Film Florida says state has lost $1.5B in business since film program lapsed

Florida has missed out on more than $1.5 billion in film, television and digital media business since the state’s program to attract production companies expired, according to Film Florida. The topline figure comes from the statewide trade association’s “Lost Business Map,” which was recently updated with another batch of “known lost opportunities.” All told, the Film Florida map lists nearly 100 projects that would have used more than 250,000 hotel room nights and provided more than 125,000 cast and crew roles for Floridians. [Source: Florida Politics]

Florida Trend Exclusive

Vickie Chachere succeeding Mark Howard as Florida Trend's next Executive Editor

Florida Trend announced that Vickie Chachere will be its next Executive Editor. Chachere, who joined Florida Trend on January 18, 2022, will be taking the reins from longtime Executive Editor, Mark Howard, who will be retiring at the end of March after leading the publication’s editorial operations for nearly 26 years. "As a devoted Florida Trend reader for decades, I am honored and privileged to join this iconic publication and be a part of telling Florida’s complex and captivating story from a new vantage point. As this state grows and its economy rises in global significance, there’s never been a more interesting or important time to explore the people, places and ideas shaping Florida’s future as only this magazine can.” Chachere said. [Source: Florida Trend]

Will omicron end soon? Florida epidemiologist says endemic phase is near

When it comes to pandemic trends, the proof is in the numbers. Florida’s latest COVID status report shows improvement with the number of new cases plummeting last week compared to the week before. “We’re heading in the right direction,” said UCF epidemiologist Elena Cyrus. Cyrus said she is seeing the same pattern. She starts off every week with a COVID update call with the National Institutes of Health and said she is taking note of Florida’s improving new case positivity rate. “We’re either at the peak or very close to the peak,” she said. [Source: WFLA]

Study: Florida's housing market among the nation’s most overvalued

When it comes to metropolitan areas with the nation’s most overpriced homes, Florida and Ohio are leading the pack, according to researchers at Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University. Among the 33 most inflated U.S. markets at the end of December 2021, seven are from Florida, including No. 12 Lakeland and No. 14 Tampa, both at more than 40 percent above historic pricing, according to FAU's Ken H. Johnson and FIU's Eli Beracha. [Source: WPTV]

Florida enters into two opioid settlement agreements totaling over $360 million

Florida has reached two separate opioid settlement agreements totaling more than $360 million with Johnson & Johnson and Endo Health Solutions, Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office announced. The settlement with Johnson & Johnson is for nearly $300 million; the settlement with Endo Health Solutions is $65 million. Both related to their alleged involvement with the national opioid crisis and in Florida. [Source: The Center Square]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Port Canaveral, Volusia to work on attracting businesses, jobs through foreign trade zone [Florida Today]
Port Canaveral is teaming up with Volusia County in an effort to attract more international business and jobs to the region. The Canaveral Port Authority and Volusia County’s Division of Economic Development have signed a memorandum of understanding that establishes a working relationship promoting each other’s geographical and business advantages.

› Gainesville utility manager feeling heat after losing UF contract [Gainesville News]
The head of the city’s utility is once again on the hot seat with Gainesville commissioners after the utility failed to make the list of finalists to develop a plant to supply power to the University of Florida. It isn't the first time GRU General Manager Ed Bielarski has been on the hot seat. Bielarski barely kept his job in September 2021. At the time, Mayor Lauren Poe had added a discussion on the termination of Bielarski’s employment to the agenda.

› Tampa Bay lags in wages, housing, talent compared to peer markets [Tampa Bay Times]
As much as Tampa Bay’s grown in recent years, when you compare it to markets of a similar size, it still sits largely in the middle of the pack. So concludes a new annual report from the Tampa Bay Partnership, a coalition of local business leaders that regularly studies regional civic and economic issues, with aims of improving local quality of life.

› JAX Chamber names 2022 Small Business Leaders of the Year [Jacksonville Daily Record]
The JAX Chamber announced Jan. 24 its list of the 2022 Small Business Leaders of the Year. The 11 business people were selected by the Chamber Councils, the Beaches Division, NextUp JAX and Venture Services. One will be named the 2022 Small Business Leader of the Year during a breakfast reception on Feb.8 at the Adam W. Herbert University Center. The event is presented by TD Bank.

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› Florida group rescuing Americans from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan: report [FOX 13 News]
For the last five months, a Tampa-based rescue group has helped thousands of Americans and green card holders get out of Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, after being left behind in the U.S. government’s withdrawal at the end of August. "We pull Americans, allies and vulnerable Afghans in Afghanistan from the clutches of the Taliban and bring them to safety," explained Bryan Stern, one of the co-founders of Project Dynamo.

› Citrus Recovery Act seeks to update Florida Citrus Commission [Southeast AgNet]
It is set to be a busy legislative session for agricultural interests in Florida. One of the bills making its way through the process is SB 1002, the Citrus Recovery Act. Sen. Danny Burgess (R-District 20) introduced the bill to amend the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC). The FCC is the governing body of the Florida Department of Citrus. The Citrus Recovery Act would make the FCC larger and would revise the geographic coverage that each commissioner represents.

› Miami gold hauler cuts plea deal in huge South American-Caribbean money laundering case [Miami Herald]
A trucking company owner charged with playing a supporting role in a gold-smuggling scheme spanning South America, the Caribbean and South Florida pleaded guilty Monday to submitting false customs documents that concealed the true origins of the gold being imported through Miami International Airport.

› Orlando commits federal dollars toward gun-violence prevention [Orlando Sentinel]
Orlando commissioners agreed to dedicate a portion of pandemic-relief money toward a gun-violence initiative intended to target those most likely to be shot or to shoot others, in hopes of diverting them from crime. The plan is also the first formal spending of Orlando’s $58 million share of funds from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 economic relief bill signed last year.