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Southwest Florida Business Briefs - Dec. 2005
CHARLOTTE COUNTY -- Charlotte County opened its first regional library in October. Some $8.9 million in funding for the 42,000-sq.-ft. facility came from the 1998 1% sales tax initiative and a $500,000 grant from the state.
DUNEDIN -- Honeymoon Island State Park had the second-highest economic impact of any state park last fiscal year, pumping more than $30 million into the economy, according to the Florida Park Service. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo was the top economic contributor, accounting
for almost $43 million.
FORT MYERS -- As part of its national expansion plan, Professional Risk Solutions, a New Jersey wholesale brokerage insurance firm specializing in executive and professional liability insurance products, has opened a Fort Myers office.
MANATEE COUNTY -- The Canadian-based Haemacure Corp., which specializes in the development of biological adhesives, biomaterials and surgical devices for acute wound care, is investing $10 million in a new facility on Tallevast Road that will house 51 employees.
NAPLES -- The Bank of Florida Trust Co. named Scott Kellett executive vice president and president of Private Bank for the West Region. Kellett is former senior vice president and Florida private client group manager for Fifth Third Bank Investment Advisors.
ST. PETERSBURG -- First Advantage Corp., a global risk mitigation and business solutions provider based in St. Petersburg, has acquired Texas-based Road Manager Financial Services. Road Manager, a subsidiary of Volvo Commercial Finance, assists trucking companies and leasing company partners with state and federal mileage and fuel tax reporting compliance requirements.
Taylor Woodrow's Tower Division is expanding to all Florida markets north of I-4, including the Florida Panhandle, and as far west as Gulf Shores, Ala., and Biloxi, Miss. The company recently razed the old Adam's Mark Hotel on Clearwater Beach to make way for a luxury condo and hotel.
Cox Target Media recently broke ground on a 470,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing facility along I-275, where it plans to double its production capacity for Valpak, a direct mail coupon provider.
TAMPA -- Lydian Bank & Trust has tapped Cary Putrino, former regional president for Northern Trust Bank of Florida and chairman of the board of BayCare Health System, as its new regional president.
Local philanthropists contributed $5 million toward the construction of the $50-million, 125,000-sq.-ft. Pepin Heart Hospital & Dr. Kiran C. Patel Research Institute.
