SHARE:
Northeast Florida Business Briefs - Oct. 2006
ALACHUA COUNTY --
? State and university officials met in July to discuss the creation of the Florida Center for Brain Tumor Research at the Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute of the University of Florida. The new center will work with hospitals statewide to collect tissue, share data, facilitate clinical trials and promote funding and research opportunities.
? The University of Florida College of Nursing received a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to offer a master's of science in nursing with a public health specialty. The HRSA will provide about $270,000 a year for three years, bringing the expected total to more than $800,000.
? DayJet plans to begin offering flights at the Gainesville Regional Airport in early 2007.
? Electro Energy, which manufactures batteries for business briefs defense, industrial and commercial applications, plans to open a $50- million plant, creating 300 to 500 jobs.
CLAY COUNTY--
?
Construction has started on the $24-million county courthouse expansion project, which is scheduled for completion in October 2007.
JACKSONVILLE --
?
Developers of the St. John condo tower, on the south bank of the St. Johns River, have started selling units. Prices range from $400,000 to $2 million. The 52-story tower will be Jacksonville's tallest building.
? The Bank of North Florida plans to open its first branch by November in the Bank of America tower downtown.
? According to the Florida Association of Realtors, sales of existing homes in Jacksonville dropped 17% between July 2005 and July 2006. The median sales price increased 7% to $203,900.
? Delta Air Lines began daily flights between Jacksonville and Pensacola in September.
? A group of aviation manufacturers plans to set up a production facility at Cecil Field to build the C-27J, a new light cargo plane for the military. The group includes L-3 Communications Integrated Systems, Alenia North America and Boeing Integrated Defense Systems.
? Atlantic Marine Holding Co., the largest shipyard in Jacksonville, was sold to New York-based J.F. Lehman & Co. for an undisclosed price. Founded in 1964, the company has about 1,200 employees. Ron McAlear will take over as CEO.
? The Jacksonville Aviation Authority received $13 million from the Florida Department of Transportation for a terminal expansion at Jacksonville International Airport.
? Armor Holdings (NYSEAH), which makes security products for the military and police agencies, is planning a $22-million, 88,000-sq.-ft. expansion.
? The Florida Department of Transportation named Cecil Field the best general aviation airport in Florida.
? The Jacksonville City Council is considering two bills that would require city employees and members of boards and commissions to reside in Duval County.
? Mayor John Peyton has proposed a $742-million, 10-year plan to clean up the St. Johns River. The plan includes improvements to parks, more river access and the removal of 21,000 septic tanks.
? Rayonier signed a five-year contract worth $500 million with Nantong Cellulose Fibers Co., a subsidiary of China National Tobacco, to supply fiber used in cigarette filters.
NASSAU COUNTY --
? An Atlanta developer proposed a $50-million mixed-use project on the Fernandina Beach waterfront, featuring residential housing starting in the $700,000s. Plans call for a 70-unit condominium and a 104-slip marina with adjacent retail space. Lane Investment and Development plans to start construction in June.
PONTE VEDRA BEACH --
? Ireland-based Redquartz Boundary purchased a majority interest in the Sawgrass Marriott Resort and will begin renovating the hotel's 500 guest rooms and restaurants.
PUTNAM COUNTY --
? Developers released details of plans for Mariposa, a 3,230-unit community west of the St. Johns-Putnam County line. If approved, the first phase of the 3.5-square-mile development could be open by 2008. Government meetings and public hearings on the project, which includes retail and office space, a business park, an elementary school and a golf course, began in August.
ST. AUGUSTINE --
? Florida East Coast Industries (NYSE-FLA), the largest company in St. Augustine, plans to move its headquarters to Jacksonville by the end of the year. The company will sell its building to Flagler College.
? St. Augustine-based Flagler Hospital received the Magnet award for nursing excellence, the only northeast Florida hospital to receive the award.
ST. JOHNS COUNTY --
? Latrobe, Pa.- based Le-Nature's Inc. dropped plans to build a $72-million water bottling plant following public criticism and environmental opposition.
? Haven Trust Bank opened its first branch in St. Augustine. The new bank will open its main branch in Ponte Vedra Beach by next August.
? To help balance its 2007 fiscal year budget, St. Johns County officials are recommending hiring 89 new employees rather than the 141 that had been requested, saving about $2.5 million. The 2007 budget of $609 million is up from $569 million in 2006.
? Ben Carter Properties will develop a 1.2-million-sq.-ft. open-air mall, The Esplanade at St. Johns, on International Golf Parkway near I-95 and the World Golf Village. The mall will include four department stores, possibly Macy's, Belk, JCPenney and Dillard's, a theater, specialty anchor stores such as Target and Best Buy and 80 boutiques and shops. The company chose the site because of current projects in the area, including the 15,000-acre Nocatee residential development. The Esplanade should be completed by 2010.
