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Northwest Florida Roundup
Extreme research: IHMC studies how to extend a human's ability to survive in extremes
TALLAHASSEE
- City and county planners are reviewing a proposed $30-million housing and retail project in downtown Tallahassee. The multi-level project, submitted by Phoenix-based Charles Street Investment Partners, calls for 224 housing units, including 194 apartment units and 30 townhouses, along with13,000 square feet of restaurants and 14,000 square feet of retail space.
WALTON COUNTY
- The economic impact of tourism in Walton County topped $4.4 billion in 2017, according to a report recently presented to its Tourist Development Council. Data compiled by Tallahassee- based Downs & St. Germain Research showed that more than 4 million people visited the county in 2017, supporting some 20,000 jobs. Downs also reported the county collected $23.8 million in tourist development taxes.
INNOVATION: Battery Power
Tallahassee startup General Capacitor recently won a Department of Defense contract and opened a dry room production facility. The room is designed to reduce ambient moisture to less than 1%, a crucial threshold in the manufacture of its lithium-based capacitors. Lithium corrodes rapidly and can combust when exposed to moisture. “This year, we’ve managed to get a pretty formidable contract with the Department of Defense,” says Jonathan Shih, director of business development.
The company is working with the Army to develop an internal hybrid battery/capacitor power system for soldiers using hand-held radios and mobile power sources in the field.
Shih says the addition of the dry room enables the company to make “production ready” capacitors. It plans to add 10 jobs to its 17-employee workforce.
Before it installed the dry room, the company was producing 10 super capacitors per day by hand. Now, says Shih, the production line can manufacture up to 150 capacitors each day.
PLAYERS
- Scott Campbell is the new CEO of Bay Medical Sacred Heart in Panama City. Campbell was CEO of Providence Health’s hospital in Columbia, S.C., and previously worked with Health Management Associates for more than two decades.
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