Money grows on trees: Florida’s forest industry pumps billions into state economy

Florida isn’t just about beaches and theme parks; it’s a powerhouse of timber and grit. A fresh study from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has revealed that the state’s forest industry is a massive pillar of the economy. The scale of the industry is rooted in the land itself. Roughly 16.76 million acres—nearly half of Florida’s total land mass—is covered in forest. This vast landscape feeds a manufacturing machine that produces everything from standard lumber and paper to packaging and renewable biomass energy. [Source: Tampa Free Press]

Florida Trend Exclusive
They can’t drive 55

In rural St. Lucie County in February, a slew of dump trucks, excavators and bulldozers crawl over the flat expanse, busily shifting tons of earth. They're crafting a $200-million development, the P1 Motor Club, centered on racetracks and garage townhouses. Think of it as a 650-acre country club for motorsports. "It's a massive project," says Al Guibord, a P1 founding partner. It's the latest development in Florida building on the relatively new business model of motorsports clubs. [Source: Florda Trend]

What to know about Florida’s surrogacy laws amid state fight

Florida’s surrogacy laws were put in place in 1993 and have remained largely untouched since. The state requires all surrogacy cases to include a contract between the surrogate and the legally married commissioning couple. State law also says that the couple seeking the surrogate must agree to take custody of the child regardless of any physical impairment. The laws may soon change. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Spirit Airlines workers from Florida sue company over abrupt shutdown

Spirit Airlines’ abrupt shutdown this month was too abrupt under the law, a group of terminated employees allege in a proposed class-action lawsuit. Their complaint, filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, asserts that management misled its workforce about its prospects for staying in business and still owes employees back pay and benefits after going out of business. More from the South Florida Sun Sentinel and the Miami Herald.

EPA wants to roll back rules for a toxic gas. What it means for Florida

Top federal environment officials are proposing to weaken rules for companies that emit ethylene oxide, a toxic gas that polluted a residential area of Tampa Bay in recent years. Starting about a decade ago, a sterilizer plant in Temple Terrace relied on the gas to clean medical tools. The company worked under federal standards that dated to the 1990s and allowed the business to use tons of the carcinogen while releasing gas into the community without filters. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Is your Florida business a cybercriminal’s next target?

Rapid technological innovation, from robust cloud infrastructure to generative Artificial Intelligence and machine learning has transformed how organizations operate. While these tools drive speed and efficiency, they must be implemented with an intentional strategy and strong safeguards to manage growing cyber risk. According to the most recent FBI Internet Crime Report, Florida had the third most complaints among states, and losses topped more than $1 billion annually, also the thid-highest loss in the nation. This begs the question; why is Florida a target for cybercrimes? [Sponsored report]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› John Morgan says Rays are headed to Orlando if Tampa stadium deal fails [Tampa Bay Times]
If the Rays fail to get approval to build their planned new stadium in Tampa, personal injury attorney John Morgan said the team will relocate to Orlando. Morgan said he doesn’t think the Rays will be able to strike a deal with Tampa and Hillsborough County to provide funding for the $2.3 billion ballpark on the Hillsborough College campus. The team plans to contribute $1.235 billion, plus cover insurance, repairs and cost overruns.

› Jacksonville to explore $35 million in incentives for Culinary Institute of America campus [Jacksonville Daily Record]
The city of Jacksonville would provide $35 million in incentives to the Culinary Institute of America to establish a campus in the city under a new proposal headed to City Council. The legislation confirms speculation that the city was exploring incentives for the CIA, which had been code-named Project Caymus in city documents.

› You’re never too young to be the boss: South Florida’s young entrepreneurs [New Pelican]
Most people picture entrepreneurs as older, polished figures in corner offices, moving through boardrooms with years of experience etched into every decision. But in reality, entrepreneurship is often scrappy and surprisingly young. Today’s entrepreneurs can be in their teens or twenties, turning ideas into brands long before the world catches up to recognize them.

› Cruise growth could add $100 million to Tampa Bay region, port says [Tampa Bay Business & Wealth]
Port Tampa Bay’s planned fourth cruise terminal has become a near-term necessity as cruise demand pushes the port beyond existing capacity. After handling a record 1.66 million passengers in 2025, Port Tampa Bay expects roughly 1.8 million passengers and 394 cruise ship calls this year. In March alone, the port scheduled 51 cruise ship visits, the highest monthly total in its history, while the number of days when all three terminals operate simultaneously has climbed to 53 this year from roughly 20 in prior years.

More stories ...

› Miami may branch out to add to tree canopy [Miami Today]
As Miami weighs changes to its tree protections, residents could soon play a more direct role in shaping how the city preserves and expands its urban canopy through a new citizen-led advisory board. City commissioners are to hear a proposal today to create the Miami Tree Ordinance Advisory Committee, a 10-resident panel that would help guide policies surrounding tree preservation, canopy protection and urban forestry.

› New development proposed for former Flea World site [Orlando Business Journal]
A new development proposal has been made for a portion of the former Flea World site in Sanford. Goodwill Industries of Central Florida has pitched 180,000 square feet of development on 14 acres along U.S. 17/92 in Sanford. The nonprofit made a pre-application to the county, which means staff will review the proposal and comment, but it will not go before the county's development review committee yet.

› Leon County minority business program faces end under anti-DEI law [Tallahassee Democrat]
Leon County commissioners scorned recently passed legislation that will dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion efforts for minority- and women-owned businesses at the local level. They said their hands were tied but ultimately moved forward with scheduling a June 9 public hearing on the county's Minority/Women Business Enterprise Participation Program — the first sign of the death knell for a program that many small businesses have relied on for access to county and city work.

› This French bakery in Coral Gables was just named one of the best in the country [Miami Herald]
A Coral Gables bakery was just named one of the best French bakeries in the country. Tasting Table, a digital media brand and website, chose 14 of its favorite bakeries across the United States, and the Michelin-recommended Bachour in the Gables made the list. Tasting Table praised Bachour for its croissants, which are “no ordinary croissants.”

Florida family fighting for special education help in school