Florida Trend Exclusive

Is recycling in Florida a waste?

Florida cities, like cities everywhere in the U.S. in recent years, are discovering that hard realities underlie recycling’s virtuous veneer. Each year, Floridians generate 388 pounds of packaging material waste per capita. Packaging materials include plastic bottles and jugs, metal cans, glass containers and cardboard. Some 55% - 215 pounds - of recycling materials go to landfills or incinerators; Only around 45% - 173 pounds - gets sent off to be turned into new products. [Source: Florida Trend]

DraftKings, FanDuel place $10M bets in backing Florida ballot initiative on gambling

Two major online platforms have dropped $20 million into an effort to legalize sports betting in Florida and direct the state’s proceeds from the popular activity to education. DraftKings and FanDuel each contributed $10 million to the Florida Education Champions political committee late last month, according to the state Division of Elections website. [Source: News Service of Florida  ]

Florida is getting wealthier. How Miami’s hometown banking giant is getting a piece of the action

It’s the second-oldest bank in Miami-Dade — and with nearly $20 billion in assets, among the 90-largest banks in the U.S. Yet just like every other institution in the rapidly consolidating world of traditional banking, City National Bank of Florida is finding that these days, it must compete for every asset it can get its hands on. In Florida, there have never been more assets to be had. [Source: Miami Herald]

Boating boom brings increased awareness on safety

Many people turned to boating during the pandemic as a safe way to get outside and enjoy what Florida has to offer, but it's also come with a call for more experience on the waterway. Capt. Lauren DeLuca is the director of operations and safety at Freedom Boat Club in South Florida. She said the boating boom is apparent. "Since the pandemic, people have been on the water like crazy," she said. "The boating industry has tripled, and they don't expect it to stop anytime soon." [Source: WPTV]

Antennas and sunlight-cooling nanoparticles win top Florida-Israel space prize

Among the aerospace technologies that have won funding from a joint research and development program set up by Space Florida and the Israel Innovation Authority are an innovative antenna for satellites and nanoparticle materials to cool down objects using sunlight. Space Florida, the aerospace and space development authority for the State of Florida, and the Israel Innovation Authority, in charge of fostering Israel’s tech ecosystem, on Monday announced the four winners of the program to promote joint US-Israeli R&D projects in the field of aerospace and related technology. [Source: Times of Israel]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Florida Cabinet officers Moody, Patronis cite financial gains. Fried hasn't filed yet. [Florida Trend]
Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, whose family-owned landmark restaurant in Panama City Beach has recently weathered a major storm and a pandemic, reported his net worth grew 2.8 percent in the past year. Fellow Cabinet member Attorney General Ashley Moody, with a fiscal portfolio bolstered by land holdings and investments, saw her net worth go up 21.8 percent over the same time period, according to financial disclosures posted on the Florida Commission on Ethics website.

› How College Park became Orlando’s college town even without a college [Orlando Sentinel]
Orlando certainly has its fair share of colleges and universities — enough to be considered a college town. Big ones like the University of Central Florida, long-established ones like Rollins College and a well-respected community one, Valencia College. While there are plenty of higher-ed options in Orlando, why is it that the area where one would expect a lively college campus — just by its namesake — there are none? What is the deal with College Park?

› House leader: No need for immediate changes to building codes [News Service of Florida]
As the investigation continues into the deadly condominium collapse in Surfside, a top Republican Florida House leader said Monday that lawmakers don’t need to make immediate changes to state building codes. Rep. Paul Renner, a Palm Coast Republican set to take over as House speaker following the 2022 elections, pointed to the inability of the Champlain Towers South condo association to quickly address safety and structural repairs needed for the once 12-story building.

› Heartland BancCorp establishes loan office in Florida panhandle [Columbus Dispatch]
Heartland BancCorp is expanding into Florida. The Whitehall, Ohio-based bank said Monday that it plans to open a loan and deposit office in Destin, in the northwest part of the state, a location the bank has identified as a growth region. It will be led by Senior Vice President Ashley Vannoy, who has more than 30 years of banking experience.

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› Applicants sought for judicial vacancy [Jacksonville Daily Record]
Because of the retirement of Circuit Judge Karen Cole, effective Oct. 1, there is a vacancy on the 4th Circuit Court bench. Gov. Ron DeSantis has directed the 4th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission to convene and provide him with up to six qualified nominees for the vacancy. The application form may be downloaded from The Florida Bar’s website at www.floridabar.org or the Office of the Governor at www.flgov.com.

› Fighter pilot training firm to open Orlando tech hub and create jobs [Orlando Business Journal]
A high-tech fighter jet training company will land news jobs in Central Florida as it establishes operations in the region. Santa Monica, California-based Red 6 Inc. will open a technology hub in Orlando, the company announced July 12. The new office is part of the defense startup’s move to Florida, as it also will relocate its headquarters to Miami, the company announced the same day.

› Safari Ltd. to open first toy store in Nocatee [Jacksonville Daily Record]
Educational toy manufacturer and distributor Safari Ltd. announced plans July 9 to open its first retail store, ToyTopia, in St. Johns County. The Nocatee Town Center store is planned to open in January, but that could be moved up in time for the holiday season. The store will encourage children to explore and interact with toys off the shelves.

› More live music heading to Northeast Florida [Action News Jax]
Music lovers, get ready for some more of the world’s biggest artists taking the stage at First Coast venues. More concerts have just been announced at Daily’s Place, the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall and the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. Country, blues, musical, and indie music lovers, you’re in luck; some of the biggest artists and shows are heading to a venue near you this fall.