TUESDAY December 21, 2021
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Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
INSURANCE
Jacksonville JACKSONVILLE unemployment lowest among Florida’s major metro areas
Private equity firmRecord acquires Daily majority interest in Brightway
At 3.3%, the Northeast Florida level is the lowest since 3.2% in February 2020 before the pandemic.
Daily Record Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
BY MARK BASCH CONTRIBUTING WRITER
nificant minority investment and will serve on the company’s board of directors. Mark Cantin, an insurance industry executive who has been working with GrowthCurve to identify investments in the industry, was named president and CEO of Brightway. The Millers launched Brightway in 2008
Jacksonville’s unemployment rate dropped almost to its prepandemic level in November and was the lowest of any major metro area in Florida. The jobless rate in the Jacksonville metropolitan area of Duval, Baker, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties fell from 3.7% in October to 3.3% in November, the Florida Department of Economic O p p o r t u n i ty reported Dec. 17. T h a t wa s the l owe s t level since the unemployment Loh rate was 3.2% in February 2020, the month before the coronavirus pandemic began causing business shutdowns. The state agency does not adjust the Jacksonville data for seasonal factors. The University of North Florida’s Local Economic Indicators Project said when it is seasonally adjusted, it shows the rate falling from 3.82% in October to 3.31% last month. UNF economist Albert Loh said the tightening labor market is putting upward pressure on wages. “While the low unemployment rate and increasing labor compensation sound good, we need to be cautious for several reasons,” he said. “As the duration of inflation prolongs, workers, who are also consumers, may feel a decline in
SEE BRIGHTWAY, PAGE 2
SEE JOBS, PAGE 2
JACKSONVILLE
Brightway Insurance
Mark Cantin, center, is the new president and CEO of Brightway Insurance. Cantin is with Brightway co-founders David Miller, left, and Michael Miller at the company’s headquarters in Brightway Center in Jacksonville.
Founders Michael and David Miller retain a minority investment in the Jacksonville-based company after a deal with GrowthCurve Capital.
BY MARK BASCH CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Brightway Insurance said Dec. 17 that private equity firm GrowthCurve Capital acquired a majority interest in the Jacksonville-based insurance franchisor. The company did not announce terms of the deal but said Brightway co-founders Michael and David Miller will retain a sig-
Adventure Landing extends closing date to March 31 The Jacksonville Beach Adventure Landing received another extension and will remain open until March 31. It is the second reprieve for the water and amusement park. It was scheduled to close Oct. 31 and then Dec. 31. The 22 acres where the park operates at 1944 Beach Blvd. is part of a larger adjacent site where property owner JB Fair Park MF LLC plans to build a 427unit apartment community. The Jacksonville Beach Planning Commission deferred rezoning plans Dec. 13. Landowners want more time to address city planning department questions about wetland and flooding concerns.
VOLUME 109, NO. 26 • ONE SECTION