Agriculture losses could hit $1.56 billion

With its combination of punishing wind and widespread flooding, Hurricane Ian caused up to $1.56 billion in estimated losses for the state’s agriculture industry, according to a University of Florida preliminary assessment. The assessment, by the University of Florida-Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, estimated industry losses at $786.6 million to $1.56 billion, with the largest losses for growers of vegetables and melons, citrus and horticultural crops. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Takeaways from a contentious US Senate debate between Val Demings and Marco Rubio

Democratic Rep. Val Demings and Republican Sen. Marco Rubio argued over abortion rights, recovery efforts from Hurricane Ian and immigration policy on Tuesday night, in the lone debate of a contentious U.S. Senate race that’s set to conclude in three weeks. The contest has been an uphill climb for the Orlando-area congresswoman, in a state that has trended Republican recently and amid a midterm election in which Republicans have momentum, thanks to President Joe Biden’s low approval ratings. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Ian’s impact on incoming businesses to Central Florida

More than three weeks after Hurricane Ian, many are assessing and fixing damage from the storm. Stories and Images of flooded homes and businesses continue to circulate. Both the stories, the images and now the fear of what could happen can affect where someone decides to locate their establishment. WMFE’s Talia Blake spoke with Tim Giuliani, CEO of the Orlando Economic Partnership, about the impact a storm like Ian has on incoming businesses. [Source: WMFE]

How Hurricane Ian affects Florida boat sales, manufacturing, storage, insurance and more

Boat ownership expenses were already increasing before the storm even formed. Boat owners will struggle for years with the difficulty of getting insurance and finding storage, some experts said in the wake of the catastrophic Category 4 hurricane. However, those same industry professionals say the boating lifestyle is so engrained in Florida that it will weather any storm, as it always has done in the past. [Source: Gainesville Sun]

Business tax filing deadlines extended for 6 counties hit by Hurricane Ian

The Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) is extending filing deadlines for businesses in six counties impacted by Hurricane Ian. The order, issued Monday by DOR Secretary Jim Zingale, extends the September and October reporting periods for sales and use tax, reemployment tax and several other tax types to Nov. 23. Returns, reports and payments due from Sept. 23 to Nov. 23 are now due on Nov. 23. Electronic returns and payments must be initiated on or before Nov. 22 at 5 p.m. [Source: Florida Politics]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Pair of Tampa Bay area companies relish unicorn status [Business Observer]
The state of startups in Florida, at least in terms of receiving investments and growing in valuation, is red hot. That’s a big takeaway from the sixth annual State of Startups in the Southeast report, compiled by private equity firm Panoramic Ventures. The report found that “like prior years, Florida-based startups raised the most amount of capital over the five-and-a-half-year period and 2022 is shaping up to exceed record-setting 2021 numbers.”

› Orlando housing market among fastest-cooling in Florida [Orlando Business Journal]
Orlando was named the ninth-hottest housing market in the country at the start of 2022, but it's now listed as one of the metros where the residential real estate industry is cooling the fastest. Orlando landed at No. 14 in a recent ranking of the housing markets slowing the most among the nation's biggest metros.

› Popular Jacksonville craft brewery wins top honors for beer at national competition [Florida Times-Union]
Popular Jacksonville microbrewery Wicked Barley Brewing Company struck gold at the prestigious Great American Beer Festival. Wicked Barley won a gold medal for its "Argument Starter," an American Amber/Red Ale, awarded Oct. 8 during the 40th-anniversary competition in Denver, Colo.

› Split City Commission eliminates single-family zoning in Gainesville [Gainesville Sun]
Following months of controversy and debate, a measure eliminating exclusionary zoning has become the law of the land in Gainesville. As anticipated, the Gainesville City Commission voted 4-3 Monday to ditch single-family zoning throughout the city. It is the first city in Florida to do so. The hotly contested ordinance will immediately go into effect, although opponents have threatened legal challenges and new commissioners starting in January have pledged to overturn the change.

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› Florida county sees spike in deadly infections caused by "flesh-eating" bacteria after Hurricane Ian [CBS News]
In Lee County — where Ian made landfall on Sept. 28 as a Category 4 hurricane — officials say storm surges and subsequent flooding led to a spike in potentially deadly infections caused by Vibrio vulnificus, a species of bacteria found in warm, brackish water that typically comes in contact with humans through raw or undercooked seafood.

› Fort Lauderdale fiasco: Auditor shines light on how concert costs ballooned to $500k [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
It was a high-priced summer concert that drew a chill crowd of R&B fans to Fort Lauderdale’s Mills Pond Park. The $500,000 event — four hours of star-studded entertainment for around 5,000 to 10,000 locals — also served up a sharp warning on how City Hall can blow a budget. City Auditor Patrick Reilly, the man in charge of shining a light on fraud, waste and abuse at Fort Lauderdale City Hall, has uncovered a slew of problems with this year’s Summer Jamz concert. For starters, it cost well over its $152,400 budget. Taxpayers are picking up the tab.

› FIS appoints Stephanie Ferris as CEO [Jacksonville Daily Record]
Fidelity National Information Services Inc. announced Oct. 18 that Stephanie Ferris, who was appointed president of the company in February, will become chief executive officer Jan. 1. Current CEO Gary Norcross will become executive chairman of the board on that date. Ferris, 49, had been chief financial officer of Worldpay Inc. and joined FIS when the financial technology company acquired Worldpay in 2019.

› Historic resort laying off 238 employees [Business Observer]
South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island is laying off 238 workers after being forced to close because of damage caused by Hurricane Ian. The resort announced the layoffs to the state Tuesday morning, Oct. 18. In a letter posted on Florida’s WARN database, the resort says it “was severely impacted by the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian, resulting in the cessation of resort operations for the foreseeable future.” As a result, the resort will “temporarily reduce the number of employees.”