"This plant will play a major role in this community's financial success," says Ronald Vaden, director of the city's utilities commission. The deal would save the commission about $3 million of the $12 million it now spends to supply 20,000 Volusia County customers.
Last year, Duke had a deal with fertilizer giant IMC-Agrico to build a power plant in Polk County, where IMC has mining and processing operations. But Tampa Electric and Florida Power stood to lose millions of dollars if they lost IMC's business. They petitioned the Florida Public Service Commission, which blocked the IMC proposal ["Power Play," March 1998]. The PSC, which estimates the state will need 8,000 megawatts of new generating capacity in the next 10 years, will review the New Smyrna Beach proposal in December. Duke plans to begin construction on the $160 million plant in late 1999 and to open the facility within two years. - Ken Ibold
LAKE COUNTY - Toyota Marine and Maritec Industries joined forces to build a $1 million ski-boat manufacturing plant, which will employ about 100 people.
MAITLAND- Honor Technologies and San Diego-based Star System announced plans to merge, creating the nation's largest electronic funds transfer network. If approved by federal regulators, the new company will serve 3,700 financial institutions and 79 million ATM cardholders. The new entity would retain its current offices and its headquarters in Maitland.
Dynamic Healthcare Technologies (Nasdaq-DHTI) will consolidate office workers left over from five acquisitions, closing offices in Minnesota and adding 50 jobs locally. The information systems company provides software to medical facilities. It recently won new contracts and received an infusion of cash for new-product development.
MELBOURNE - TEC Cellular plans to expand its operations to 20,000 square feet by December and add 14 people to its 69-person work force within the next year. TECC provides engineering consulting services, technology training and engineering software to wireless phone service providers.
Harris Corp. (NYSE-HRS) received a pair of military contracts potentially worth $139 million. The Army awarded contracts for $23 million, with options that put the total at $90 million, to modernize satellite communications ground stations that enable the military to communicate around the world. The Air Force awarded Harris a $49 million contract to produce and upgrade training products that help air crews interpret the radar signatures of enemy forces.
ORLANDO - Vistana (Nasdaq-VSTN) purchased 45 acres, with an option on another 45 acres, in the International Drive corridor, where it plans an 1,800-unit timeshare resort. Construction is expected to begin in the third quarter of 1999, with occupancy a year later.
US Airways' low-cost MetroJet subsidiary now flies out of Orlando and plans to serve six eastern cities with 20 flights daily by Christmas. The carrier initiated service in August with five flights daily to Baltimore, and by the end of the year will add flights to Hartford, Ct., Washington D.C., and Albany, Rochester and Buffalo in New York state.
Two big Orlando law firms will occupy parts of two new downtown office towers now under construction. Gray Harris & Robinson will rent 60,000 square feet on the top three floors of the Capital Plaza building when it opens in January 2000. Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed will rent 25,000 square feet in the 14-story CNL Center, expected to be complete next year, but will keep its headquarters on Eola Drive.
ZELLWOOD - Zellwin Farms, which shut down its agriculture operations near Lake Apopka and a packing house in Zellwood as part of the state's buyout of more than a dozen vegetable farms, announced plans for a state-of-the-art vegetable packing house near Valdosta, Ga. The new 82,000-square-foot facility will open in early spring. The company's Zellwood facility is being studied for nonagricultural uses.