Floridian perceptions mixed as economic growth outpaces expectations

Consumer sentiment in Florida inched down for a second consecutive month in October to 66.2, dropping one-tenth of a point from a revised figure of 66.3 in September. Meanwhile, national consumer sentiment saw a larger drop of 4.1 points. Inflation has fallen over the past year, the labor market has shown surprising resilience, and continued economic growth has consistently outperformed expectations. Yet, consumer sentiment among Floridians has remained persistently low. [Source: UF News]

Do popup stores like Spirit Halloween trick-or-treat Florida's economy?

Marc Sardy, Associate Professor of Business at Rollins College, explains how popup stores like Spirit Halloween impact the economy in Florida. He says, "We may very well see more of these sort of pop up type businesses happening not just around Halloween, but you may see more of it happening around Christmas and other major holidays as well." [Source: WMFE]

Florida minimum wage increase to $12 an hour could change the way local businesses operate

Ben Guzick, a Gainesville bakery owner, is evaluating how he needs to run his business after the recent increase in Florida’s minimum wage to $12 on Sept. 30. The minimum wage will increase by $1 annually until 2026 when it reaches $15 an hour. This went into effect on Nov. 30, 2020, when Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment to increase the state’s minimum wage yearly, according to the Florida Department of Economic Development. Guzick is feeling the effects of the increase and reevaluating what he needs to do next. [Source: WUFT]

As ocean temps cool, divers start returning Florida’s rescued corals back to sea

Cynthia Lewis is finally catching her breath. For nearly four months, Lewis has overseen a lab in the Florida Keys housing more than 5,000 refugee corals rescued from scorching offshore waters. Her staff at the Keys Marine Laboratory on Long Key have faced swirls of heartbreak and hope since mid-July — when a mass coral evacuation began. Now, Lewis is finally coming up for air as the immediate coral crisis abates. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

The My Safe Florida Home program has run dry, for now

If you've been hoping to get financial help hardening your house against hurricane damage through the My Safe Florida Home program, you'll have to wait. The additional $100 million in grant money added on July 1 ran out this month. However, the Department of Financial Services is hoping to ask for more funding during a special session called by the Florida Legislature for a number of issues, including the My Safe Florida Home program. [Source: Gainesvlle Sun]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› South Florida global trade firm moves HQ to Manatee County [Business Observer]
A global trade consulting firm that handles immigration, tax planning, real estate investments and more for clients has moved its headquarters from Boca Raton to Manatee County. The company, Oxford Group Inc., is now based out of SeaPort Manatee, in north Manatee County.

› Port Canaveral commissioners won't get pay raise proposed to legislators [Florida Today]
It looks like Port Canaveral commissioners' pay won't be nearly doubled, as they were hoping. Florida Rep. Tyler Sirois last week said he would not put the proposed raises for port commissioners -- from the current $10,444 to the proposed $20,000 -- into a bill he is sponsoring in the Florida Legislature that changes various sections of the port's charter.

› Lakeland Regional has the 2nd busiest emergency department in the US [Lakeland Ledger]
Lakeland Regional Health has the second busiest emergency department in the nation, according to a new report. Becker's Hospital Review, a medical trade industry magazine, reported there were 199,927 visits to Lakeland Regional Medical Center's emergency department in 2022. That's nearly 550 patients per day.

› How a Miami organization creates spaces for Black women entrepreneurs [Miami Inno]
A growing number of Black women are transitioning away from corporate careers to start their own businesses. Creative Culture Tribe wants to make that journey easier. The Miami organization is a community dedicated to teaching the business of creativity to Black and brown women creators and entrepreneurs.

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› Chutzpah meets hustle: Israel’s ‘Startup Nation’ connects with #MiamiTech [Refresh Miami]
When we think about international tech founders, companies, and investors in Miami, Latin America might be the first to come to mind. Maybe Europe. But if we go a bit further to the east, we will find another ecosystem that is ripe for collaboration with #MiamiTech: Israel. Known as the “Startup Nation,” Israel has one of the top five highest concentrations of startups after Silicon Valley.

› Downtown Orlando venues known for nightlife soon to get daytime business [Orlando Business Journal]
A group of downtown Orlando nighttime entertainment venues that includes the 102-year-old Beacham Theater will undergo a dramatic transformation. Managing Partner John SanFelippo of The Block — the name of the group of venues that includes Beacham, The Social, The Corner, Aero, Patio, 64 North and Planet Pizza — has hired Orlando-based Dap Design to help transform the connected venues at the corner of East Washington Street and North Orange Avenue.

› A first look at St. Petersburg’s tallest condo: 400 Central [Tampa Bay Times]
A luxury condominium poised to be the tallest residential tower on Florida’s west coast is quickly rising in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg. Red Apple Development and Suffolk Construction broke ground on the Residences at 400 Central two years ago. They have completed 11 floors of the 46-story tower.

› Conflict over billing simmers between PACE funding agency and county tax collectors [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
A Florida PACE finance company said it will urge the state Supreme Court to force several Florida tax collectors, including Palm Beach County’s Anne Gannon, to add consumers’ home-repair bills to their tax rolls. Mike Moran, executive director of Florida PACE Funding Agency, said in a conference call on Monday that the tax collectors’ refusal to add assessments for home improvements to their consumers’ tax rolls is causing bondholders that finance the programs to withdraw funding for its improvement programs from its agency.