Florida Firms

The Florida Municipal Insurance Trust, known as FMIT, serves as the insurance administrator for Florida municipalities and is operated by the Florida League of Cities. It provides comprehensive coverage for cities, towns, and villages throughout the state from its headquarters at 135 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32801.

FMIT offers a broad portfolio of insurance products, including automobile liability and physical damage, property and general liability, workers’ compensation with volunteer coverage, group health benefits, and ancillary coverages. The trust also administers the Florida Firefighter Cancer Benefit Program, which provides lump-sum benefits under state law to eligible firefighters.

Beyond coverage, the organization delivers specialized services such as underwriting by dedicated rating professionals, disaster response and recovery programs, and geographically assigned member services teams. A Special Investigation and Recovery Unit, established in 1999, works to combat fraudulent claims, and the Hometown Health program supports employee wellness for municipalities carrying group health coverage through FMIT. Members also gain access to an Employment Law Advisor, who provides guidance on employment practices liability issues from a Florida-based attorney, an online FMIT Learning Library of past webinars, and a Law Enforcement Advisory Panel.

Risk management resources include a Risk and Safety Management program, a Safety Excellence Initiative, Safety Grants, and educational offerings delivered through event calendars, online learning, and on-site training. Members manage their policies and report losses through the FMIT Dashboard, a self-service tool for day-to-day administration.

The trust can be reached at the local number 407-425-9142 or toll-free at 800-445-6248, and its accessibility coordinator is available at 407-367-4008 for accommodation requests. With its Orlando base, statewide reach, and combination of coverage, claims investigation, wellness, and risk management programs, FMIT positions itself as a dedicated insurance partner built specifically for the needs of Florida’s local governments and public entities.

https://insurance.flcities.com/

The Jacksonville Science Festival is a nonprofit educational organization that serves K-12 students through annual science festivals, summer camps, and after-school programming in Jacksonville. Its stated mission is to serve as a vehicle for educational equity and justice by providing STEAM experiences, covering science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics, through strategic collaboration with teachers, experts in STEAM fields, mentors, local businesses, and universities and colleges.

The festival is presented and sponsored by The Foundation Academy and Florida State College at Jacksonville, known as FSCJ. As of 2025 the organization is in its 13th year of operation. The 2026 festival is scheduled for April 16 to 18, with events held at the FSCJ South Campus and Friendship Fountain in Jacksonville. The organization also hosts programming branded as The Science of and holds Think Tank events, alongside its annual summer camps.

Community members can participate through several pathways, including creating STEAM booths, joining the expert and mentor program, scheduling field trips, becoming vendors, sponsoring events, or volunteering. The organization’s 2025 to 2026 essential question is framed as what is the cost of comfort, guiding its themed activities for the year.

Current sponsors and partners include Code Ninjas, Jacksonville Electric Authority, Nymbus, and the Science Festival Alliance. The organization publishes an annual report documenting its activities and community impact, and it accepts donations through PayPal on its website.

The website features sections for workshops, volunteer opportunities, vendor registration, and donation capabilities, giving residents, educators, and businesses multiple ways to engage. The organization can be reached by phone at 904-493-3535. With its Jacksonville base, college and academy partnerships, and a mix of festivals, camps, and after-school offerings, the nonprofit positions itself as a community-focused STEAM education resource serving students and families across the Jacksonville area.

https://jacksonvillesciencefestival.com/

Banks Safe & Lock Co. is a South Florida security company that sells safes and locks and provides locksmith services from its primary location at 7108 NW 72nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33166. The company traces its roots to Albany Safe & Lock Co., founded in Albany, Georgia in 1944, before relocating to South Florida in 1961 and later incorporating under its current name. It serves Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties and describes itself as fulfilling security needs for over 50 years.

The firm sells residential and commercial safes across many categories, including gun safes ranging from 1-16 to 50 or more long gun capacity, fire safes with 45 to 120 minute ratings, handgun safes, home and office safes, jewelry safes, vault doors, and in-floor and in-wall models. It also offers specialized containers for pharmacies and data protection, along with depository safes, cash boxes, and filing cabinets. Represented manufacturers include AMSEC, Gardall, Hayman, Hollon, Burg Wachter, FireKing, V-Line, and Vaultek.

Locksmith services cover safe moves and installations, safe openings through manipulation or drilling, repairs, combination changes, and custom interiors. The company also handles lock installation and rekeys, master keying, lock picking, key impressions, and access control systems. Specialized marine locksmith services include boat keys for all makes and models, with technicians available to visit customer boat slips.

Banks Safe & Lock employs licensed locksmiths who undergo background checks, holds Miami-Dade Locksmith Registration 0385, and operates as a Medeco dealer. The company provides 24-hour emergency locksmith service.

Customers can reach the Broward office at 954-762-3565, the Miami office at 305-887-9811, or the toll-free line at 1-833-781-7233. With its long history, deep product catalog, and broad locksmith capabilities, the firm positions itself as an established security resource across South Florida’s tri-county region.

https://bankssafeco.com/

J & R Upholstering, Inc. is a family-owned business established in 1980 with 30 years of experience in the upholstering industry, operating from 4021 W. Alva St., Tampa, FL 33614. The company manufactures custom-made cushions and ships them to customers throughout the United States by mail, combining local Tampa production with nationwide delivery.

Its product line includes custom cushions for bay window seats, swings, benches, rocking chairs, and pillows, each made to the client’s own dimensions. Cushions are produced using boxed-style construction with welt cord on the top and bottom, zippers on the back edges, and high-quality foam cores wrapped in Dacron layers for added softness. The company uses first-quality upholstery fabrics from top manufacturers suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, allowing customers to outfit a range of settings.

In addition to finished cushions, the business sells fabric on its own in full-yard increments with a two-yard minimum, and it provides fabric samples so customers can match colors and patterns before ordering. Buyers may also supply templates to specify exact cushion shapes and sizes, supporting precise custom work for unusual or built-in seating.

J & R Upholstering operates a secure online shopping cart system for customer convenience and offers personalized custom service by phone. The company accepts payment by Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. Customers can reach the business through its toll-free number 1-888-894-3510, its local phone line 813-874-3510, by email at jruph813@gmail.com, or through the website feedback form.

With more than four decades of operation, a focus on made-to-measure construction, and a willingness to work from customer templates and fabric selections, the Tampa-based firm positions itself as a specialized source for replacement and new cushions, serving homeowners and other buyers who need durable, custom-fitted seating and pillow products for indoor and outdoor spaces.

https://www.cushionsbydesign.com/

The Julep & Julep Flats is an apartment community located at 1071 Candlelight Boulevard, Brooksville, FL 34601, in Hernando County. Set in a suburban Tampa-area location near the Suncoast Parkway and Florida’s Nature Coast, the community offers residents access to nearby golfing, camping, and kayaking activities while positioning itself as a peaceful retreat.

The property offers newly renovated apartment homes featuring stainless steel appliances, wood-style plank flooring, and large closets. Many units include oversized patios or balconies with wooded views, and floor plans range from one to four bedrooms, available through online leasing. Community amenities include a swimming pool and extensive green space set beneath Live Oak trees, supporting an outdoor, nature-oriented setting for residents.

Day-to-day resident services are handled through online tools, including online rent payment through Bilt, maintenance requests, and a community application. The property maintains resident portals for paying rent, requesting service, accessing community information, and leaving reviews, giving residents multiple self-service options. The community is pet-friendly and is managed by South Oxford Management.

Prospective residents can explore the property through several tour formats, including live chat, virtual tours, in-person tours, and video tours, and can reach the leasing team by phone at 352-646-2609. The community describes itself as offering comfort and convenience in Brooksville, emphasizing its blend of updated interiors and a relaxed, wooded suburban environment.

The Julep & Julep Flats maintains ADA compliance and operates as an Equal Housing Opportunity community. With its Hernando County location, renovated units, range of one- to four-bedroom floor plans, and amenities such as a pool and mature tree-shaded grounds, the community positions itself as a residential option for renters seeking updated apartments in the Brooksville area along Florida’s Nature Coast, within reach of the broader Tampa region via the Suncoast Parkway.

https://www.thejulepapts.com/