Identifying Local Opportunities

1. Regent Seven Seas Cruises announces $125 million upgrade for existing fleet

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A83B0A0234E930?p=AWNB

Miami-based Regent Seven Seas Cruises has promised the "world's most luxurious" new ship. The company, a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, announced it will spend $125 million in renovations on existing ships and  will also launch a new ship called the Seven Seas Explorer.

The problem presented is that the company boasted about having the "world's most luxurious" ship before it was even built so they needed to invest to live up to the hype. Regent Seven Seas Cruises has the problem.

2. Miami Dolphins hire Clyde Christensen as offensive coordinator

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A6E98E90EF4420?p=AWNB

The Miami Dolphins organization has been without an Offensive Coordinator for the entire offseason. After recently hiring Head Coach Adam Gase, they added Clyde Christensen to the staff aswell. The organization hopes that Christensen's experience working with Andrew Luck in Indianapolis will transcend to Miami and help the Dolphins return to National prominence as an organization.

The Miami Dolphins organization has been in dire need of an experienced staff member. The initial problem was that the Dolphins organization needed to find a suitable coach for it's coordinating staff. The Miami Dolphins organization and all offensive players on the team have the problem.

3. FPL seeks 23.7 percent increase in base rate, public counsel vows to fight it

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A695305F6F0710?p=AWNB

Florida Power & Light (FPL) asked the Public Service Commission to allow it to raise its rates by over 23% over the next three years. FPL claims that while it has delivered stable and low-cost power to Florida residents, it must now begin to charge customers more to "offset the increase in expenses and accommodate the growth in population." The Public Service Commission ultimately has the last say, and almost all of the appointed commissioners involved in the decision making process agree on rejecting FPL's request although FPL claims to have good intentions.

FPL wants to increase Florida residents' electricity rates by over 23% over a period of just a few years. Both the Public Service Commission and the general public are heavily opposed to FPL's requests. This problem affects FPL because if their requests are actually warranted then they won't have sufficient funding to maintain their service and make continuous improvements in the future. This problem also affects FPL's customers because many of them may not be able to afford such a drastic change in cost of living.

4. Car dealer gets his way in Homestead; Hyundai outlet to rise

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A5980E3B8ECBB0?p=AWNB

Jay Rivchin, operator of Dadeland Dodge, has finalized a contract to build a Hyundai dealership in the City of Homestead. The contract contains certain provisions that are very controversial between the two sides. For  example, Rivchin can not use the land for anything other than a Hyundai dealership nor can he sell it for 5 years. Otherwise, he will be fined $500,000.

Rivchin and Hyundai need to be sure that their business venture can be maintained for at least 5 years in order to avoid severe fines from the city. The City of Homestead also has a problem because if the dealership needs to be sold, they have no control over who purchases the large property and for what purpose.

5. South Florida hospitals challenge state approval of new Jackson Health facility in Doral

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A5980CAD43AD50?p=AWNB

Healthcare regulators' approval of a new 100-bed hospital in Doral has gotten local hospitals' attention. Five separate South Florida hospitals have challenged the recent decision approving the new hospital in West Miami-Dade county. The State's certificate of need program, however, claims that approvals of new hospitals are based largely on patient demand to justify a facility.

There are two problems in this scenario. First, the community may be facing the problem of a need for more access to hospitals. Also, the existing local hospitals face the risk of a decrease in business because of increased competition from the new hospital. This is probably primarily why the existing hospitals have met this approval with such opposition.