Florida: News

Florida grabs national attention as new Census data show it is the #2 state for attracting new U.S. residents, #3 state for attracting residents from other countries, and has experienced the 3rd largest population growth since Census 2010. (Read more)

Gainesville ranks among the world leaders in solar installed per capita, beating out Japan, France, and China (and besting California, with 32 kilowatts per 1000 residents). (Read more)

The significant growth of MobileHelp over the last 24 months required relocation to a larger facility for the existing employees and the 55 new employees that are projected to be hired over the next several years. (Read more)

Coca-Cola Refreshments is investing $99 million to expand its Main Street juice production facility in Auburndale. The expansion also includes adding 60 new jobs. (Read more)

ALDI, a select assortment discount grocer, is building a 500,000-square-foot office and warehousing space that will be used for its division headquarters and regional distribution center. In addition to the capital expenditures of approximately $50 million, the company anticipates annual local expenditures of $25 million and a projected retail store investment within the tri-county region of $182 million and 520 new jobs. (Read more)

As Professional Aircraft Accessories broke ground on an expansion project to accommodate 50 new employees, its president says business is going so well, another staff increase of up to 65 jobs is likely in the near future. (Read more)

National Solar Power said it will spend $700 million to develop a 200-megawatt solar farm in Florida's Hardee County, making it the company's second project in the state that has one of the highest per-capita electricity demand in the country. (Read more)

Fort Myers-based Chico's is expanding its corporate offices, creating 150 jobs over the next three years and making an estimated $25 million capital investment. (Read more)

Intellifuel will maintain its headquarters in Titusville and expand to a new facility. With this expansion, the company will more than double its payroll and capital investment in the community. (Read more)

Florida ranks 8th on the Small Business Survival Index, which ranks the policy environment for entrepreneurship across the nation. (Read more)

MEDICA sales 20% above ’10 totals for Florida companies

Tampa International Airport is the only U.S. airport named to CNN's list of the World's Most Loved Airports. (Read more)

Florida metros dominated Forbes' employment outlook rankings, winning 4 of the top 7 spots. (Read more)

Florida's Gulf Coast State College ranks as the nation's #1 fastest-growing public two-year college. (Read more)

Orlando's Valencia College is the nation's best community college, according to a think tank that spent a year studying the schools. (Read more)

Bloomberg Businessweek has ranked three Florida cities (Jacksonville 4th, Miami 7th, Tampa 8th) among the nation's leading cities for technology job growth. (Read more)

In 2010, Florida received the nation's 7th largest number of doctorate degrees. (Read more)

World-renowned aerospace leader Embraer has launched its new Melbourne-based global customer center and delivered its first U.S. built aircraft. (Read more)

Florida's life sciences cluster has been named 1 of 7 Emerging Life Sciences Clusters in the United States in Jones Lang LaSalle's Life Sciences Cluster Report 2011. (Read more)

X-Ray Industries, Inc., a Troy Michigan based privately held aerospace specialty services company, has acquired Arcadia Aerospace Industries, and will invest $1.5 Million in the Punta Gorda facility for new leading edge ultrasonic inspection systems for the inspection of airframe components made of carbon composite materials tripling the capacity of the Punta Gorda facility. (Read more)

Caribbean ocean shipping company SeaFreight Agencies celebrated the grand opening of its 25-acre marine cargo terminal at the South Florida seaport. SeaFreight's terminal is a new facility on a recently completed 41-acre containerized cargo area, which created 15 percent more capacity for containerized cargo at the Port. (Read more)

Colt's Manufacturing Co. LLC announced its commitment to create 63 jobs in Osceola County for its new regional headquarters and product manufacturing center, The center will hire people for engineering and manufacturing jobs, among others. (Read more)