Flagler’s Jobless Rate Drops to 9.3% as Local Employment Grows; Florida’s Falls to 7.2%

FlaglerLive | May 17, 2013

Florida’s unemployment rate fell sharply from the previous month, to 7.2 percent in April, as 17,000 jobs were created statewide, bringing the unemployment rate to its healthiest level since September 2008, when it was 7 percent. It also brings Florida’s rate below the national rate of 7.5 percent. In Flagler County, the rate fell two decimal points, to 9.3 percent, spurred by growth both in jobs and in the local labor force.

Despite Snubbing Obamacare, Florida Gets Thousands of Jobs and Cash from Health Act

FlaglerLive | May 13, 2013

Even though Florida officials tried to block the implementation of the Affordable Care Act at every turn over the past three years, the state will gain millions in grants and hundreds of new jobs this year from its implementation.

Flagler’s Tourism Industry Takes Its Pulse, Declares Itself Healthy, and Cheers Its “Heroes”

FlaglerLive | May 3, 2013

In Flagler County, 2,600 people work in tourist businesses, which have weathered the recession and are seeing strong, sustained activity. Flagler County’s annual Hospitality Employees Recognition of Excellent Service (or H.E.R.O.E.S.) awards lunch at the Hammock Beach Resort Thursday was an occasion for the county’s tourism industry to cheer its own.

Grinding Down: U.S. Unemployment Falls to 7.5% as 165,000 Jobs Are Created

FlaglerLive | May 3, 2013

The national unemployment rate ticked down to 7.5 percent in April, from 7.6 percent in March, as the economy added 165,000 jobs, a bit more than analysts had predicted. But job-creation figures for the two previous months were revised upward, with 332,000 jobs created in February (instead of 268,000) and 138,000 in March (instead of 88,000).

Can’t Say It’s Not Producing: Flagler’s Economic Arm Lands 4th Firm in 11 Months

FlaglerLive | May 1, 2013

Gioia Sails South, a supplier of boat interiors for Sea Ray Boats, will move 30 jobs to Palm Coast and create 10 more in the coming year, the latest success for the county’s Economic Development Council.

Senate Passes Bill Forbidding Local Measures That Would Ensure Sick Leave for Workers

FlaglerLive | April 26, 2013

A Florida House bill supported by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Disney and other industry and corporate groups would forbid local governments from passing living wage ordinances or require employers contracting with government to provide paid sick leave. A Senate amendment would leave those decisions to local governments.

Milestone: Flagler’s Unemployment in Single-Digits, at 9.5%, for 1st Time in 5 Years

FlaglerLive | April 19, 2013

For the first time since June 2008–almost five years–Flagler County’s unemployment has fallen back to single digits, registering 9.5 percent in March as the local economy continued to mirror the state’s and the nation’s, improving slowly but steadily.

Flagler Spirits: Nothing Micro About This Palm Coast Distillery’s Whiskey Rebellion

FlaglerLive | April 18, 2013

Jimmy Day’s Flagler Spirits micro-distillery in Palm Coast is part of the nation’s boom in a niche industry that develops specialty regional products, like Day’s whiskeys, vodkas and rums. He’s producing and marketing 1,000 gallons a month from his Hargrove Grade plant.

Facebook Effect: For Workers On or Off the Job, Individual Rights Are Dead

Pierre Tristam | April 7, 2013

Employers’ presumptions on workers’ behavior on and off the job have more in common with the inquisition or police states than with the bill of rights. Transgressors are routinely humiliated, silenced, censured or fired over speech or behavior companies should have no right to police.

As Florida Bans Internet Cafés, Palm Coast’s Lingering Joints Place Last Bets on Eulogies

FlaglerLive | April 5, 2013

A FlaglerLive reporter, $50 in hand, made a tour of Palm Coast’s Internet cafes, only to find most of them closed already, and a mournful atmosphere at two that were open, not long before a bill banning the small gambling halls was sent to Gov. Rick Scott Thursday.

Economy Adds Just 88,000 Jobs as Unemployment Rate Falls to 7.6%

FlaglerLive | April 5, 2013

The March unemployment rate of 7.6 percent is the lowest in almost four and a half years, but despite adding half a million jobs in the last three months, the economy is showing worrisome signs of slowdown again from austerity at home and recessions abroad.

Les Jeux Sont Faits: Gov. Scott Will Sign Internet Cafe Ban

FlaglerLive | April 4, 2013

Gov. Rick Scott will sign legislation prohibiting the gaming at Internet cafés, his office said Thursday, following the Senate’s Senate’s 36-4 passage of a bill that flew through the Legislature spurred by an on-going racketeering investigation, and pushed by Sen. John Thrasher, who represents Flagler County.

FPC’s Culinary Students Audition, Through Dishes of Brash, For Their Day on TV

FlaglerLive | April 4, 2013

Flagler Palm Coast High School’s team finished ninth out of 50 schools at the Pro Start Culinary Team Competition last month in Orlando, a testament to a program that numbers 133 students and almost as many ambitions to make it to the big time.

Daytona State Hires Point Man for Federal Jobs-Training Program Combatting Outsourcing

FlaglerLive | April 4, 2013

Randall White is the new project manager of Daytona State College’s federally funded Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College Career Training initiative, designed to help retrain those losing work to outsourcing.

Flagler’s 10.3% Unemployment Is Lowest Since August 2008, Florida’s Matches 7.7% U.S. Rate

FlaglerLive | March 29, 2013

Flagler County’s unemployment rate fell sharply in February, to 10.3 percent–from 11 percent the previous month–and matched its lowest level since August 2008. Florida’s unemployment rate also continued to fall, matching the national rate, at 7.7 percent, in February while adding 7,800 jobs.

Flagler continues to rank among the counties with the highest unemployment rate, more »

House Votes 108-7 to Ban Internet Cafes; Impact in Palm Coast Will be Limited

FlaglerLive | March 22, 2013

Palm Coast at one point had nearly a dozen such businesses. Last week it had seven. This week, according to Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts, the number was down to three, as several of them closed pre-emptively.

Bill Forbidding Local Governments from Passing Sick-Day Ordinances Advances

FlaglerLive | March 18, 2013

The proposed law, by Sen. David Simmons, is intended to thwart efforts to pass labor-friendly laws in local governments, since state-level labor reform is beyond reach with the anti-labor, GOP-led Florida Legislature.

As Obamanomics Trickles Down, Florida’s Unemployment Rate Drops But Flagler’s Lags

FlaglerLive | March 18, 2013

Though improving, Florida’s unemployment rate is still 33rd out of the 50 states, while Flagler’s, at 11 percent, remains the second-worst in the state, after Hendry’s 11.4 percent.

Fuego del Mar Restaurant in Flagler Beach Spices Up Town’s Gastronomic Renaissance

FlaglerLive | March 11, 2013

Nicholas Kimball’s Fuego del Mar restaurant on A1A’s Oceanshore Boulevard in Flagler Beach is expected to employ 100 people and provide high wages to full-timers while burnishing the city’s growing reputation as the county’s destination for authentic, original, non-chain restaurants.

U.S. Economy Adds 236,000 Jobs as Unemployment Falls to 7.7%, a 4-Year Low

FlaglerLive | March 8, 2013

The last time national unemployment clocked in at 7.7 percent was in December 2008, before Barack Obama was president. It did so again in February as the economy added 236,000 jobs, totaling just over 1 million jobs in the last six months. Most sectors gained, including construction and manufacturing.

Sea Ray Boats in Palm Coast Benefits from Plant Closures Elsewhere, With Cautions

FlaglerLive | March 7, 2013

Consolidation will likely add to the payroll in Flagler County, and do so with well-paying manufacturing jobs. It also puts to rest, at least for now, worries that Sea Ray’s local plant would either close. But the company is facing tough economic headwinds even as it stock soars to seven-year highs.

For Flagler County Students, a New Tech Academy Without Borders, or Traditional Walls

FlaglerLive | March 1, 2013

Instead, the academy will be on the Flagler Palm Coast High School campus and students will also be enrolled at the high school. Dual enrollment will also be offered, which offers students a chance to earn college credits at Daytona State College while in high school.

In a Coup for Coastal Cloud, Gov. Scott in Flagler Today to Dedicate New IT Company

FlaglerLive | February 26, 2013

Florida Governor Rick Scott will join the Flagler County Commission Tuesday morning in the ribbon cutting ceremony of Coastal Cloud, a cutting-edge Information Technology consulting company to be headquartered in Flagler County.

In a Blow to Workers and Home Rule, Florida Moves to Forbid Living-Wage Ordinances

FlaglerLive | February 22, 2013

The proposal would expand on legislation passed a decade ago to prevent cities from enacting their own minimum wage levels for private employers doing business within their jurisdictions. The proposal would also extend the ban to other employee benefits such as paid sick leave.

Answering Palm Coast, Thrasher Will Pitch Internet Cafe Bill, But Reach May Be Limited

FlaglerLive | February 19, 2013

Palm Coast officials want state lawmakers to either ban or more strictly regulate and possibly tax gambling parlor-like internet cafes. Sen. John Thrasher is proposing a moratorium on the parlors, which may not match local demands, as a moratorium was already executed in Palm Coast.

For the Unemployed in Flagler, Fewer Training Dollars and More Obstacles in Benefits’ Way

FlaglerLive | February 18, 2013

The rush for demand has all but sapped funding for worker training training from a Flagler County agency this fiscal year, even as Flagler continues to have Florida’s leading unemployment rate. It was 11.2 percent in December.

Gov. Scott Facing Mounting Questions From His Own Party Over Jobs Agenda, and Expenses

FlaglerLive | February 13, 2013

Gov. Rick Scott’s aggressive economic development effort is getting more legislative pushback as budget committees in both chambers questioned the direction, expense and oversight of the governor’s “jobs, jobs, jobs” agenda.

Integrity Report Critical of Enterprise Florida as an Obstacle to Job Creation Is Itself Tainted

FlaglerLive | February 6, 2013

Questionable bonuses, conflicts of interest and a ‘pay to play’ mentality is hampering taxpayer driven economic development efforts, according to a study conducted by Integrity Florida and paid for by Americans for Prosperity/Florida, a conservative advocacy group funded in large part by the Koch brothers.

Coastal Cloud, a Next-Generation Computing Management Firm, Unveils Plan for 100 Jobs

FlaglerLive | February 6, 2013

Coastal Cloud is a newly-formed subsidiary of Graphene LLC, a computing consultancy, that will provide cloud-based data management services while hiring locally some 100 jobs over three years, at an average wage of $46,500, the company announced to the county’s economic development council today.