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Florida Trend's Business Florida

Florida has the nation’s fourth-largest economy and third-largest workforce — assets that prompt WalletHub research to reveal that Florida is not only a top-two place to start a business, but also the best business environment in the nation. In the first quarter of 2023, Florida’s real economic growth was ranked 11th in the nation, representing 3.5% annual growth, while the U.S. experienced 2% quarterly growth. [Source: Florida Trend]

Florida presidential preference primary is coming soon. 8 things you should know

With the 2024 presidential race shaping into its final form, it’s time to take a look at key dates for the election. There are several key election dates throughout 2024 that voters need to keep in mind. Florida’s 2024 presidential preference primary election takes place on March 19. More from the Pensacola News Journal and the Tallahassee Democrat.

State urges Supreme Court to uphold tech law

With the U.S. Supreme Court poised to hear arguments next month, Florida is disputing that a 2021 state law placing restrictions on large social-media platforms violates First Amendment rights. In a 50-page brief filed last week, attorneys for the state contended that platforms such as Facebook and X should be considered like telephone companies and said the First Amendment does not give platforms “constitutional license to selectively silence the speech of those they may host.” [Source: News Service of Florida]

Where is the best place to retire? This ranking puts Florida above all for 2024. Here’s why

In August, financial services company BankRate released a list of the best states to retire to. That list ranked Florida in eighth place, placing Iowa in first place because of its affordability. But WalletHub just released its list of the best states for retirement in 2024 and Florida is back on top. Florida has long-been the state that the rest of the country – at least much of the eastern part of the country – couldn’t wait to retire to. [Source: TC Palm]

Florida burns its trash for energy. And now it wants to use climate funds to expand

Trash incineration has been around for more than a century as a way to dispose of waste and generate energy at the same time. Though it’s relatively uncommon in the U.S., it is prevalent in Florida, which plans to expand its current operations, partly with Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits. Proponents say it’s an environmentally responsible way to deal with excess trash. Critics say it’s the exact opposite. [Source: Fast Company]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Boca Raton Innovation Campus nearly 100% leased after 4 firms move in [South Florida Business Journal]
The Boca Raton Innovation Campus is 91% leased after four new tenants opted to move into massive life sciences hub. The new tenants will start moving into their respective spaces within the 1.7 million-square-foot complex, also known as BRIC, later this year, a release from managing landlord CP Group stated. The four incoming tenants are relocating from other office locations within Boca Raton.

› JaxPort signs $136.6 million lease with Enstructure at Talleyrand Marine Terminal [Jacksonville Daily Record]
The parent company of a longtime tenant of JaxPort plans to expand its footprint more than threefold under a lease approved Jan. 22 by the port authority board for acreage being vacated by Southeast Toyota at the Talleyrand Marine Terminal. Enstructure, a terminal and logistics company with corporate offices in Massachusetts and New York, has agreed to a 30-year deal to lease and develop 79 acres of waterfront property at the port.

› Junior Achievement to induct SWFL business leaders into Hall of Fame [Business Observer]
Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida recently announced three area business leaders as laureates to be inducted into the JA Business Hall of Fame. The laureates are Miromar Development Corp. Founder and CEO Margaret Antonier; MY Shower Door Founder and president Bill Daubmann; and MHK Architecture Founder and President Matthew Kragh.

› Hospitality and tourism industry continues to grow in Central Florida [WFTV]
Theme parks, restaurants, and hotels are busy in Central Florida. In 2022, 74 million people visited the area. That’s a 25% increase over 2021. “Almost 40% of our economy is driven by hospitality and tourism,” Pam Nabors, the President and CEO of CareerSource Central Florida, said. “There is big work force needed.” Those packed establishments need workers to meet the demand.

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› As Port Everglades bids adieu to director, cruisers, shippers and even Jeff Bezos see upgrades in services [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
There are no signs at any entrance to Broward County’s Port Everglades that say, “Service your gargantuan superyachts here.” But when crews operating two of them belonging to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos needed dock space last November to park his 417-foot sailing yacht Koru, as well as a companion 250-foot vessel bearing “toys” suitable for a billionaire, the port ended up hosting both for roughly 10 days.

› Cable giant invests $22M in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch projects [Business Observer]
Cable giant Comcast says it has completed a three-year, $22 million infrastructure upgrade project in Sarasota County. The project was designed, the company says in a statement, to bring its Xfinity 10G Network and advanced telecommunications services to industrial parks, retail sites and large residential developments across the county.

› Company that transforms discarded food into energy looking at Jacksonville [Jacksonville Daily Record]
Divert Inc., a West Concord, Massachusetts-based technology company that converts food waste into energy, is exploring sites for a plant in North Jacksonville. With a $1 billion commitment from a Canadian pipeline operator, Divert has announced it expects to add 30 sites by 2031, but has not disclosed the locations.

› Showdown at the Yarborough Ranch: Will developers or the public buy this piece of Central Florida? [Orlando Sentinel]
For environmentalists and conservationists, the 1,314 acres of pastureland tucked near the banks of the Econlockhatchee River in east Seminole County have value that dwarfs their size: They form a critical, as-yet-unpreserved piece of a statewide wildlife corridor that runs from north Florida to the Everglades. Owned by the cattle-ranching family the Yarboroughs for nearly 150 years, the land is dotted with ponds, wetlands and old-growth forest.