Florida ends lease tax, Tampa businesses celebrate

A close-up of a financial statement showing monthly payment details, symbolizing the end of Florida’s commercial lease tax and the financial relief now available to Tampa businesses.

A decades-long burden on Florida’s commercial tenants and landlords ends this month, and the Tampa Bay business community is ready to raise a glass. On Sept. 30, the state’s sales tax on commercial leases will officially expire, closing the chapter on Florida’s status as the only state in the nation to impose such a levy. … Read more

USF climbs top 50 public universities, cementing its place among Florida’s best colleges

Entrance sign for the University of South Florida in Tampa, featuring the green bull logo on a brick and white monument surrounded by landscaping

The University of South Florida is staking a stronger claim as one of the nation’s top universities, climbing to its highest position ever in U.S News & World Report’s annual rankings. In results released Sept. 23, USF rose to No. 88 overall, among all public and private universities, up from No. 91 the previous year. … Read more

Tampa ranks third in Florida for job growth, fueled by education, health care and manufacturing

Group of leaders, including Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, cutting a red ribbon during the grand opening ceremony at XTEND’s U.S. headquarters, with the XTEND logo and balloon columns in the background.

Tampa added 12,700 private-sector jobs in August from a year earlier, ranking third among Florida’s metropolitan areas for job growth, according to new data from FloridaCommerce. The 0.9% increase accounted for nearly 15% of the state’s total gains. The most substantial gains came from education and health services, which added 7,600 jobs, followed by manufacturing … Read more