AGP Executive Report

Workforce & Training: Orlando-area manufacturing and tech leaders are getting a boost from the new Foundry School effort, aimed at connecting universities with industry to build job-ready talent as Florida expands Workforce Pell Grant-eligible programs for fields like advanced manufacturing, aviation and welding. Local Business Growth: Portrait Bank opened in Winter Park as Central Florida’s first de novo bank in nearly a decade, backed by $43M from 256 local investors to bring more relationship-based banking for small-to-midsize businesses. Small Business Recognition: Charlotte County spotlighted veteran entrepreneur Zack Mutnik, owner of Mutt’s Electric, in its “40 Under 40” program. Construction & Procurement: Orange County Public Schools and Ovation Construction earned a Job Order Contracting Award of Merit for a $511K Stone Lakes Elementary playground replacement. Cybersecurity for SMBs: A new review profiles seven Florida cybersecurity providers, highlighting options for small and mid-sized firms that need managed security, compliance help and incident response under one contract. Energy Costs & AI Data Centers: The U.S. House passed the Ratepayer Protection Act, pushing large-load data centers to cover the full costs of grid upgrades instead of shifting bills to families and small businesses. Entrepreneurship & Community: ANY LAB TEST NOW Jacksonville owner Randi Beesing was named 2026 Franchisee of the Year by the International Franchise Association.

Talent & Hiring: Florida State University’s “Talent Lives Here” career fair drew nearly 900 students and nearly 30 local employers, pushing the message that growing businesses can hire right in Tallahassee. Small Business Growth: Charles Schwab Bank is backing The DEC Network at Fort Worth, expanding a nonprofit hub for entrepreneur education, coaching, and networking. Local Business Spotlight: Chicken Salad Chick opened a new Sarasota restaurant, with a grand-opening week of giveaways and community events. Policy & Cost Pressure: Independent Florida gubernatorial candidate Frank Russo proposes a 9.9% marginal personal-income tax on taxable income above $1 million, aiming to fund affordability and reinvestment. Real Estate & Demand: Miami-Dade is on track for a record year of $10M+ home sales, fueled by out-of-state and international capital. Community & Culture: A Venezuelan entrepreneur expanded Rivero’s Street to Panama City, growing from food truck roots into a multi-location concept. Tech & Business Visibility: Tampa-based Pressfront launched a fixed-price press distribution service designed to help small businesses show up in AI answer engines.

Banking & Growth: Charles Schwab Bank is backing entrepreneur support in Florida by expanding its partnership with The DEC Network, opening The DEC Network at Fort Worth to deliver business education, mentorship, and networking for small business owners. Local Business Spotlight: Chicken Salad Chick is opening a new Sarasota location, rolling out grand-opening specials and giveaways tied to the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Construction Hiring: Iridium Development, a Florida luxury home builder, says it’s strengthening operations statewide and is seeking experienced project management talent for a growing pipeline. Policy & Cost Pressure: Independent Florida gubernatorial candidate Frank Russo proposes a 9.9% millionaire tax above $1 million to fund affordability and future investment. Data Center Backlash: Democratic candidate David Jolly renews criticism of large data centers after visiting Northern Virginia, citing noise, health impacts, and pressure on local real estate. AI Visibility for SMBs: Tampa-based Pressfront launches a fixed-price press distribution service designed to help small businesses get picked up by news sites used by AI answer engines. Franchise Success Stories: A Florida franchisee profile highlights how recurring-revenue fitness brands keep attracting operators, with lessons from prior business ownership.

Local Business Expansion: Chicken Salad Chick is opening a new Sarasota location at 6650 Fruitville Road, with a Sept. 29 grand opening that includes giveaways like free chicken salad for the first 100 guests. Franchise Growth: Ideal Nutrition, a Florida-based prepared meal brand, renewed and expanded its Square partnership as it scales from 17 locations toward a national footprint. Small-Business Marketing: Elevate Marketing Solutions updated its guide for chiropractic and wellness clinics on designing websites that convert visitors into appointment requests. Tech & Small Business Visibility: Tampa-based Pressfront launched a fixed-price press distribution service aimed at getting small businesses published on sites relied on by AI answer engines. Policy Watch (Florida): U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor’s Ratepayer Protection Act cleared the House, pushing large AI data centers to cover incremental power upgrade costs instead of shifting them to families and small businesses. Consumer Costs: Florida AG James Uthmeier joined a lawsuit against Amazon over alleged hidden advertising surcharges that regulators say raised prices for consumers and sellers. Real Estate & Wealth: Miami-Dade is on track for a record number of $10M+ home sales in 2026, reflecting continued high-end buyer demand.

AI & Local News Visibility: Tampa-based Pressfront launched a fixed-price press release distribution service aimed at getting small businesses into the sources AI answer engines and Google rely on, with a publish-or-refund guarantee and distribution across 300+ news sites. Data Centers & Power Costs: The U.S. House advanced the Ratepayer Protection Act, pushing large AI data centers (100+ megawatts) to cover incremental grid upgrade costs so families and small businesses aren’t stuck with the bill. Florida Politics & Housing Taxes: Citrus County business leaders say Amendment 3 targets the right problem (property-tax burden) but could have unintended local impacts, even as it boosts homestead exemptions. Retail Expansion: Chicken Salad Chick opened in Sarasota, adding a new local location and a week of grand-opening promotions. Franchise Growth Tech: Square expanded its partnership with Florida meal brand Ideal Nutrition as it scales from 17 Florida stores toward a national footprint. Consumer Protection: Florida AG James joined a federal lawsuit against Amazon over alleged hidden advertising charges that regulators say can raise costs for small sellers and consumers. Local Business Spotlight: A Venezuelan entrepreneur expanded Rivero’s Street in Panama City, building a growing footprint for Venezuelan street food in the Panhandle.

Local Business Expansion: Chicken Salad Chick is opening its first Sarasota County restaurant at 6650 Fruitville Road, with a Sept. 29 grand opening that includes giveaways and appearances tied to the V Foundation. Franchise Growth & Tech: Ideal Nutrition, a Florida prepared-meal franchise, renewed and expanded its Square partnership as it scales from 17 Florida locations toward a national footprint. Small-Business Marketing: Elevate Marketing Solutions updated its guide on designing websites that convert patients for chiropractic and wellness practices, emphasizing “strategy first, design second.” Immigrant Entrepreneurship: A Venezuelan business owner is expanding in Northwest Florida, building a growing footprint after relocating and restarting from scratch. Policy & Costs for SMBs: The U.S. House advanced the Ratepayer Protection Act to keep large AI data centers from shifting power upgrade costs onto households and small businesses, and Florida’s AG joined a lawsuit against Amazon over alleged hidden advertising charges that regulators say raise costs for sellers. Real Estate & Wealth: Miami-Dade luxury home sales at $10M+ are on pace to set a new record, reflecting continued high-end cash inflows into Florida. Community & Events: TEDxOrlando returns Oct. 17 with 13 speakers and live performances focused on “The Space Between.”

AI & Power Costs: The U.S. House advanced the Ratepayer Protection Act, pushing large AI data centers (100+ megawatts) to cover the full cost of power and grid upgrades so families and small businesses aren’t stuck with the bill. Florida Tech & Politics: David Jolly renewed his push against large data centers after a Northern Virginia visit, citing noise, health impacts, and local real estate pressure. Consumer Protection: Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier joined a federal/state lawsuit against Amazon over alleged hidden advertising charges that regulators say inflated costs for sellers and consumers. Local Business Growth: Ideal Nutrition, a Florida prepared-meal franchise, renewed and expanded its Square partnership as it scales beyond 17 locations. Retail & Food Openings: Guaca Go opened in Royal Palm Beach, adding a second wave of Florida Fresh-Mex bowls and made-to-order guacamole. Construction & Housing: Toll Brothers opened Summercrest in Estero with new luxury townhomes starting in the mid-$500,000s. Litigation Risk: A new report flags Texas “nuclear verdict” trends—an issue that small businesses nationwide are watching closely. Banking Recognition: Home BancShares earned fresh Forbes and Bank Director rankings for mid-size bank performance.

Florida Dealmaking & Growth: Orion180 Insurance Group priced its IPO of 20M shares at $12, with shares set to start trading Sept. 18 on Nasdaq as “OIG,” signaling fresh capital for Florida’s insurance innovation. Local Business Expansion: Guaca Go opened its second Palm Beach County location in Royal Palm Beach, adding another fast-casual option built around made-to-order guacamole and bowls. Startup Ecosystem: Tampa Bay Wave says its portfolio has now raised more than $2 billion since 2013, with 670+ startups supported and 34 exits—plus a recent EDA grant to keep backing high-growth founders. Small-Business Leadership: Kymone Hinds urged Tampa-area entrepreneurs to “start with what they have,” arguing overlooked skills can become a real income stream. Policy & Costs: Orlando gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds pushed to broaden hotel-tax uses for transportation and infrastructure, while also weighing how AI data centers and property-tax reform could affect local businesses. Business Compliance Watch: Credit Acceptance reached consent judgments with New York and other attorneys general, including $60M for consumer relief and debt waivers for certain customers. Community & Ethics: Florida’s Commission on Ethics is set to review a proposed fine and sanctions for Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa tied to conflicts involving COVID-era small-business recovery funds.

Local Business Talent: Beloit’s inaugural EntreCon Midwest drew 230+ registrants, modeled on a Pensacola concept started by Sky Carp owner Quint Studer—aimed at helping small businesses build talent without the travel costs. Hispanic Heritage & Media: HITN will premiere “El Sueño Americano,” a Spanish-language edition of “Amerigo,” spotlighting today’s American Dream and new data on Hispanic/Latino entrepreneurship. Smart Home Resilience: Coral Gables smart-lighting firm Advanced Automation Programming says hurricane-ready designs should restore lighting scenes without internet during outages, sharing a homeowner field test. Urban Housing Fight: Miami’s Little Havana rezoning plan would allow buildings up to 12 stories with incentives, after a 7–3 vote at the planning stage—raising identity and control concerns. Business & Compliance: Credit Acceptance reached a multistate AG resolution, paying $60M for consumer relief plus $15.5M to attorneys general and offering debt waivers. Energy Costs for SMBs: A House-passed “Ratepayer Protection Act” would set a federal standard to stop households and small businesses from footing electricity infrastructure bills tied to data centers. Regional Growth: UNF trustees selected Michael Shannon as the university’s next president, pending final state approval.

Data Center Cost Fight: The U.S. House passed the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act (417-3), pushing states to make large data centers cover the full, incremental cost of grid upgrades—an affordability issue that hits small businesses when power bills rise. Florida Business Impact: The bill is co-sponsored by Florida Rep. Kathy Castor, and Florida’s own utility-data center disputes keep heating up. Local Jobs Watch: Amazon says it will close a Port St. Lucie fulfillment center, with a state filing citing 494 layoffs, while the company claims more transfers are possible. Startup/VC Accountability: A Florida arrest highlights alleged misuse of VC funds by a tax-compliance startup founder, underscoring risk for early-stage investors and small-business customers. Innovation Funding: NSF launched a $20M pilot to help small businesses commercialize deep-tech and avoid the “valley of death,” with UCF tied to the effort. Community & Talent: UNF trustees selected Michael P. Shannon as next president, pending state approval. Small Business Skills: A new AI training push from NAN frames practical AI education as a civil-rights issue for Black communities.

Energy Costs Pressure: Diesel and gas prices keep climbing amid the Iran-related disruption, forcing Florida families to cut back—some even pausing therapy—while small businesses brace for higher operating costs. Workforce Shock: Amazon is set to close a Port St. Lucie fulfillment center, with a state filing citing 494 layoffs, while the company says it’s aiming for transfers to other South Florida sites. Funding for Innovation: The NSF announced a $20M, two-year pilot to help small businesses commercialize deep-tech and avoid the “valley of death,” with UCF playing a key role. Local Tech & Jobs: Univision Computers, a managed IT firm serving Central Florida and beyond, earned a spot on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies. Power-Grid Fight: Florida’s PSC is pressing Duke data-center opponents to redact internal cost projections, as the debate heats up over whether small business and households will pay higher electricity bills. AI Skills for Seniors: OpenAI Academy and AARP’s OATS launched a free in-person “AI Skills Jam” to help older adults use AI safely and spot scams. Community & Culture: Swim Week of the Palm Beaches returns Sept. 25–27 at Amrit Ocean Resort, blending fashion, wellness, and local business networking.

AI Power Costs Fight: The U.S. House is fast-tracking the Ratepayer Protection Act to stop AI data centers from pushing grid upgrade bills onto households and small businesses, with large facilities (100+ megawatts) required to cover infrastructure costs. Workforce Training: OIC of South Florida marks 25 years of training and says it’s ramping up skills development as AI reshapes hiring needs. Small-Business Marketing Tools: TypeSite.io, a St. Pete firm, launched flat-fee Facebook and Instagram ads management for local businesses after building 2,200 websites. Local Elections & Community: Miami Gardens voters head to a Nov. 3 runoff for City Council Seat 4 between educator Mykita Cherry-Prime and youth football leader Roderick “Rod” Mack. Hispanic Entrepreneurship Spotlight: Tampa Bay’s Hispanic-owned businesses keep growing, while a new national ranking highlights Florida metros (including Pembroke Pines, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando) as top spots for Hispanic entrepreneurs. Deep-Tech Funding: NSF is putting $20M into a pilot to help small deep-tech companies move from research to commercial markets via UCF’s commercialization institute. Class Action Watch: New securities class actions were filed involving Avis Budget Group and Celsius Holdings, with Florida courts named in the filings.

Hispanic Business Growth in Tampa Bay: Blind Tiger Coffee Roasters owner Roberto Torres says his Tampa Bay business grew to nine locations and nearly 1 million customers last year, while also pushing for more Hispanic entrepreneurs to get access to capital and mentorship. Local Entrepreneurship Support: Polk County Women Mean Business is building a women-focused network in Lakeland with peer mentorship, mental health resources, and referrals through its Confidence Closet and Indoor Market. Startup & Innovation Pipeline: Florida High Tech Corridor and Tampa Bay Wave are expanding their partnership to route more innovation-driven startups into accelerator and investor-readiness programming across the Corridor’s 23-county region. De Novo Banking Watch: De novo banking momentum is rising, with New Orleans’ Nola Bank opening and a new Florida startup bank (Portrait Bank in Winter Park) set to launch soon—signaling more charter activity for small-business lenders. Community Events for Business Owners: Palm Beach Hispanic Bar Association kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month with “Taste the Culture,” bringing together 11 restaurants and local business leaders in West Palm Beach. Franchise Expansion: The Spice & Tea Exchange is adding new franchise agreements, including a Vero Beach, Florida location, as franchising continues to heat up in the Southeast. Workforce/Skills: Jones College received a grant to expand free community journalism classes, with plans for spring courses and new multimedia equipment.

Community Banking Push: Louisiana entrepreneur Henry Coaxum launched Nola Bank in New Orleans, aiming to fill a community-banking gap as the industry consolidates, starting with $29M in assets and a focus on minority communities. Small-Business Cost Pressure: Florida small business owners are feeling the squeeze from higher diesel and energy costs, with ripple effects on materials, fuel surcharges, and grocery prices. Startup Incubation in Tampa Bay: USF CONNECT renewed its Tampa Bay Technology Incubator lease for five more years, keeping wet and dry lab space available to help commercialize university tech. Local Growth Recognition: Coastal Investment Company (Winter Park) was named No. 1 among UCF alumni-owned businesses in the Ever Upward fastest-growing Knight list. Education-to-Workforce: Florida Atlantic University earned an APLU Innovation & Economic Prosperity designation, highlighting partnerships that support innovation, entrepreneurship, and talent development. Entrepreneur Events: EntreCon Midwest is set to draw 225+ attendees in Beloit, building on a Florida-born model that connects business owners around shared purpose. Insurance Planning for Coastal Risk: A Massachusetts coastal town is using a new digital approach to model how resiliency upgrades could change insurance costs—an idea Florida coastal businesses may watch closely. Local Business Spotlight: Plumbing Detectives LLC shared a homeowner guide on water-heater anode rods, a practical maintenance tip for Southwest Florida owners. Banking Support for Founders: Bank of America awarded a $16,000 grant to FSU’s Jim Moran Institute to boost small business growth and income creation in Leon County. Franchise Leadership: The Spice & Tea Exchange CEO Amy Freeman highlighted franchise success built on supporting owners and protecting the guest experience.

Small-Business Funding Boost: Bank of America just awarded a $16,000 grant to Florida State University’s Jim Moran Institute to help Leon County entrepreneurs with education, mentorship, and financial and technical support. Workforce Pipeline: Florida Atlantic University earned an APLU “Innovation & Economic Prosperity” designation, highlighting its partnerships that support entrepreneurship and job growth. Tech Commercialization Push: The NSF launched a $20M, two-year pilot to help small businesses move late-stage deep-tech from lab work to real products—aimed at closing the “valley of death.” Local Business Ops Tip: Plumbing Detectives LLC shared a homeowner guide on water-heater anode rods, calling it a commonly missed corrosion-protection component. Policy Watch: A new bill by Rep. Frederica Wilson would add job-protected leave for parents to attend school and youth activities, expanding on existing federal leave rules. Business Growth Spotlight: A Tampa marketing agency was named among America’s top 100 small businesses, adding more visibility to Florida SMBs.

SMB Growth Spotlight: Launch Vector says a skincare/cosmetics portfolio business hit $1M+ cumulative profit in about 4.5 months after a roughly $1.1M acquisition, with August results showing $4.24M net sales and $991K net income—an early sign of strong margins and ad efficiency. Health Tech Update: BioNTech and OncoC4 released updated gotistobart (CTLA-4 targeting) Phase 3 data in squamous NSCLC, reporting median overall survival of 18.5 months vs. 10.0 months with standard chemotherapy. Local Business & Community: A Trenton “Almost Fall Festival” at Doulberly Farm drew 70+ vendors, giving new small businesses like Little Oma’s Bakery and Little Slime Lab a chance to market directly to neighbors. Hiring Watch: NFIB reports small business hiring cooled slightly in August, with fewer owners planning to add jobs and continued trouble finding qualified applicants. Fraud Enforcement: Federal prosecutors say an ESOS Rings founder in Boca Raton lied to investors about smart-ring patents and Apple acquisition talks, setting up a fraud case that begins jury selection Monday. Real Estate Demand: Cipriani unveiled two Miami penthouses at its branded tower, with listings totaling $53M, underscoring continued appetite for high-end branded residences. Policy & Costs: A WLRN Sunshine Economy Summit will bring Florida gubernatorial nominees David Jolly and Byron Donalds to discuss housing affordability, insurance costs, workforce changes, and investment.