Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Central Florida Business Briefs - Jan. 2007

CENTRAL FLORIDA — About 8,000 residents have given feedback in Myregion.org’s “How Shall We Grow?” town meetings. Five scenarios for central Florida’s development have emerged, focusing on themes such as sensitive land preservation, compact town centers and mass transportation corridors. Residents will be asked to vote on their favorite this month through mid-February. Myregion.org will release the results this summer.

MELBOURNE — Harris Corp. (NYSE-HRS) has received a one-year, $42-million contract from the Department of State to continue providing technical support services to more than 230 U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. Harris also has been awarded a one-year contract by the Navy to provide a multiband satellite communications terminal for a combat ship developed by Lockheed Martin. A 53% increase in orders for the first quarter of fiscal year 2007 boosted Harris’ revenue 25% to $947 million, compared with $760 million for the same quarter of 2006.

ORLANDO — Atlanta-based Integrated Media Holdings has bought privately held online auction and e-commerce company Bidchaser.

» The University of Central Florida and Florida Hospital have formed an alliance to study lifestyle medicine and produce the peer-reviewed American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. Their goal is to not only treat diseases but prevent them.

PORT CANAVERAL — Vitol S.A. has signed a 30-year lease with Port Canaveral, where it plans to build a fuel tank farm. The port’s cargo revenue is expected to jump from $7.3 million last year to nearly $18 million. Annual revenue has exceeded $50 million for the first time, according to preliminary figures.