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Miami-Dade County Business Briefs - May 2006
» The University of Miami joins a prestigious list nationally as one of the only institutions to raise $1 billion in a single fund-raising campaign. The school's three-year Momentum campaign goal is to reach $1.25 billion. Most of the funds are earmarked for the school of medicine. The university's school of arts and science, in contrast, is set to receive only $20 million.
FLORIDA CITY --
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Two environmental groups have sued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, challenging its decision to issue permits to fill more than 500 acres of wetlands outside the county's urban development boundary where developers are proposing a 6,000-home development.
HIALEAH --
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Citing high real estate costs and other business expenses in south Florida, National Partitions, a manufacturer of office partitions and other modular building products, will move its headquarters to Knoxville, Tenn. About 60 employees will be transferred.
MIAMI --
» Caja de Ahorros de Galicia, one of Spain's largest savings banks with $42 billion in assets, has received Federal Reserve approval to open an international banking agency in Miami. It will be the bank's first in the U.S.
» Miami-based Ocean Bank has pledged $1 million to the United Negro College Fund to benefit Florida Memorial University, south Florida's only historically black college.
MIAMI BEACH --
» MCZ/Centrum has purchased the south tower of the Flamingo South Beach, a 562-unit waterfront property, for $163.5 million and plans to turn the units into condos. It has also purchased an option on the remaining two towers.
MIAMI-DADE --
» After nearly three years of testy negotiations, Florida International University faculty have approved a new collective bargaining agreement. The new pact calls for a minimum 3.6% pay raise, a six-month maternity leave policy and the right to an arbitration panel to settle grievances.
» The Miami-Dade County Commission failed to override a veto by Mayor Carlos Alvarez of a controversial measure that would have allowed officials to "correct the public record" when commissioners believe residents and other speakers make inaccurate comments at public meetings.
» Computer maker Dell is buying Alienware, a maker of high-end PCs for video gamers, for an undisclosed price. Dell executives say Alienware will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary under the direction of company founders Nelson Gonzalez and Alex Aguila. Alienware, which has been recognized by Inc. magazine as one of the nation's fastest-growing private companies, will remain headquartered in south Miami-Dade, where it employs about 350.
» Hoping to upgrade its image and boost retail revenue, Miami International Airport will add 19 stores to its central terminal. Among them: Brookstone, Mindworks, Borders bookstore and Ron Jon Surf Shop
