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Northeast Business Briefs - May 2007
ALACHUA COUNTY --
? Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida established a $3.5-million endowment at the University of Florida to open the BCBSF Center for Health Care Access, Patient Safety and Quality Outcomes. The endowment will total $6.7 million with matching state funds.
ATLANTIC BEACH --
? Selva Marina Country Club wants to develop 100 homes on what is currently part of its golf course.
BAKER COUNTY --
? DuPont Titanium Mine will expand its production in the Black Bottom area by 660 acres.
CLAY COUNTY --
? Because residential growth is outpacing the county's ability to build schools, the school board has asked the county commission for a moratorium on rezoning that would increase residential density.
? John Thrasher resigned his county commission seat to focus on his lobbying business. Thrasher was temporarily appointed to the seat, replacing indicted Commissioner Christy Fitzgerald.
? The University of Florida is opening two medical clinics in Clay County. The OakLeaf Plantation Family Medicine and Pediatric Center is scheduled to open in August. The University of Florida Orange Park Women's Health Specialists center is expected to open in September.
FLAGLER COUNTY --
? Amrep Corp. purchased Palm Coast Data Holdco for $92 million. Palm Coast Data, a magazine subscription services company, is one of the county's largest private employers.
JACKSON COUNTY --
? Bigham Farms purchased 2,918 acres near Marianna, which it plans to use as farmland.
JACKSONVILLE --
? Florida Community College at Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Aviation Authority are planning to build a multimillion-dollar airplane painting facility at Cecil Field.
? JEA sold its former headquarters for $4.1 million to a developer who wants to convert the downtown building into a mixed-use development. The electric utility plans to raise rates 6% each of the next three years.
? The city was ordered to pay American Atheists $5,000 to settle a lawsuit by the New Jersey-based group after the city spent $101,000 to host a Day of Faith rally to help curb violence.
? The St. Joe Co. (NYSE-JOE) cut another 5% of its workforce as part of a decision it made last year to leave the home-building market.
? FirstAtlantic Financial Holding plans to open its first community bank in May.
? The University of North Florida has started the Center for Global Health and Medical Diplomacy to help find solutions to healthcare problems.
? Orlando developer Cameron Kuhn received approval to begin construction on a $100-million addition to the River Watch at City Centre complex. Kuhn also received a $1.05-million grant to renovate the Laura Street Trio buildings.
? Software firm Administar Services added 80 jobs as part of its expansion.
? The city plans to build 63 affordable housing units on nine acres of the southern end of Hanna Park.
? Proficio Bank, a commercial bank servicing the corporate relocation and home-building industries, opened its first branch.
? Sikorsky Support Services, a helicopter repair company, closed its Jacksonville facility and relocated 75 workers to Texas.
? Because of declining enrollment, Duval County schools will receive $3.3 million less in state funds than expected.
? Legal staffing firm Special Counsel has acquired Minneapolis-based Esquire Group, a legal recruiting and consulting firm.
PUTNAM COUNTY --
? An audit by the Florida Auditor General's office determined that St. Johns River Community College violated state laws by not seeking competitive bids for two major contracts, is missing hundreds of thousands of dollars in inventory, has no future strategic plan and has security problems with its computer systems.
ST. JOHNS COUNTY --
? Northrop Grumman is seeking $220,000 in tax incentives to build Sikorsky Aircraft helicopters at its St. Augustine plant.
