Fight looms over BP money
There could be a battle for BP fine money. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said a proposal circulating in Washington calls for fine money from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill to be funneled away from the Gulf Coast states and instead used to help pay down the debt. "A lot of people want it to go to deficit reduction," Nelson said Wednesday at the Bay County Chamber of Commerce offices on Fifth Street. "The fine is for the wrongdoing of spilling oil in the Gulf of Mexico, and there are a lot of people who have been harmed because of it." [Source: News-Herald]MUST-KNOW FLORIDIAN
Meet Ken Binger. He was recently appointed to the new position of president of business banking for BankAtlantic. During his 13 year career with BankAtlantic, he has held several key positions including Regional Manager in Broward and Palm Beach counties, Director of Small Business, and most recently President of Palm Beach stores. Ken serves on the Boards of the Urban League of Palm Beach County and the Paragon Foundation. See more Southeast Florida Players and read more from BankAtlantic. |
Ex-lawmaker opens butcher shop designed to help hunters
There is an old saying in business: "Find a need; fill a need" and Winter Haven businessman Baxter Troutman said he thinks he has done just that.
With hunting a popular recreation with many Polk County residents, Troutman and his manager, Chris Branson, have opened a butcher shop designed specifically for wild game.
It is basically a full-service meat processing plant for game, but with modifications it could include single steers in the future as well, they said. [Source: Lakeland Ledger]
Palm Bay's Syncron EMS to hire 100 more workers
Syncron EMS, a technology manufacturing company that recently relocated its headquarters to Commerce Park Drive here, is looking to hire 100 additional workers during the next year.
Syncron EMS, which employs 50 now, had been operating out of a facility on Penn Street in Melbourne since 2008, when it acquired the assets of another small contract manufacturer. It has been working with Palm Bay economic development officials for bigger space the past several months.
[Source: Florida Today]
Hialeah lays off 40% of fire department
After a contentious meeting Wednesday night, the Hialeah City Council unanimously approved the city's $263.4 million budget for 2011-12 — and laid off more than 100 fire rescue workers in three stages beginning Saturday, the start of the fiscal year.
After almost 90 minutes of debate in the packed council chambers, filled mostly by fire rescue department employees, the council voted 7-0 in favor of the spending plan submitted by Mayor Carlos Hernández.
[Source: Miami Herald]
Orlando Magic look to other cities for ideas on fun complex
If the Orlando Magic build a $100 million entertainment complex in Parramore, the team will be following the lead of other cities where private development has sprung up around sports arenas.
At the same time, it's a gamble. With such a big investment at stake, the team must strike a balance of shopping, dining and entertainment enticing enough to draw people into the Amway Center's neighborhood even when no events are scheduled at the arena.
Any project will face the stigma of crime, costly parking and, potentially, a lack of customers, said Mindy Boehm, a real-estate broker with Cushman & Wakefield who specializes in office and retail space.
[Source: Orlando Sentinel]
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