March 29, 2024

Northeast Business Briefs - Dec. 2004

Bob Snell | 12/1/2004
ALACHUA COUNTY -- The Association for Retarded Citizens of Alachua County must pay a disabled Gainesville woman $450,000 after a jury found she was sexually abused in a Gainesville group home. Jurors found ARC officials were negligent when they reinstated an employee who had been previously accused of rape.

CLAY COUNTY -- Kohl's department store chain is planning to open a 100,000-sq.-ft. store at Eagle Harbor. The store would be located on 17 acres near County Road 210 and U.S. 17.

GAINESVILLE -- Jehovah's Witnesses will hold two regional conventions next year at University of Florida's O'Connell Center. Each event is expected to attract 5,000 people and add $4.1 million to the local economy.

APAC Southeast won City Commission approval to build an asphalt plant on NW 13th Street.

HIGH SPRINGS -- City officials are trying to determine why the city's drinking water supply has acquired a brownish tint. The problem began after Hurricane Frances caused the Santa Fe River to rise above normal levels. An $800,000 filtration system may be needed to clear the water, which remains potable.

HILLIARD -- City officials have shelved a controversial land-use ordinance that would have standardized the size and appearance of homes in various neighborhoods. The Florida Manufactured Housing Association complained the ordinance illegally restricted mobile homes.

JACKSONVILLE -- Unison Industries, a Jacksonville-based maker of electrical and mechanical aircraft components, will join a Lockheed Martin Corp. bid to build the next presidential helicopter, Marine One. Lockheed and Sikorsky are vying for a $2-billion Pentagon contract to build 23 Marine Ones.

The Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida hopes to raise $1 million for local charities by raffling off two tickets to February's Super Bowl. Raffle tickets are being sold for $100 apiece, with the proceeds going to the charity of the buyer's choice.

The Suddath Cos. has purchased Barrett Moving & Storage Co., a Minneapolis moving company. Combined revenue will top $250 million.

CSX Transportation sold 100 miles of railroad to Indiana & Ohio Central Railroad Inc. for $8.6 million. The line, known as the Midland Subdivision, runs from Cincinnati to Columbus, Ohio.

Federal passenger screeners at Jacksonville International Airport will not be replaced by private contractors, despite concerns about the federal system raised by airport Executive Director John Clark.

Winn-Dixie Stores (NYSE-WIN) announced a first-quarter loss of $153.1 million.

Jacksonville University's $10-million Davis College of Business will open next month.

Clearwire has expanded its wireless broadband internet service to cover the entire Southside, the Beaches and Ponte Vedra Beach. Clearwire next will expand to the Westside, Ortega and Orange Park.

University of North Florida athletic teams could compete at the NCAA's Division I level next year if the school's application is accepted. UNF is currently a member of the Division II Peach Belt Conference but would likely join the Atlantic Sun Conference, which includes rival Jacksonville University.

JACKSONVILLE BEACH -- A $15-million portion of the federal government's $11-billion hurricane repair fund will be used to renourish Jacksonville, Neptune and Atlantic beaches.

Construction has begun on Marina San Pablo, a 113-unit luxury condominium complex and 90-slip marina on the Intracoastal Waterway.

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS -- The city's Airpark Authority will sell 24 acres of airpark property to the U.S. Department of Interior, which will turn it into a trailhead to the Florida National Scenic Trail.

MAYPORT -- Owners of the La Cruise gambling ship are appealing a U.S. Coast Guard order that it leave U.S. waters. An inspection revealed numerous safety problems, and La Cruise may not take on passengers until the appeal is resolved.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH -- The PGA Tour has donated $300,000 toward construction of a 4,000-sq.-ft. community senior center. The Players Championship Senior Center will have space for activities for up to 100 seniors at a time.

SUWANNEE COUNTY -- Five people swimming in the Ichetucknee River have developed moderate-to-severe allergic reactions, likely caused by an increase in toxic algae. While the number of cases is small, environmental officials say the algae problem is new and could grow worse.

Florida TrendLine
Household income in St. Johns County is projected to reach almost $130,000 by 2010, making it the richest county in northeast Florida and putting it 40% higher than projected household income of $92,533 statewide.
Source: Woods & Poole Economics

Tags: Northeast

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