ALACHUA — Applied Genetic Technologies, a 10-year-old University of Florida spinoff, closed on $11.8 million in financing to complete its next phase of human clinical trials for gene therapy treatments for one type of hereditary emphysema and two types of hereditary blindness.
?
AMELIA ISLAND — Redquartz Developments of Atlanta backed out of buying a majority stake in Amelia Island Plantation because of financing problems.
?
CLAY COUNTY — The First Coast Outer Beltway linking I-95 and I-10 may be moving into the fast lane: A new law will allow the contractor who’s selected to build the 46.6-mile toll road to avoid property taxes on the land.
?
GAINESVILLE — The city commission approved a 30-year energy contract between Gainesville Regional Utilities and American Renewables for a biomass power plant.
» The University of Florida announced 60 layoffs, the elimination of more than 150 positions and $30 million in program cuts after the Legislature reduced funding from $596.3 million in 2008-09 to $554.1 million.
?
JACKSONVILLE — City officials say LandMark Group defaulted on an ambitious 2005 agreement to redevelop a 40-acre riverfront parcel downtown called The Shipyards because of financial problems.
» General Motors will close its Jacksonville parts warehouse at the end of the year, eliminating 72 jobs.
» Children’s health system Nemours reduced its workforce by 7% because of lower revenue and investment losses at the duPont trust, one of the non-profit’s largest funders. Jacksonville-based Nemours eliminated 325 positions, including more than 100 in Florida.
» Boeing will relocate a repair operation and 60 jobs to Cecil Commerce Center from Arizona after the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission approved a lease with rent credits of up to $243,600 — two years’ worth of rent. Boeing says it will invest $3.3 million at Cecil to move its F/A-18 facility there.
» Jacksonville-based Venus Swimwear and Venus Manufacturing, which sells women’s clothing and bathing suits, says it may have to lay off 240 because of financing problems.
» Nebraska-based Nelnet, a student loan company, will close its Jacksonville operations next year, eliminating 250 jobs.
» In his budget proposal this month, Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton will call for 5% less spending and the elimination of 100 open jobs. The city is grappling with a shortfall in its pension fund, which Peyton says will cost taxpayers $275,000 a day next year.
?
LEVY COUNTY — Progress Energy announced a minimum two-year construction delay on its $17-billion nuclear power plant in southern Levy County because the Nuclear Regulatory Commission won’t authorize excavation and foundation work until it issues the plant’s license, which Progress expects in late 2011 or early 2012.
?
PUTNAM COUNTY — Potato farmers suffered $45 million in losses from heavy rains during May. Fields in Putnam, St. Johns and Flagler counties were under several feet of water.