AGP Executive Report

Regulatory Relief Push: Sen. Rick Scott introduced the DUMP Red Tape Act, aiming to give small businesses a permanent direct line to Washington to challenge federal rules that add cost and friction. Property Tax Fight: Florida’s homestead exemption plan is headed to the November ballot, but critics warn it could “defund” key local services and force higher fees or cuts; Jacksonville officials estimate major revenue losses. Small-Business Cash-Flow Warning: Boca Raton debt firm Value Capital Funding says 87% of callers seeking help are stacking merchant cash advances, sometimes up to 13 at once—fueling a debt trap. Local Business & Growth: New Again Houses opened its 65th Pinellas County location, expanding home-buying and renovation services. Workforce Pipeline: Florida’s skilled-trades push highlights apprenticeship funding tied to major local construction demand. Business Spotlight: Two Cats Bookkeeping in St. Petersburg is scaling a women-led, client-first bookkeeping model for service entrepreneurs. Public Safety Impact: “Operation Hammer Time” targets organized retail theft hitting hardware stores and small businesses; one suspect remains wanted.

Venture Funding: Florida Venture Forum and Space Florida picked six early-stage winners for a combined $150,000 investment at the 18th annual Early Stage Venture Conference in Orlando, with additional legal services support from wiggin(x), spotlighting growth in aerospace, defense, and emerging tech. Local Business & Community: Painting with a Twist changed hands in Fort Wayne, a reminder of how “paint and sip” studios keep expanding through small-business ownership. Policy Shock for SMBs: Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan is pushing residents to read the “fine print” on a November ballot property tax phaseout, warning it could cut hundreds of millions in city revenue and hit libraries, parks, public health, and even small-business foot traffic. Branding & Expansion: Native Life appointed FIFA brand designer Jody Ure as lead brand designer and creative strategist as the life and health insurer targets nationwide growth. Workforce & Second Chances: Miami’s Benjamin McNamee turned a difficult past into a freight business and now mentors students and supports formerly incarcerated workers. Fraud & Supply Chain Risk: Officials say a hacked-data shipping ring stole nearly $5M in goods, using fake logs and shipping info—an ongoing threat to retailers and logistics partners. Business Growth Events: Charlotte County Economic Development will host a free New Businesses Networking Event June 16 with SCORE, the Florida SBDC at FGCU, CareerSource, and Goodwill SWFL.

Property Tax Fight: Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia pushed back on claims that DeSantis’ revamped homestead property tax package will starve local services, calling out “scare tactics” and arguing cities and counties have benefited from rising property values. Local Business Impact: Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan warned the same ballot measure could wipe out more than $300M in city revenue by 2029, threatening downtown projects and incentives. Development Rules: Jacksonville advanced an ordinance that would let privately licensed professionals review certain site plans, with automatic approval if the city doesn’t flag issues within 10 days. Small Business & Jobs: Complete Outdoor Living launched a Florida-only franchise program for its outdoor kitchen model, seeking qualified applicants. Trade & Supply Chains: JAXPORT’s expansion is positioning Jacksonville as a bigger Asia cargo gateway, with local leaders pointing to effects on inventory and manufacturing inputs. Entrepreneurship Pipeline: NFTE Southeast selected 10 student ventures to advance to a national showcase in New York this fall. Workforce & Compliance: At Walt Disney World’s Cake Bake Shop, at least 11 former employees filed wage lawsuits alleging minimum wage and side-work violations. Community Resilience: Leon County highlighted “Team Leon,” a local disaster relief effort that supported hundreds of residents and dozens of small businesses after spring 2024 tornadoes.

Franchise Growth: Complete Outdoor Living launched its Florida franchise program and is now accepting qualified applicants to expand its outdoor kitchen design and fabrication model across the state. Healthcare Expansion: Parkview Dental Partners opened a de novo dental practice in Westchase, Tampa, adding to its growing Florida footprint. Tech for SMBs: utilasoft says it’s helping franchisees and small businesses adopt practical AI via custom software, automation, and faster deployments for day-to-day operations. Local Business Growth: Replay Sports Cards signed a Tampa franchise agreement to bring its community-focused card shop concept to the fast-growing market. Construction & Services Demand: FixMold is expanding its certified mold removal and air restoration workforce in Miami-Dade and Broward after call volumes outpaced capacity. Broadband Milestone: Kinetic surpassed 2 million fiber premises passed across its 18-state footprint, signaling continued infrastructure investment. Policy Watch: Florida’s property tax overhaul heads to the November ballot, with local leaders warning revenue could shift and strain services. Community & Culture: South Florida hosts Chav and Lala launched “Comment Culture,” a Caribbean-focused podcast platform blending entertainment, commentary, and business/AI topics.

Property Tax Overhaul: Florida lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment that would expand the homestead exemption—raising it from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028—while requiring local governments to keep remaining property-tax revenue focused on essentials like public safety, education, roads, and natural resources; the measure heads to the November ballot and needs 60% approval. Local Impact Watch: Leon County leaders say the changes could slash local revenue (with one estimate putting the hit at about $84 million) and may force counties to fight the state to stay balanced. Small-Business Compliance: Two government contractors agreed to pay more than $3.6 million over alleged False Claims Act violations tied to set-aside contracts for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. Workforce Shock: After Spirit Airlines’ shutdown, South Florida workers are lining up for help finding new jobs, with a Miami job fair bringing together employers and workforce groups. Disaster Relief Push: U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and AG Ashley Moody introduced the Florida Freeze Disaster Assistance Act, seeking $3.5 billion in direct relief for farmers and ranchers hit by a March freeze. Business Tools: NPSOne and Allen Kopelman released an on-demand webinar on smart invoicing and automated accounts receivable that syncs with QuickBooks.

Property Tax Fight: Florida lawmakers changed Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposed property tax cut plan after warnings it could “bankrupt” local governments, including carving out school district levies; the homestead exemption would rise from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, with a November ballot vote requiring 60% approval. SMB Growth & Services: SPATCO Energy Solutions is expanding its environmental services platform in Florida via acquisitions of Discovery Tank Testing and Tank Wizards; Soaring High Marketing Solutions expanded reputation management support for Miami-Dade and Broward SMBs as review rules tighten. Local Business Milestones: Ship Gulf Coast marked two years in Bradenton, highlighting shipping and mailbox services for small businesses. Workforce & Leadership: PCL Construction promoted Rick Goldman to regional vice president overseeing Florida operations plus Minneapolis. Tech for Cash Flow: NPSOne and Allen Kopelman released an on-demand webinar on Smart Invoicing with real-time QuickBooks integration and automated accounts receivable.

Property Tax Shock for Small Business: Florida lawmakers tweaked Gov. Ron DeSantis’ homestead property tax cut to carve out school districts, but local governments and advocates warn the plan could slash essential services and raise costs that hit renters and small businesses. Local Business Funding Limits: Fort Myers is moving to a public hearing on whether to eliminate programs that support minority-owned businesses after a new Florida law limits local diversity-related spending. Retail Theft Crackdown: Martin County held a news conference on “Operation Hammertime,” alleging an organized smash-and-grab hardware theft ring across 13 counties, with charges including racketeering and burglary. AI Legal Fight: Florida sued OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, alleging ChatGPT was marketed while internal safety warnings were suppressed. Business Growth & Jobs: Shear Media Studios expanded its Tampa Bay production facility for rentals, podcasts, commercials, and livestreaming. Cyber/Crime Impact on Operators: A Jacksonville car wash owner says repeated burglaries left thousands in damage and threatens the business’s future. Small-Business Lending Leadership: USCB Financial Holdings named a new chief credit officer, signaling continued focus on credit risk and commercial lending.

SBA Innovation Push: The U.S. Small Business Administration is launching the Freedom 250 Patriot Pitch Competition, a national pitch event with a $1 million prize pool aimed at spotlighting entrepreneurs and job creators. AI Under Fire: Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier sued OpenAI and Sam Altman, alleging deceptive practices and safety failures tied to ChatGPT, with the case seeking penalties and court orders. Property Tax Fight: Florida lawmakers are weighing DeSantis’ property tax overhaul, including a major homestead exemption increase; critics warn local governments could lose hundreds of millions and cut services like public safety, libraries, parks, and road maintenance. Small Business Growth in Florida: Axiom Bank rolled out end-to-end business loan originations for small businesses using Enable-powered digital lending. Workspace Expansion: Priddy Spaces acquired Venture X Palm Beach Gardens, adding 17,425 sq. ft. of flexible office space with 90%+ occupancy history. Local Hiring/Operations: Byline Bank approved a $26.5 million construction loan for a new industrial logistics project on Florida’s Space Coast near Kennedy Space Center. Bookkeeping Support: Zacosta Bookkeeping in Orlando is now accepting new clients for flat-rate monthly bookkeeping and advisory services, including sales tax and fractional CFO support.

Hurricane Preparedness & Home Safety: A Winter Park entrepreneur is pushing back on Florida’s My Safe Florida Home wind-mitigation grants, saying the program funds shutters that are hard to remove during a fire, while his StormStoppers product is designed to be taken off from inside. Data Centers & Local Business Costs: DeSantis signed SB 484 to curb how hyperscale data centers shift electricity and other costs onto ratepayers, while tightening permitting and transparency and keeping local zoning power. Downtown Jacksonville Restaurant Funding: Jacksonville’s Downtown Investment Authority says its FAB-REP incentives are accelerating for new concepts, including a $590,000 package for Vinyl Room that blends grants and loans to spur dining growth. Property Tax Plan Scrutiny: New filed language on DeSantis’ homestead property tax elimination proposal differs from what was pitched publicly, with lawmakers and analysts flagging missing details and potential impacts on schools and services. Cannabis Business Watch: Fort Myers’ Seed & Bean is closing its downtown location after seven years, as its parent company shifts focus to other markets. Entrepreneurship Interest: A new analysis finds record U.S. business applications in 2025, with Florida ranking near the top and Gen Z showing especially strong startup interest.

Downtown Jacksonville Dining Incentives: The Downtown Investment Authority’s FAB-REP is backing more restaurant concepts, including a $590,000 package for Keane’s Tavern’s Vinyl Room (with a $200,000 forgivable loan), showing a faster uptick in civic support for local food-and-beverage projects. Property Tax Relief Details Under Scrutiny: New Senate language for DeSantis’ homestead proposal (SJR 2F) drops the promised $500,000 cap and reshapes how exemptions could expand, leaving schools and local services watching closely as a special session heads to a November ballot. Small-Business Setup Basics: A practical guide highlights what Florida entrepreneurs should plan for when incorporating—name checks, articles, bylaws, directors’ duties, and ongoing compliance. Entrepreneurship & Growth Signals: LendingTree reports record U.S. business applications in 2025, with Florida ranking near the top, while a pro-crypto congressional hopeful Michael Carbonara liquidated 10 Bitcoin for about $800,000 to fund his campaign. Local Business Moves: Downtown Fort Myers’ Seed & Bean (Florida’s first cannabis café) is closing its downtown location after seven years as the parent company shifts focus to other markets. Hospitality Spotlight: A Miami conversation with Fritz & Franz Bierhaus owner Harald Neuweg spotlights how restaurant culture builds community and repeat customers.

Florida Property Tax Shake-Up: Gov. Ron DeSantis is pushing a special session next week on a homestead property tax elimination plan, but the proposal’s details are drawing confusion—raising the homestead exemption to $250,000 in 2028 and sketching a path to full elimination while leaving key mechanics and impacts still unclear for local budgets and services. Local Housing Progress: Tampa’s Gallery at Rome Yards hit a major construction milestone with the final structural beam placed on an 11-story affordable/workforce housing tower (234 units), with move-in timing still to be confirmed. Small Business & Healthcare Access: ASAP Dental Care expanded evening and weekend hours across Greater Jacksonville to handle urgent dental needs outside standard business times. Restaurant Scene: A Bradenton restaurant and brewery, 3 Keys Brewing & Gastrobrew, announced it will close after this weekend, citing a tough economic slowdown. Cannabis Policy Watch: Federal guidance remains “frustrating” for medical marijuana businesses as officials weigh what Trump’s rescheduling move could mean, with more federal steps expected later. Entrepreneurship Interest: A new LendingTree analysis finds record new business applications in 2025, with Gen Z showing the strongest interest in starting ventures. Space & Jobs Ripple: Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket exploded during a Cape Canaveral test, likely delaying Artemis-related plans and disrupting launch infrastructure.

Property Tax Shake-Up: Gov. Ron DeSantis is pushing a special session next week to eliminate homestead property taxes for primary homes, but the proposal’s details are drawing confusion—raising the homestead exemption to $250,000 in 2028 and leaving the rest to future lawmakers, with questions about how schools, public safety, and local services would be funded. Local Housing Progress: Tampa’s Rome Yards is moving ahead—crews placed the final structural beam on a 234-unit affordable/workforce housing tower, with move-in timing still unconfirmed. Small Business Watch: A Bradenton restaurant and brewery, 3 Keys Brewing & Gastrobrew, says it will close May 31, citing a tougher economy. Entrepreneurship Interest: A LendingTree analysis finds new business applications hit a record in 2025, with Gen Z showing the biggest jump in serious startup interest—Florida ranks among the top states for filings. Workforce & Education: U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds unveiled a “Personalized Success Plan” to map every student’s academic and career path starting by sixth grade, with funding following students into college, trade school, the military, or entrepreneurship. Tech/Space Impact: Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket exploded during a Cape Canaveral test, a setback that could ripple into NASA’s Artemis timeline. Healthcare Access: ASAP Dental Care expanded evening and weekend hours across Jacksonville to handle urgent needs without pushing patients to emergency rooms.

Local Business Closures: A Bradenton restaurant and brewery, 3 Keys Brewing & Gastrobrew, says it will close after this weekend, citing a broader economic slowdown that’s made it “no longer possible” to keep going. Space Coast Shockwave: Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket exploded during a hot-fire prelaunch test at Cape Canaveral, an “anomaly” that could sideline the rocket and ripple into NASA’s Artemis timeline. Healthcare & Small Business Impact: MannKind says the FDA approved Afrezza inhaled mealtime insulin for children and teens age 6+ with diabetes, expanding treatment options for pediatric care providers. Community Commerce: Homestead’s Miami Mega Fashion Expo returns Saturday with fashion, music, food, and dozens of local vendors. Hospitality Hiring & Recognition: AHLA and AHLA Foundation are now accepting nominations for national hotel leadership awards, with winners set to be announced in Miami Beach. Policy Watch for Owners: DeSantis’ push to eliminate or sharply reduce Florida homestead property taxes is heading to a special session, but lawmakers and groups are already questioning how schools and local services would be funded. Defense Tech Procurement: Drone procurement is entering a new capital cycle, with U.S. funding and policy shifts aimed at accelerating domestic drone manufacturing. Local Growth: LGI Homes opened Trails West, a 529-home community near Jacksonville, with homes starting in the $240s. Food Scene: Pensacola’s A Mano Panino earned a Michelin Guide “Bib Gourmand” for good quality and value. Tech & Regulation: The FCC is flooded with public comments over proposed DJI/Autel drone restrictions, showing how much small operators rely on affordable gear.

Federal Court Fight: In a civil lawsuit tied to alleged fraud involving Francis “Alfie” Oakes III’s North Naples operations, Oakes’ former acting CEO says more wrongdoing is emerging, while Oakes remains uncharged and says his attorneys are keeping him silent due to an ongoing federal probe. Space Coast Watch: Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket reportedly exploded during a Kennedy Space Center static fire test; NASA and Blue Origin say personnel are accounted for, while SpaceX’s Starship is also temporarily grounded after a mishap pending FAA review. Property Tax Shockwaves: DeSantis’ homestead property tax plan is heading to a special session, but new Senate language and early scrutiny raise alarms about funding gaps for schools, public safety, and local services—plus questions about how revenue would be replaced. AI Data Center Pushback: Escambia residents are protesting a proposed “smaller” AI data center after reports of talks, while Lakeland officials are weighing an early-stage hyperscale data center proposal. Local Business Wins & Growth: Pensacola’s A Mano Panino earns a Michelin “Bib Gourmand,” and Naples-based PaddleWar announces new ownership and expansion plans. Small Business Struggles: Bradenton breweries face closures—3 Keys is ending operations and Motorworks is dealing with eviction tied to a foreclosure case. Community Support: New Port Richey businesses and residents launch a community-funded effort to buy summer recreation passes for families who can’t afford them.

Property Tax Shake-Up: Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled a plan to raise Florida’s homestead exemption from $50,000 to $250,000 (eventually $500,000), which he says would eliminate property taxes for 60% of homeowners and cover up to 92%—with a special session and a November voter vote required. Local Budget Pressure: Critics warn the move could crimp funding for schools, healthcare, and public safety as local governments rely on property tax revenue. Energy Costs & Policy: A national poll finds voters frustrated by rising electricity costs and backs faster permitting and grid upgrades—signals small businesses are watching energy affordability closely. Small-Business Growth Moves: Orlando’s Carl Axen Clothier is expanding private bespoke tailoring across Florida via appointment-only home/office consultations; Ellianos Coffee signed its first Ohio development deal for the Cincinnati metro, marking its 10th state. Tech & Operations: Miami’s Canals raised $35M to automate wholesale distribution workflows; EC-Council launched an AI governance framework and readiness self-assessment tool. Public Safety & Theft: Florida AG says three men face charges tied to an organized retail theft ring targeting hardware stores across 13 counties. Tourism & Community: Delray Beach was named Florida’s “Best Beach” by USA TODAY for a third straight year, and South Florida PBS opened two new VR history experiences in Boynton Beach.