Central Florida - The election of Barrack Obama could help ease travel and trade restrictions against the island nation of Cuba and Florida could be the chief be beneficiary. According to business groups:

“We support the complete removal of all trade and travel restrictions on Cuba. We recognize that change may not come all at once, but it must start somewhere, and it must begin soon,”

The groups included American Farm Bureau Federation, Business Roundtable, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Retail Federation and Grocery Manufacturers Association, whose collective membership comprises a broad cross-section of American industry and agriculture according to this article from Reuters.

Trade and Travel with Cuba could be a boon to Florida’s ports, airports and construction industries according to information from TravelCubaNow.com.

Orlando, FL - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that beginning Jan. 12, 2009, eligible citizens or nationals from all Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries must obtain approval through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to traveling to the United States under the VWP.  The citizens or nationals of the following countries are currently eligible to travel to the United States under the VWP: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. DHS also formally announces the addition of seven allies to the list of countries authorized to participate in the VWP.  The seven countries are the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, the Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovakia.

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Miami, FL - On Saturday, October 11, 2008, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County will celebrate the opening of its third season with its “Take Center Stage” Gala. The spectacular event will include a cocktail reception, a gala dinner featuring performances that unite the Center’s resident companies and the Center’s own resident artist Jencarlos Canela for the first time on one stage, and a magnificent after-party. This will be the first gala for the Adrienne Arsht Center since announcing its new name in January 2008. Proceeds from the gala will benefit the education and outreach programs of the Center.

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Satellite Beach, FL - Satcom Direct, a leading innovator of satellite voice, fax, and Internet data service solutions, can now deliver complete Internet global communications solutions due to the successful launch of the Inmarsat-4 F3 satellite at 22:43 UTC (23.43 London time) on August 18, 2008, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan (04:43 local time, August 19).

The Inmarsat-4 F3 satellite completes Inmarsat’s next-generation global satellite network, providing broadband Internet services to users around the world. Inmarsat aero solutions are the standard for all business and military aviation, and its network is utilized worldwide for providing seamless voice, Internet, and ICAO flight deck safety services.

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Tampa, FL - Structured to be perpetual, never sold, American Momentum Bank is changing the way people bank in Florida. The privately-owned bank, which received its charter in 2006, has yet to stop growing. In July 2007, American Momentum Bank celebrated a branch grand opening in Naples.

The affluent community is a good target fit for American Momentum Bank. According to recent U.S. Census Bureau statistics, Florida’s annual household income is $53,504 and nearly double that — $118,416 – in Naples. While American Momentum Bank offers its services to all types of clients, it caters to high-end clientele. The state-wide banking system also plans on expanding from the company’s only Naples area location by building its regional headquarters in Pelican Bay, according to an article in Naples Daily News.

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