By the Numbers

[spenser1058]

Coldwell Banker ranks Tampa Bay #29 and Orlando #33 on our metros’ attractiveness to tech folks and start ups, ahead of South Florida and Jax:

https://www.tampabay.com/business/tampa-bay-ranks-no-29-among-top-areas-for-tech-talent-20190725/

From the St Pete Times 

Edited July 28, 2019 by spenser1058

[AmIReal]

3 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

Coldwell Banker ranks Tampa Bay #29 and Orlando #33 on our metros’ attractiveness to tech folks start ups, ahead of South Florida and Jax:

https://www.tampabay.com/business/tampa-bay-ranks-no-29-among-top-areas-for-tech-talent-20190725/

From the St Pete Times 

Interesting stuff...

Also, in the same report, Orlando scores #1 in Momentum of Tech Talent Labor Pool. Our tech labor pool grew by 16.8% in 2017-18 compared to 2.6% in 2015-16 for a score of 14.1 (rounded). The next nearest was San Diego at 10.2.

https://www.cbre.us/research-and-reports/Scoring-Tech-Talent-in-North-America-2019

 

[spenser1058]

Several new schools will open in the next couple of weeks as OCPS  is expected to add more new students than any other district in Florida:

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/education/os-ne-back-to-school-central-florida-20190808-6uqzgev4nng7jjga7eipl5q6z4-story.html

From the Sentinel 

[spenser1058]

Wonder where the folks moving to Florida from other states are going? FOX Business lists some of the top destinations:

https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/florida-american-movers.amp

[spenser1058]

The state hosted 68.9 million visitors in the first half of 2019, up 5.6% over 2018.

This despite the fact that WDW visitors may have delaying trips to the second half in anticipation of Star Wars: Galaxy Edge and Universal Orlando’s challenges with its new Hagrid coaster.

Currency issues for the UK due to Brexit, a lower Canadian dollar and continued unrest in Brasil also may affect international guests.

Nonetheless, good news for Florida if the economy holds up as Dale assures us it will.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-bz-six-month-tourism-record-20190815-zzwtqhdy2fbkhjzohg63wtmnp4-story.html

From the Sentinel 

[spenser1058]

Central Florida is becoming the ‘bread basket’ of jobs in the state:

https://www.tampabay.com/business/florida-added-22900-jobs-in-july-20190816/

From Tampa Bay Times

[spenser1058]

KJHburg always finds amazing snapshots of the cities in the region and he doesn’t disappoint with this look from Brookings of in- and out- migration of millennials and seniors from various US cities since the Great Recession:

https://www.brookings.edu/research/how-migration-of-millennials-and-seniors-has-shifted-since-the-great-recession/

Orlando is holding its own (especially in comparison to Miami), Charlotte is out-performing and everyone seems to want to get out of the northeast (imagine that - no snow, please...).

[spenser1058]

Why the Sun Belt Keeps Growing:

 

[spenser1058]

Which US city sprawls the most? It depends upon whom you ask:

From City Beautiful 

[spenser1058]

Woohoo! Wawa is about to open its 200th Florida store! 

Take a moment to thank Rick Scott for all those wonderful jobs he brought to our little slice of paradise when he announced the arrival of Wawa as one of his first big successes. Salute!

[spenser1058]

September Unemployment:

US: 3.5%

FL: 3.2%

ORL MSA: 2.8%

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-bz-florida-unemployment-september-20191018-m46pczm7jjamvncld2dir7loie-story.html

From the Sentinel 

[spenser1058]

The Upshot at the New York Times is switching from a county-based method of identifying voters to one based on density.

This should be quite a bit more accurate. As we know, for example, Orange County is Today a very blue county, but there’s still quite a few Republicans.

After all, Parramore and Isleworth are both in the same county. Does anyone imagine their voting preferences are the same?

Demographics are indeed destiny.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/upshot/suburbs-demographics-red-blue.html

[spenser1058]

Who knew?

[spenser1058]

A new area code, 448, has been approved for the Panhandle and another for the Tampa area is likely coming soon:

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/florida/os-ne-florida-new-area-codes-20191105-67k2qerexjhkjf5nk7xrpuri7i-story.html

[spenser1058]

I was reading a thread in the NC forum that reinforces a point I think we sometimes forget when we are disappointed in the ways Orlando differs from a conventional view of “cityness”.

The post noted that Wilmington was the largest city in NC until shortly after the beginning of the 20th century. It was then eclipsed by Charlotte which has been the biggest ever since.

Atlanta became Georgia’s largest city by the 1880 census (yep, that was “18”).

Nashville didn’t surpass Memphis until the late 20th century but it had been #2 seemingly forever.

Now, we have Orlando, which has NEVER been the largest city in Florida (nor #2 or #3, for that matter).

Don’t get me wrong. Orlando began growing in double digits shortly after WWII. Our MSA went from #50 in the country in 1980 to knocking on the door of #20 by 2020. It’s a meteoric rise that came about in no small measure because there have been leaders punching well above our weight.

It’s important to note, however, that Orlando has been competing with the Macons and Greensboros of the world a lot longer than with St. Louis or Cincinnati. That’s why our trajectory seems so different. It’s by no means bad, just an alternative path.

 

Edited November 10, 2019 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

As we boomers die off, it’s expected to leave a housing glut in major markets, including Orlando. Are you millennials ready? Beware the Boomer Zombies!

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/real-estate/os-ne-silver-tsunami-orlando-homes-for-sale-boomers-20191126-tjtuxo2iszgdve3qfck2uocajy-story.html

From the Sentinel 

[Dale]

2 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

As we boomers die off, it’s expected to leave a housing glut in major markets, including Orlando. Are you millennials ready? Beware the Boomer Zombies!

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/real-estate/os-ne-silver-tsunami-orlando-homes-for-sale-boomers-20191126-tjtuxo2iszgdve3qfck2uocajy-story.html

From the Sentinel 

Okay, Millennials.

[HankStrong]

Jokes aside, this could be a Detroit-like problem in some areas of the country.  Especially with the lack of brick & mortar store growth.  It's not like they are going to wipe out the neighborhood and build a mall.

[spenser1058]

Tupperware, one of Orlando’s corporate headquarters companies and #857 on the Fortune 1000, is having difficulties.

Its declining stock price could lead to a sale and a loss of one of Central Florida’s most iconic firms to another city.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-bz-tupperware-ceo-search-amid-struggles-20191127-cil6ybkwbnddngrzq6ieulxmra-story.html

From the Sentinel 

 

[spenser1058]

Scott Maxwell looks at the numbers and finds the low-tax paradise Tallahassee has created for businesses results in an abnormally low number of Fortune 500 companies headquartering here:

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/scott-maxwell-commentary/os-op-florida-lags-fortune-500-scott-maxwell-20191202-eb3244whhjcfdjtuxzejp6dr6y-story.html

From the Sentinel 

[spenser1058]

Lockheed Martin may  add 1000 new local jobs as a result of a $1 billion contract the firm has attracted.

Of course, the software engineers and machinists included will be working for minimum wage, right? (We so miss Reality)

Actually, the Sentinel’s great new series on the huge number of entry level workers we have indicates there’s still a lot of work to do. However, wage increases at the theme parks are making a dent and the well- paying jobs in the tech sector show that in Central Florida it is indeed the best and worst of times.

Local governments have to work to bridge the gaps until everyone makes a wage satisfactory to live a solid life for themselves and their children.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-bz-lockeed-martin-hiring-2023-20191205-nee22pz3grdh7f5hfcasolc5ty-story.html

 

 

Edited December 5, 2019 by spenser1058

[AmIReal]

"Most of downtown Orlando’s panhandling problem comes from a persistent group of 61 people... nearly all men — have lived on the streets for an average of nearly 12 years."

"Some 58% have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness, while 92% are addicted to alcohol, drugs or both." "While less-frequent panhandlers may use the money they get to cover shelter entrance fees or to buy food, the “chronic” panhandlers spend most of it for the next drink or fix,"

Very interesting article based on a 16 month study.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/orange-county/os-ne-orlando-panhandling-study-finds-drug-abuse-chronic-homelessness-20191213-2zqwaqqiqzfyzexuicpftwezpa-story.html

 

 

[spenser1058]

https://twitter.com/historycenterfl/status/1211471820559441921?s=21

Given that Orange County has precious few oranges these days, maybe we should change the name back to Mosquito County. We still have plenty of those.

[spenser1058]

Florida will definitely get two new Congressfolk and we might even get three after this year’s census. 

Who wants to run in 2022?

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/os-ne-census-florida-third-seat-congress-20200103-63g6gzdd4vhwfavbivsrbl527m-story.html

From the Sentinel 

[HankStrong]

Vote Brewster in 2020!