drawing memories of 2016 'fish-pocalypse'

The ecological stage seems set along similar plot lines: Too much errant sewage and fertilizer feeds algae that die, rot, and then the bacterial fallout robs fish of oxygen. So when thousands of dead fish lined stretches of Florida's Indian River Lagoon this week, many feared a repeat of 2016's "fish-apocalypse" when tons of carcasses of sea life fouled waterways on the Atlantic side of the state, from Titusville to Melbourne. [Source: USA Today]

Business booming at Snowcat Ridge, Florida’s first snow park

The cold weather is making business boom in Dade City at Snowcat Ridge. The winter wonderland has been wildly popular since its opening just less than two weeks ago. In fact, this weekend is already sold out and organizers recommend planning a week in advance. The park has a massive snow tubing hill, Alpine Village and a 10,000-square-foot snow-covered Arctic Igloo. [Source: WFLA]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Amazon distribution center in Venice has opened [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Amazon’s new delivery hub in Venice is now open. Owen Torres, a spokesperson for the Seattle-based e-commerce company, confirmed that the facility at 770 Commerce Drive in Venice is open and operating. It officially launched in August and currently employs more than 300 full-time and part-time associates who make at least $15 per hour, Torres said. The 111,000-square-foot center is a last-mile facility, meaning it’s the last place a package goes before it hits the customer’s front porch.

› Many Florida caregivers are suffering from burnout, local agencies say [Tampa Bay Times]
More than 2.9 million people in Florida care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s, dementia and other ailments, according to AARP. For many who care for ailing loved ones, the pandemic-induced isolation has increased the stress and loneliness they felt before COVID-19 hit in March.

› Central Florida drug OD deaths up 70% during COVID, report shows [Orlando Sentinel]
During the height of the COVID-19 lockdown, drug overdose deaths rose a staggering 70 percent in Central Florida compared with the same time a year earlier, and a continuing deadly trend is projected through 2020 as the pandemic breeds further isolation, despair, depression and anxiety, a newly released analysis concludes.

› Face masks reduced Tampa Bay coronavirus cases by 1.4 million, says USF professor [Tampa Bay Times]
The Tampa Bay region may have averted up to 1.4 million additional cases of COVID-19 because of face mask mandates from local governments. Dr. Edwin Michael, a University of South Florida College of Public Health professor and an epidemiologist who studies the spread of global infectious diseases, shared that projection Wednesday with Hillsborough County commissioners.

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› Major changes recommended for Lot J deal between Jacksonville and Shad Khan [Florida Times-Union]
The Downtown Investment Authority's staff is recommending major changes to the proposed development deal negotiated by Mayor Lenny Curry with the development team of Jaguars owner Shad Khan and The Cordish Companies. The report by the downtown agency's staff says a $65.5 million no-interest "breadox loan" by the city to the private developers does not appear to be needed for the project to work as a financially successful venture for the developers.

› South Beach food festival postponed over COVID concerns. Here are the new dates [Miami Herald]
Miami Beach’s massive food festival, which draws tens of thousands to South Florida every year, has decided to push back its events until late spring. The South Beach Wine & Food Festival, which announced last month it would go on as an in-person event, will now be held May 20-23, instead of the middle of February, the festival’s founder and director said Tuesday.

› Blue Angels among leaders of newly approved specialty Florida license plates [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
The Florida Legislature revamped the specialty license plate program for the first time in years, allowing for potentially 32 new tags to hit the roads if they have enough interest. Newly approved plates include designs for the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, whose home base is in Pensacola, and even a Walt Disney World plate that would raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

› Florida-based logistics provider ShipMonk raises $290 million on the back of rising eCommerce demand [Tech Crunch]
Jan Bednar started ShipMonk with $70,000 in winnings from a string of student business plan competitions and launched the business that just closed on $290 million in new funding from a small warehouse with no air conditioning in the middle of Florida. While Bednar’s new offices are still inside the warehouse his company operates, they now have air conditioning… and a $290 million financing round from Summit Partners to grow its business.