Tampa Bay Business Journal - February 10, 2012

TAMPA - In this week's Tampa Bay Business Journal report, editor Alexis Muellner talks bank loans, competition for Cuba flights and counterfeit goods.

The 38 banks headquartered in the Bay Area loaned out more money to businesses in 2011 than in 2010. The number of problem loans also fell at most banks. That's the good news. The not-so-good news? Loan volume would be even higher if economic growth was not still sluggish.

Orlando International Airport will soon offer charter flights to Cuba, competing with Tampa and Miami for customers. However, officials at TIA are not too concerned about the competition citing the Bay Area's historical Cuba connections.

U.S. Homeland Security agents seized nearly $1.3 million in counterfeit goods from a Tampa business on February 1. The seizure shows counterfeited items are a growing problem for legitimate retailers with high-end merchandise and trademark holders.

For more information on these stories, click on the video player on the left to watch this week's report.