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Northwest Fla., Panhandle Business Briefs - Nov. 2008
Destin —
» Dallas-based Encore Enterprises’ hospitality subsidiary has acquired Sterling Resorts and Sterling Realty from the Sterling Cos. through a stock purchase agreement. Sterling Cos. retains core assets and its development business, including Kelly Plantation, Plantation at Freeport and OneWater Place.
Escambia County —
» Exxon-Mobil Chemical has completed a $10-million expansion of its central county plant, adding 30 jobs, to manufacture a new line of tire inner liners designed to reduce air loss and boost fuel economy. The liners are made with Exxcore DVA (dynamically vulcanized alloy), combining rubber and plastic.
Okaloosa County —
» Okaloosa Regional Airport is now Northwest Florida Regional Airport. The new name better identifies the airport’s location to out-of-state travelers, airport director Greg Donovan says.
Panama City —
» Bay Medical Center has launched a $60-million expansion, incorporating a five-story, 140-bed addition. Over the past five years, its number of patients treated has jumped 35%.
» Freedom Communications, publisher of daily newspapers at Panama City and Fort Walton Beach plus eight northwest Florida weeklies, is consolidating regional printing and packaging operations at its $15-million press installed two years ago at Panama City. Freedom also is unifying its news operations serving all 10 newsrooms.
Pensacola —
» Columbus, Ga.-based Synovus Bank is consolidating Vanguard Bank and Trust of Valparaiso and Bank of Pensacola to form Coastal Bank and Trust of Florida, based in Pensacola. Bank of Pensacola’s Bo Carter is Coastal CEO and president.
» The Naval Aviation Museum Foundation’s plan for a National Flight Academy, providing an aviation-focused science and math learning environment for seventh- to 12th-graders, has gotten a Navy go-ahead. Construction on the 105,000-sq.-ft., $19.5-million academy adjacent to the National Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola Naval Air Station will begin early next year. Also being built: A $7-million, 70,000-sq.-ft. museum exhibition hall. Funding was raised by the museum foundation.
» TechSoft landed its largest-ever contract, a $43-million agreement with the Department of Defense to provide web-based training support for the Naval Education and Training Professional Development and Technology Center at Saufley Field. Five other national companies received chunks of the $256-million training contract.
Quincy —
» The Gadsden County Commission launched an affordable housing project with $100,000 financing for land purchase and construction of the first 1,100-sq.-ft. house, being completed this fall. Additional construction depends on initial sales interest.
Tallahassee —
» The city and Leon County School District are launching a "Schools on Solar" pilot project at Oak Ridge Elementary, followed by Montford Middle School. Student solar energy studies are included in the project.
» Florida State University spinoff company TEAM Simulations is commercializing FSU research and providing software to help government, business and organizations prepare for disasters. TEAM stands for "training, exercise and management." Janet Dilling, director of FSU’s Center for Disaster Risk Policy, has been named president and CEO.
