AGP Executive Report

Sales Tax Holiday Watch: Back-to-school shopping is kicking off with tech tax breaks in multiple states this weekend, including exemptions on laptops, computers, and tablets—useful for Florida SMBs buying devices for students and staff. Property Tax Ballot Fight: A Leon Circuit judge ordered Florida officials to rewrite Amendment 3 ballot title/summary as “clearly and conclusively defective,” though the measure stays on the Nov. 3 ballot—another reminder that election language can’t be sloppy. Local Business & Housing: A Naples apartment community (282 units) sold for about $89.75M to Cardone Capital, highlighting continued investor appetite for multifamily in South Florida. Workforce & Costs: At Orlando International Airport, aircraft fuelers for Menzies Aviation unionized with TWU Local 504, aiming for higher pay and better benefits—watch how labor costs ripple through airport contractors. Tech/AI for SMBs: A new AI tool using prediction markets (via Kalshi) is pitching “hedging” for small businesses against risks like weather and election shocks.

Property Tax Ballot Fight: A Leon County judge ordered Florida officials to rewrite the November property tax amendment ballot title and summary, saying the current wording is misleading; the measure stays on the ballot but the AG must submit corrected language within 10 days. Workforce & Local Business: Orlando International Airport aircraft fuelers for Menzies Aviation unionized with TWU Local 504, aiming for higher pay and better benefits, following a similar PrimeFlight fuelers union win. AI for SMBs: The Collaboratory in Fort Myers will host free “AI Fridays” workshops starting Aug. 14, led by FGCU’s Florida SBDC, focused on practical, responsible AI use for small businesses. Franchise Growth: The Highland Cleaning Company announced its first franchise agreement and an East Valley territory in Arizona, signaling continued expansion into Florida and other markets. Small Business Legal Pressure: Buc-ee’s sued Beaver’s Mini Mart over trademark and logo similarity, a reminder that even local shops can get hit by big-brand enforcement. Immigration Impact on Restaurants: A Boynton Beach Haitian restaurant says ending Haiti TPS has cut traffic by about 60% and forced layoffs as customer work authorization expired.

Local Business & Labor: Aircraft fuelers at Orlando International Airport have unionized with TWU Local 504, aiming for higher pay and better benefits after PrimeFlight fuelers won a first contract last year. Small-Business Tech & Training: The Collaboratory in Fort Myers will host free “AI Fridays” workshops starting Aug. 14, led by FGCU’s SBDC and Vivitec, with sessions focused on practical, responsible AI use for businesses. Immigration & Restaurant Impact: A Boynton Beach Haitian restaurant says the end of Haiti TPS has cut traffic by about 60%, forcing layoffs and reduced hours as work authorizations expire. Franchise Growth: The Highland Cleaning Company is expanding via its first franchise agreement, launching an East Valley territory in Chandler and surrounding areas, with more Florida franchise opportunities planned. Legal/Consumer Risk: A Florida plumbing contractor warns homeowners about water-heater failures tied to skipped brass dielectric fittings, pushing a free installation guide for Southwest Florida. Business Finance: red violet closed a $108.6M underwritten stock offering, saying proceeds will support working capital and potential acquisitions. Courts & Insurance: A Broward jury found Simpson Thacher & Bartlett not negligent in the Patriot National insurance firm’s bankruptcy fallout. Policy/Politics: Palm Beach County’s District 6 commission primary is Aug. 18, with early voting starting Aug. 8.

Healthcare Leadership: Parrish Medical Center CEO George Mikitarian was named a national “Community Hospital CEO to Know” by Becker’s, highlighting continued focus on patient care and financial discipline. Airport Retail Impact: Spirit Airlines’ collapse is hitting small businesses at Detroit Metro’s Evans Terminal, with local shops reporting sharp drops in foot traffic after the carrier’s May shutdown. Local Politics & Turnout: Collier County’s Aug. 18 primary includes several contested races, with organizers urging higher turnout since Florida’s closed primaries can decide outcomes early. Fraud Crackdown: Florida AG Steve Marshall joined DOJ-led efforts targeting fraud tied to SNAP, SBA loans, housing benefits, and tax fraud across multiple states, including Florida. Property Tax Ballot Fight: A judge ordered Florida to rewrite the title and summary for Amendment 3’s property tax relief measure; DeSantis says the new drafts will be clearer for voters. Small-Business Growth in Fitness: Bodybar Pilates opened a new Royal Palm Beach location, adding another franchise footprint in South Florida. AI Adoption for SMBs: A TD survey says AI use among small businesses doubled year over year, pushing banks to offer better cash-flow tools. Business & Tech Moves: Duos Technologies completed the sale of its rail inspection unit to Sandbank Acosta, while Starling Oncology reported Florida ramp progress tied to delegated arrangements.

Property Tax Ballot Fight: A Leon County judge ordered Florida’s Amendment 3 ballot title and summary rewritten, calling the current wording “more akin to a political slogan” and misleading—especially the “save” framing that could affect renters and homestead benefits. Workforce & Inclusion: A Florida nonprofit is helping disabled adults become repair technicians, using a statewide electronics repair training hub to move trainees into real jobs. Banking Access: Two Black-owned minority depository institutions announced a merger that would create a larger bank with 10 locations across South Carolina and North Carolina, aiming to expand capital in underserved communities. Franchise & Small Business Growth: The International Franchise Association backed bipartisan candidates in Florida and 13 other states, highlighting support for locally owned franchise businesses. Tech & Cyber Education: Saint Leo University in Pasco is launching an executive cybersecurity graduate track with a $2M gift to train leaders for protecting businesses and critical infrastructure. Capital Markets Watch: red violet priced a $100M underwritten stock offering, while multiple public companies reported quarterly results impacting investors and local business ecosystems.

Property Tax Fight: A Leon County judge ordered Florida’s Amendment 3 ballot title and summary rewritten, calling the current wording “clearly and conclusively defective” and too political—while the amendment itself stays on the November ballot. Local Politics: Two Florida Republicans backed Ryan Elijah over incumbent Cory Mills in the 7th District GOP primary, escalating pressure amid Mills’ ethics and legal troubles. Franchise & Hiring: The International Franchise Association endorsed bipartisan candidates in 14 states, including Florida, spotlighting pro-franchising policy support for local franchise small businesses. Cyber & Proof of Security: Cynomi partnered with SPECTRA to help MSPs and MSSPs earn certification faster and offer warranty-backed security value. Business Growth: Curbee selected Bozard Ford Lincoln for its mobile service platform, aiming to scale a program doing 2,000+ appointments monthly across Northeast Florida. Tech & Training: Florida Atlantic University launched an 8-week quantum computing certificate for business leaders. Small-Biz Marketing: SEO Smooth reported major organic search gains after shifting operations to AI-first SEO and reporting. Health Care Hiring: Oncology Consultants added Dr. Asad Haider to its South Texas practice network.

Ballot Fight for Small Business: A Leon County judge ordered Florida’s Amendment 3 ballot title and summary rewritten, calling the current wording biased, misleading, and “akin to a political slogan,” while keeping the measure on the November ballot and giving AG James Uthmeier 10 days to fix it. Local Rules vs. Home Businesses: Santa Rosa County is cracking down on a home bakery owner’s roadside-style setup under “cottage food laws,” forcing him to remove items and shift sales online—highlighting how local ordinances can clash with state rules. Entrepreneurship Support: The College of the Florida Keys is accepting applications for its Entrepreneurship Incubator Lab for Upper Keys, Homestead, and Florida City, with a Sept. 25 deadline. Tourism and Jobs: An editorial points to Florida’s record tourism numbers and the real-world impact on local small businesses and workers, noting affordability and geopolitics can sway travel demand. Healthcare Data Rebrand: ACKWEST Group rebranded Reckner Healthcare as TestSet Health, combining local research talent with a global data strategy. Business Growth Spotlight: Lightbridge Academy launched a Fast-Track Ownership Program aimed at qualified entrepreneurs seeking quicker franchise entry points.

Ballot Fight for Property Tax Relief: A Leon County judge ordered Florida to rewrite the ballot title and summary for Amendment 3, saying the current wording reads like political advertising and misleads voters about the measure’s effects; Attorney General James Uthmeier has 10 days to submit corrected language, while the amendment itself stays on the November ballot. Local Impact on Small Business: The ruling targets claims that the amendment would “protect small businesses” and “benefit” taxpayers, as challengers argue the description is biased and inaccurate—an issue Florida’s business community will be watching closely as local governments warn of revenue losses. Franchise Growth for Entrepreneurs: Lightbridge Academy launched a Fast-Track Ownership Program, letting qualified operators step into franchise ownership at multiple development stages, aiming to speed up growth without starting from scratch. Workspaces for Growing Firms: Priddy Spaces opened Venture X Pompano Beach, adding a hospitality-style coworking and private office setup designed for small teams and expanding businesses. Community Banking Push: Neighbors Bank launched a “Neighbor of the Year” campaign offering a $20,000 prize to recognize local people driving change. Cyber/Scam Protection for Older Adults: SilverSafe AI introduced SAM, a 24/7 phone/text service to help seniors and families spot scams before money moves.

State Politics & Small Business Climate: The Florida Chamber of Commerce endorsed Sen. Ashley Moody for a full U.S. Senate term, highlighting her record on taxes and cutting regulations—an early signal of what business groups want in Washington. Courts & Consumer Costs: A Florida appeals court upheld a $103M product-defect award against Ford tied to a modified Mustang explosion, underscoring how product-liability fights can land big bills on manufacturers. Local Enforcement Impact: Florida’s arcade crackdown is drawing pushback from customers who say raids and closures hurt small operators and community life, even as officials cite public-safety concerns. Property Tax Amendment 3: The Florida Sheriffs Association says it’s “significantly concerned” Amendment 3 could shift power to Tallahassee, reduce local funding, and slow public safety response times—while attorneys continue arguing over ballot wording. Workforce & AI Anxiety: A report on faster AI adoption finds new grads struggling to land jobs, with employers and hiring expectations changing quickly. Business Growth Moves: EVgo and Brixmor are expanding fast-charging at shopping centers, with Florida included—another infrastructure play aimed at keeping customers moving. Education Leadership: The College of the Florida Keys named Dr. Brittany Snyder interim president, a continuity move for the school’s business and operations leadership.

Real Estate & Local Growth: Rick Ross is teaming up on EnSima Miami I, a planned eight-story mixed-use project in Miami Gardens with 670 residences and about 165,000 sq. ft. of retail. Property Tax Shockwave: Florida’s Amendment 3 homestead tax wording is headed to court as critics warn it could cut public services and shift power to Tallahassee; the Florida Sheriffs Association says it’s “significantly concerned” about longer response times and reduced local control. School Funding Pressure: Miami-Dade’s back-to-school changes include a new teacher induction for about 200 educators, plus budget cuts tied to declining enrollment. Fraud Crackdown: The U.S. Justice Department announced major fraud enforcement actions across the Southeast, including cases involving SBA loans and tax fraud, with more than $350M in intended losses. Small-Business Operations: Tally Maids opened a central Tallahassee office to expand residential and commercial cleaning, while Cynthia Gardens launched a Boca Raton apartment-living resource center for renters. Workforce & Skills: Mark Cuban Foundation and Miami Dade College are offering a no-cost AI bootcamp for Miami teens this fall. Tech & Investing: Robinhood Ventures Fund II (RVII) is set to IPO Aug. 13, aiming to give retail investors exposure to early-stage private companies.

Local Business & Climate Resilience: Babcock Ranch is joining Ambition Accelerated through the Southwest Florida Resilience Accelerator, aiming to help founders scale climate-resilience tech tied to disaster-ready infrastructure and sustainable construction. Small-Business Tech & AI: Pax8’s Nick Heddy says SMBs should focus on applying existing tools for AI competitiveness, not chasing the most expensive “frontier” models—plus a push toward “managed-intelligence-ready” partners and repeatable outcomes. Florida Elections (School Board): Lee County voters face District 4 and District 6 races, with candidate profiles highlighting business and community experience alongside education priorities. Property Tax Relief Debate: Lee County is set to vote on a homeowner property tax exemption increase this fall, with supporters citing relief from rising bills and opponents warning about impacts to government services. Tourism & Local Spending: Highlands County is banking on sports tourism with ProWatercross at Lake Verona (Aug. 15–16) and a second August event, aiming for hotel, dining, and media exposure. Fraud Pressure on Merchants: A report flags a surge in online scams and “friendly fraud” chargebacks, reminding businesses to tighten payment dispute processes as consumers file more disputes. Retail Real Estate Watch: Tampa’s WestShore Plaza is being bought for $135M and is headed toward demolition and mixed-use redevelopment, leaving remaining shops unsure about timing.

Solar & Policy Watch: A new SEIA-based look ranks states by total solar output, highlighting how public policy and private demand speed (or slow) rooftop and grid-scale growth. AI Data Centers & Utilities: Rep. Byron Donalds’ proposal would require large AI data centers to secure their own electricity and water, aiming to stop power costs from being pushed onto ratepayers. Property Tax Pressure in Florida: Lee County voters will weigh a homeowner property tax exemption increase this fall, with supporters citing relief and opponents warning about funding impacts. Local Business & Consumer Fraud: A report says online scams hit $148B in 2025, while “friendly fraud” chargeback disputes surged—raising costs for merchants. Tourism Boost: Highlands County is set to host major water-sports events in August, including ProWatercross at Lake Verona, with free spectator access. Small Business Growth Stories: A South Florida entrepreneur is selling edible “melting candles” that turn into dips and dessert spreads, pitching a new kind of dining experience. Community & Trade: The Federation of Haitian Chambers of Commerce expanded to 14 chambers across six countries, building programs to connect Haitian businesses and diaspora trade. Business Real Estate: Tampa’s WestShore Plaza is moving toward demolition and mixed-use redevelopment after anchor losses, leaving remaining shops in limbo.

Tourism Boost: Highlands County is pitching itself as a sports-tourism hub with two August events at Lake Verona and Donaldson Park, including ProWatercross (Aug. 15–16) with free spectator admission and national CBS Sports exposure—good news for local hotels, restaurants, and shops. AI & Utilities: Rep. Byron Donalds’ Florida-backed bill would require large AI data centers to secure their own electricity and water, aiming to stop power-cost pressure from landing on ratepayers. Small-Business Policy: Sen. Rick Scott introduced a federal plan to cut regulatory burden on small businesses by forcing agencies to assess real costs and offer alternatives. Local Real Estate & Taxes: A judge is weighing whether Florida’s Amendment 3 property-tax ballot language is misleading, while Lee County voters consider raising the homeowner exemption this fall. Entrepreneurship on the Ground: Northwest Florida kids are getting hands-on business practice through a Kids Entrepreneur Market, selling lemonade and cookies to learn the basics. Business Growth & Deals: E.W. Scripps completed its WTVQ acquisition in Lexington, expanding its local TV footprint. Community & Recognition: Gainesville’s sister-city partnership with Brazil’s São José do Rio Preto won an innovation award for business, trade, and professional exchange. Tech/Workforce: Investor Josh Koren is urging professionals to keep learning as AI reshapes workplaces. Consumer Costs: A new report highlights how homeowners and small businesses can lower electricity bills through audits and usage changes.

Property Tax Fight: A Florida judge is weighing whether the ballot language for Amendment 3 is misleading, with opponents saying it downplays major impacts on local services and small businesses as the November vote nears. Local Business & Costs: Lee County voters will decide this fall on a homeowner property tax exemption increase, a move supporters say brings needed relief while critics warn it could squeeze funding for core government services. Energy Bills: With data centers and AI pushing electricity demand, a new guide highlights practical steps homeowners and small businesses can take to lower monthly power costs, starting with energy audits. Small Business Growth: Cox Media Group Miami is running a pair of “Celebrating Small Businesses” promotions offering local firms a shot at $10,000 advertising grants and a marketing symposium. Entrepreneur Spotlight: South Florida’s CeraViva is turning edible “melting candles” into a new dining experience, with savory and sweet flavors designed to pair with meals. Community & Trade: The Greater Gainesville International Center won a Sister Cities award for its business and professional exchange partnership with São José do Rio Preto, Brazil. Procurement & Mapping: The U.S. Navy selected six firms, including AOR International in Melbourne, to map ocean seabeds using long-endurance unmanned vessels. Business Real Estate: Tampa’s WestShore Plaza was bought for $135M and is set for demolition and mixed-use redevelopment, leaving remaining merchants waiting on timelines.

Property Tax Fight in Court: A Florida judge is weighing whether the ballot summary for Amendment 3 is misleading, with opponents warning it could reshape local budgets and services—supporters say it’s about homeowner relief and protecting small businesses. Legal Fees on Trump Actions: A Bloomberg analysis says the U.S. could face millions in taxpayer legal bills as courts award attorneys’ fees in challenges to major Trump administration moves. Fraud Crackdown Partnerships: DOJ is expanding state-federal data sharing to fight fraud in Medicaid, SNAP, SBA loans and taxes, including Florida in a new multi-state effort. Workplace & Growth Signals: Josh Koren urges professionals to keep learning as AI changes jobs; Florida Trend also highlighted top employers, including the Miami Foundation and Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation. Local Business Spotlight: A 99 JAMZ contest is offering a $10,000 marketing grant for South Florida small businesses. Community & Trade: Gainesville’s sister-city partnership with Brazil won an innovation award, and a workforce luncheon in Fort Myers focused on micro-credentials and trades training. Small Business Reality Check: PlayStation’s move away from physical discs after 2028 is raising concerns for Tampa Bay game stores and local retailers.