March 29, 2024

Northwest Business Briefs - Dec. 2004

Charlotte Crane | 12/1/2004
BAY/WALTON COUNTY -- Three environmental groups, the Department of Environmental Protection and St. Joe Co. (NYSE-JOE) have settled differences over an ecosystem management plan that eliminates individual project permitting and regulates wetlands in 32,000 acres owned by St. Joe. The revised plan clarifies the process for challenging a project and provides for a public meeting every five years.

DESTIN -- Whaling Wall No. 88 is now the biggest mural on the planet -- and headed for the Guinness World Records -- world-famous muralist Wyland said after completing an addition this fall to his 2001 original painting. The painting covers 5.2 acres on the wall of Legendary Marina's boat storage building.

Destin Bank, the city's largest in market share, will become part of New Orleans-based Whitney National Bank in the first quarter of 2005. The buyout of bank parent Destin Bancshares will give Whitney 10 more northwest Florida branches, for a total of 19. Destin Bank has $470 million in assets. The purchase price was not disclosed.

ESCAMBIA COUNTY -- Sewage spillage along Pensacola's Main Street during Hurricane Ivan could speed plans to move the main wastewater treatment plant away from downtown to a lower-profile, lower-risk area. Emerald Coast Utilities Authority will ask Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist with relocation funding, estimated at $165 million.

ESCAMBIA/SANTA ROSA COUNTY -- Hurricane Ivan destroyed 100% of soybean and pecan crops and more than half of peanut crops across the two counties. Farmers may be able to salvage a small yield of cotton, both counties' primary field crop.

LEON COUNTY -- The county's population increased by 15,557 in 2003-04 for the largest two-year increase since at least 1930, which is when the University of Florida's Bureau of Economic and Business Research began tabulating population changes between Census counts. The Greater Tallahassee Area Chamber of Commerce speculates that retirees likely account for much of the influx.

MARIANNA -- A tornado associated with Hurricane Ivan destroyed the 4-year-old Sykes Enterprises technical support call center at Marianna Airport/Industrial Park, displacing 206 employees. No plans have been announced regarding rebuilding. Sykes had indicated earlier it might close the center.

NORTHWEST FLORIDA -- The Florida Division of Forestry estimated timber damage from Hurricane Ivan at more than $130 million. Statewide, this year's storms damaged or destroyed 2.3 million acres of forests, at a cost likely to top $389 million.

PANAMA CITY -- The City Commission has turned down developer Bob Blackerby's land swap proposal, citing negative public opinion. Blackerby offered to build a new City Hall and contribute to a new library in exchange for the waterfront sites those buildings now occupy, where he proposed to build high-rise condominiums.

The Naval Surface Warfare Center-Panama City is studying the effects of military testing in bay and Gulf waters along the Panhandle. The study will look at the impact on wildlife, fisheries and air and water quality throughout the Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range, from Mobile, Ala., to south of Tallahassee.

PENSACOLA -- Network Telephone Co. is joining Georgia-based ITC DeltaCom, the largest competitive local exchange carrier in the Southeast, according to ITC.

PORT ST. JOE -- Rainmaker Financial of Chattanooga, Tenn., has taken over management of Gulf Pines Hospital under a three-year contract with owner Hugh Steeley, who plans to gradually step back. Rainmaker executives think the hospital can recover from several years of financial troubles, which included two bankruptcy filings and a barely averted tax auction.

TALLAHASSEE -- Office Depot's $1-million gift to Florida State University will help build the college's new Office Depot Technology Complex, which will be FSU's most technologically advanced center; the gift also will create an endowment for programming, research, future upgrades and guest lecturers. FSU's CONNECT campaign, its largest-ever fund-raising effort, is targeting
$600 million in five years.

Capital City Bank Group is buying 99-year-old Farmers and Merchants Bank of Dublin, Ga., for $66 million. The purchase expands its Georgia reach to 13 offices and $498 million in deposits. Capital City has assets of $2.4 billion.

WALTON COUNTY -- The Walton County Commission dropped the millage rate by .25 mills, giving the fast-growing county the lowest rate (5.065 mills) among Florida counties with a population under 75,000.

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