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Northwest Business Briefs - Oct. 2004
Dixie County -- Commissioners approved a $750,000 community development block grant to help retired Air Force Col. Keifer Tucker and partners open a manufacturing plant for fiberglass cargo trailers. The plant could ultimately employ 50.
Escambia County -- Santa Rosa Island residents historically have paid lease fees in lieu of owning their property, meaning they haven't had to pay property taxes. Recently, however, county property tax bills started landing in their mailboxes -- the result of a decision by property appraiser Chris Jones that they should pay taxes on their homes and buildings. The tax is expected to generate $10 million a year. Jones has hinted that taxes on land could follow. A similar assessment levied in 2001 by Santa Rosa County at neighboring Navarre Beach spurred a lawsuit by residents saying it violated lease agreements. That case is still in court.
Gulf County -- The County Commission's new aviation advisory committee is partnering with neighboring Franklin County to develop Franklin's Apalachicola Municipal Airport, a general aviation airport. Initially, the partners will seek to buy enough land to lengthen the main runway. "Growing a local airport is one of the best things that could be done for Gulf and Franklin counties economically," says Alan McNair, executive director of Gulf County's Economic Development Council.
Leon County -- A new study says the county's best bet for economic growth lies in aircraft maintenance, internet security and niche businesses such as development of tailor-made medicines. The reasons: Demand among growth industries, plus community assets, including Florida A&M's College of Pharmacy and Florida State University's strength in computer security research. The study, conducted for the Economic Development Council of Tallahassee/Leon County, cited a lack of available land and buildings among obstacles.
Marianna -- Sykes Enterprises is considering closing its call center this month, possibly putting 121 employees out of work, according to a federally mandated Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN notice, it filed in August.
Northwest Florida -- Panama City ranks fourth, and Destin/Fort Walton Beach 10th among the country's Top 10 vacation rental destinations, according to Hotels.com, an online and telephone reservations company. Also on the list: Orlando, No. 2; Miami, No. 8.
Panama City Beach -- Mall magnate Simon Property has agreed to develop with St. Joe Co. (NYSE-JOE) the commercial portion of Pier Park, a city-St. Joe Co. venture featuring more than 1 million square feet of retail, dining and entertainment on 130 acres. Simon, the country's largest mall landlord, initially will buy 90 acres. It eventually could purchase 125 additional acres in or near Pier Park.
Pea Ridge -- The Santa Rosa Historical Society has turned over the Arcadia Mill Historical Archeological Site, part of the first and largest early American water-powered industrial complex in Florida, to the University of West Florida. The complex operated between 1817 and 1855. UWF archeologists began site research in 1988.
Pensacola -- State Attorney Curtis Golden, at 36 years one of the longest-serving state attorneys in Florida history, will retire in January. Replacing him will be Assistant State Attorney William "Bill" Eddins, elected without opposition to the First Judicial District post, serving Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties.
Tallahassee -- Jack E. Crow, former director of Florida State University's National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, died of cancer last month at age 65. Crow was responsible for luring the lab away from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1990. The lab now boasts the world's strongest superconducting magnet.
Seventeen downtown buildings will go on the market over the next few years as the result of a plan by the Department of Management Services to shrink state administrative space by about 30%.
Education
GROOMING AVIATORS
OKALOOSA COUNTY -- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach has teamed up with the Okaloosa County School District for a first-of-its-kind aviation institute at Choctawhatchee High School. A second site at Crestview High School has also been opened in partnership with Crestview Aerospace Corp. Enrollment topped out at the 120-student target. Study tracks include aviation, aviation maintenance and flight, and credits can be applied toward a degree at Embry-Riddle.
