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Southwest/Tampa Bay In the News - Feb. 2005
CLEARWATER -- Norm Welch, president and CEO of Clearwater-based Evatone, retired in December after 37 years with the audio, print, data and multimedia manufacturer. Carl Evans, executive vice president and a member of the Evans family that founded and owns Evatone, has taken over as president and CEO.
Southeast Airlines, a charter airline based at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport, closed abruptly in November, leaving more than 360 people unemployed and unable to collect their last paychecks or retirement funds.ECONOMY:
Top-Performing Cities
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA -- The Fort Myers-Cape Coral area tops the Milken Institute's "2004 Best Performing Cities Index," with Daytona Beach finishing fifth and Sarasota-Bradenton sixth. The non-profit economic think tank ranked seven Florida areas in the top 20 nationally based on their ability to create and sustain jobs. The West Palm Beach-Boca Raton area ranks fourth and Fort Lauderdale ninth; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater 12th; and Naples 15th. "Florida's economy has been creating new jobs at a brisk pace" and has benefited from a tourism rebound and job growth in healthcare services, the report said.
FORT MYERS -- A Circuit Court jury has ruled that Fort Myers-based Ted's Sheds must pay $4.5 million to founder Ted Goodrich for breach of employment. Goodrich claimed a new CEO had locked him out of his office and stopped paying him. Goodrich is a 50% shareholder in the company, which makes and sells storage sheds.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY -- The County Commission voted unanimously to take over ownership of the St. Pete Times Forum, eliminating the Tampa Bay Lightning's property tax liability. The commission also received a commitment from the professional hockey team to remain in Tampa for the next 10 years.
NAPLES -- A group of businessmen has formed Partners Bank after acquiring a series of local banks. Jim Weaver, former president of Village Banc of Naples and Marine National Bank, is Partners' president and CEO. The group plans to build more offices and branches this spring.
POLK COUNTY -- Williams Acquisition Holding Co. of Tulsa, Okla., has donated 530 acres to the University of South Florida for the future home of USF Lakeland's regional campus. The land is at the corner of Interstate 4 and Polk Parkway. USF plans to break ground in 2008.
SAFETY HARBOR -- MeriStar Hospitality Corp. has sold the landmark 30-acre Safety Harbor Resort and Spa for an undisclosed price to S.H.S. Resort, a unit of Olympia Development. Olympia is building a mixed-used development across the street from the spa and plans to demolish the spa to build condos, hotels
and a new spa.
SARASOTA -- New York-based U.S. Trust Corp. has opened a wealth management office in downtown Sarasota. The company's other Florida offices are in Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Naples and Vero Beach.
TAMPA -- Tampa-based Tropical Sportswear was acquired by Miami-based Perry Ellis for $85 million. Tropical Sportswear filed for bankruptcy protection last year.
Donald Trump and a group of Tampa developers will break ground this spring on Trump Tower Tampa, the tallest residential building on the U.S. Gulf Coast. The 593-foot, $220-million condominium tower will be located downtown on the Hillsborough River. It will include 190 condos and penthouses ranging from $700,000 to $5.5 million. Amenities include a concierge, private elevator lobbies into units, guest suites, a catering kitchen, a restaurant, two retail stores and a 10-floor garage. Grand opening is planned for fall of 2007.
TAMPA BAY -- Tampa Bay led the state in job growth through November, adding 25,600 jobs over the past year, according to the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation. Orlando was second, creating 21,200 jobs, and Fort Lauderdale was third, adding 18,500 positions.
TRINITY -- Patriot Bank, the first community bank based in Trinity in Pasco County, recently opened in a temporary facility on Little Road. The bank is building a 12,000-sq.-ft., $2.5-million office that is expected
to open this spring.
