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Arkansas

Florida’s unemployment rate slips, but still mostly flat

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Florida’s unemployment rate has slipped a bit in September, bringing it to its lowest point since June 2008, but still remaining mostly flat since last December.

The rate, according to Gov. Rick Scott’s office, was 6.1 percent in September, down from 6.3 percent in August. That was the result of 12,800 new private-sector jobs in the month, but the percentage of unemployed people is still larger than the rest of the nation.

The rate peaked at 11.4 percent in late 2009 and early 2010, while Gov. Charlie Crist was still in office. It was during the same time as a national economic crisis, which Florida was particularly hit hard because of its dependence on homebuilding and tourism — which suffered during the economic downturn.

However, that rate started to drop in April 2010, and was down to 10.9 percent when Scott took office in 2011. The rate would then not drop below 7 percent until September 2013, and has essentially remained flat at around 6.3 percent since last December.

The rate is still significantly higher than what it was in 2006, where the rate hovered around 3.3 percent.

In August, Florida’s unemployment rate was ranked 26th in the nation, tied with Arkansas and Missouri, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Georgia that month had the worst rate at 8.1 percent, while North Dakota could be statistically labeled as “fully employed” with a 2.8 percent rate.

Of the top five most populous states, with Florida ranked fourth with 19.6 million people, California was ranked 44th nationally in August with a 7.4 percent rate, New York was ranked 29th at 6.4 percent, Texas ranked 16th at 5.3 percent, and Illinois ranked 36th at 6.7 percent.

The governor’s office did point out other positive trends in the economy, including a 33.7 percent backlog reduction in existing homes on the market since December 2011, as well as a 2.9-percent increase in home prices in August compared to the previous year.

In September, Florida’s 24 regional work force boards reported more than 43,800 people were placed in jobs. This number is based on those who seek employment and training assistance through the center and finds a job with 180 days. Of that number, nearly 9,400 of them had been receiving unemployment benefits.

Farmers markets are growing in numbers locally

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Florida may not be the biggest state when it comes to farmers markets, but it — along with other states in the south — are certainly growing.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Farmers Market Directory now lists just under 8,300 markets, an increase of 76 percent since 2008.

The data reflects continued demand and growth of farmers markets in every region of the country, according to a release.

Because of that, the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service is developing three new local food directories that will expand USDA’s support for local and regional foods by providing easy access to the most current information about the local food market.

“Farmers markets play an extremely important role for both farmers and consumers,” said Anne Alonzo, the services administrator, in a release. “They bring urban and rural communities together while creating economic growth and increasing access to fresh, healthy foods.”

The National Farmers Market Directory is available at FarmersMarkets.USDA.gov, and provides information about market locations, directions, operating times, product offerings and more.

The data is collected through voluntary self-reporting, and is searchable by ZIP code, produce mix and other criteria.

The directory receives more than 2 million visits annually.

California has the most farmers markets with 764, followed by New York with 638. Florida has 234, with 11 of them within a 20-mile radius of Land O’ Lakes, according to the directory.

That includes Cheyenne’s Country Thangs in Lutz, Florida Estates Winery Market in Land O’ Lakes, and the Seminole Heights Sunday Morning Market in Wesley Chapel.

All geographic regions saw increases in their market listings, with the most growth in the south, according to the USDA. The states with the biggest increases included Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Arkansas, North Carolina, Montana, Florida and Nebraska.

Development of farmers markets is a cornerstone of the USDA’s Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative, which coordinates the department’s policy, resources and outreach efforts related to local and regional food systems.

Centennial Bank parent acquires Florida Traditions

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Home BancShares Inc., the parent company of Centennial Bank, has finalized its acquisition of Florida Traditions Bank, and its branches located in eastern Pasco and Hillsborough counties, among other places.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but previous published reports put the sale at $43 million in stock. The combined Centennial Bank will now boast $7 billion in total assets, and $5.5 billion in total deposits in nearly 150 branches in Florida, Arkansas and Alabama.

Bud Stalnaker, the chief executive of Florida Traditions, will stay on with the new Centennial as division president for Central Florida.

“We are equally excited about the opportunities this acquisition provides our customers and employees,” Stalnaker said, in a release. “Joining Centennial not only enhances our service capabilities, but also allows our focus to remain on outstanding community banking.”

Florida Traditions was founded in 2007 by a group of East Pasco County business owners who saw a need for a locally owned and locally managed bank, according to the company’s website. It had eight branches in Zephyrhills, Dade City, Spring Hill, Winter Haven, Lakeland, Plant City, Kissimmee and St. Cloud.

Home BancShares, based in Conway, Arkansas, recorded a profit of $27.3 million in the first quarter through March 31, according to filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.