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MONDAY, AUG. 11, 2008
TAMPA BAY:
Florida Lays New Natural Gas Pipeline
To reduce air pollution and increase electric output, Progress Energy is spending $620-million to convert a power plant from oil to natural gas. Most of Florida's natural gas comes from Gulf coast states such as Texas, Alabama and Louisiana. Some comes from overseas tanker shipments off-loaded in Georgia, then piped to Florida. The pipelines that carry gas into and around Florida are close to capacity. So when Progress Energy wanted to switch its Bartow power station to natural gas from oil, the utility hired Gulfstream Natural Gas to build a 17.5-mile, $156-million underwater pipeline to connect Bartow to an existing line that runs from Alabama across the gulf to Port Manatee. More than 100 workers on 10 barges spent nearly six months laying the new pipeline. It will be completed in September.
[Source: St. Petersburg Times]
EVERGLADES:
A U.S. Sugar-Free Clewiston Suits Some Investors' Taste
Davie business partners Yasir Khan and Floyd Salkey were driving to a building site near Orlando four years ago when they decided to take the less-traveled road and stumbled on the town of Clewiston.
''It was so charming and under the radar,'' said Khan. "We thought it was a fantastic opportunity for us to prove ourselves as a young company.''
Now Khan, 27, and Salkey, 35, are among a handful of new investors in Clewiston, which is grappling with the news that the main engine of its economy, United States Sugar Corp., plans to sell its assets to the state for an Everglades restoration project and depart in six years.
In the past few years they have been gobbling up Clewiston properties. Most of U.S. Sugar vacancy's impact would be felt in Palm Beach, Hendry and Glades counties, which could expect to lose as many as 8,900 jobs, a UF study says, underscoring the uphill battle the community and its businesses face in the future. [Source: Miami Herald]
More on this topic from Florida Trend:
LEHIGH ACRES:
Healthcare Construction Is Bright Spot
Throughout Florida, healthcare is one of real estate's strongest growth sectors.
[Source: Florida Trend]
TALLAHASSEE:
Ex-Con Brokers Too Risky?
The outcry over Florida's mortgage brokering scandal has fueled tough new talk about keeping felons out of the business, no matter what crime they committed.
Florida law bars anyone convicted of felonies directly related to mortgage brokering from holding a license in that field.
That rule did not stop thousands of felons from obtaining such licenses, according to the Miami Herald, which revealed that some ex-con brokers went on to defraud consumers and banks out of $85 million from 2000 through 2007.
Now, Attorney General Bill McCollum wants to change the state clemency process for felons seeking restoration of their civil rights after prison. His proposal: a ban on most or all felons, regardless of their crime, from holding a mortgage brokering license for seven years after they complete their sentences.
[Source: Tampa Tribune]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
›Paper Ballots Could Cause Trouble in Close Races [St. Petersburg Times]
In a manual recount of over-votes and under-votes, officials must study poorly-marked ballots for signs of voter intent.
And controversial rules aren't yet in place about how to discern a voter's intent on mismarked ballots.
Also: Early voting starts today
›Crist to Wed Dec. 12 in St. Petersburg [Sun-Sentinel]
Gov. Charlie Crist's wedding will be the first for a sitting Florida governor since 1967, when Claude Kirk was married a month after being sworn into office.
›Deerfield Considers Cleanups of Homes in Foreclosure [Sun-Sentinel]
The city is coping with an overwhelming number of single-family homes in some stage of foreclosure: 593 properties in the first half of 2008, compared with 81 in all of 2007. Also: Bush's plan promises to save your home -- if you clear hurdles
›BankUnited Reports Loss of $117.7 Million [Miami Herald]
Beset with mortgage loan problems, Coral Gables-based BankUnited posted a hefty loss and announced a program for homeowners to convert their loans.
›Cruise Giant Is Sued Over Toxic Gas [Miami Herald]
A former cruise ship staff captain has filed suit against Royal Caribbean, alleging he was seriously injured in an accident aboard the Monarch of the Seas in which a cloud of toxic gas escaped from tanks into crew and passenger areas, killing three crewmen.
›Martin County Looking at Tax Refunds to Lure New Businesses [Post]
This week, Martin County will consider what other Florida counties long ago embraced: waiving impact fees and offering tax refunds to recruit businesses.
The move would be a giant leap for the county - where laissez-faire economic development practices rule - but a baby step compared with Martin's neighbors to the north and south.
›Publix Paying $500 Million for Dozens of Albertsons Stores [TC Palm]
Financial reports show Publix Super Markets is paying $500 million for dozens of Albertsons stores across the state. The Lakeland-based grocer will buy 49 Albertsons, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
›Is McCain Too Old? Ask His Contemporaries [St. Petersburg Times]
If John McCain defeats Barack Obama in November, he would be the oldest person ever to become president. Ronald Reagan was 69 when he took office. William Henry Harrison was 68, and very soon dead.
›Crist Dodges Questions While on Tour [St. Petersburg Times column]
Steve Bousquet: He's royalty to the national press, but state reporters want answers. Related: Disputed donors linked to Crist race
›Selmon May Face Eatery Bid Upset [Tampa Tribune]
Buccaneers great Lee Roy Selmon's plan to buy and expand the restaurant bearing his name appears to have collapsed.
In October, Selmon and business partner Peter Barli announced they planned to buy a majority stake in the Lee Roy Selmon's restaurant chain from owner OSI Restaurant Partners of Tampa.
›Fight Over Dade Development Heats Up [Miami Herald]
Two South Miami-Dade County residents and a pair of environmental groups joined state regulators Friday in an attempt to halt expansion outside the county's Urban Development Boundary line.
›Glades Port Idea Fights for Balance [Palm Beach Post]
Sugar giant Florida Crystals is lobbying to develop an industrial and commercial center about the size of Delray Beach on land it owns south of Lake Okeechobee - right in a proposed pathway for the state's multibillion-dollar Everglades restoration efforts.
Glades leaders and the state Department of Transportation are among the supporters of the so-called inland port, a warehousing and distribution center that would include roads and rails to link seaside ports on Florida's east and west coasts.
›Bo Diddley Honored With Degree From UF [Sun-Sentinel]
More than two months after his death, bluesman Bo Diddley was awarded a college degree from the University of Florida.
Diddley, a pioneering blues singer and musician, was awarded the honor Saturday during a summer commencement ceremony. His daughter Evelyn Kelly accepted the degree on his behalf.
›Businesses Go Extra Mile to Help Workers Save on Gas [Orlando Sentinel]
Car-pool programs like Disney's are one way Orlando's tourism industry is trying to help workers cope with the rising cost of gasoline.
›Miniboom of Hot Dog Cart Vendors a Sign of the Times [St. Petersburg Times]
In hard times, the appeal of low-cost self-employment soars — and a tiny stainless steel restaurant on two wheels gleams.
In Florida, more than 150 umbrellas opened over hot dog carts in the last fiscal year, boosting the number of approved vendors from 561 to 721, the largest total ever.
›Shares in WellCare Jump on Buyout Rumors [St. Petersburg Times]
Shares in WellCare Health Plans Inc. of Tampa rose more than 9% Friday after rumors of a potential buyout were revived.
The managed care company, the subject of an ongoing federal investigation, also is rumored to be close to a settlement with government officials.
›Few Homeowners Taking Advantage of Portable Tax Savings [Sun-Sentinel]
In the six months since it was approved by voters, fewer than 1,200 homeowners in Broward and Palm Beach counties have applied for the tax advantage in a two-county market with more than 1 million residential properties.
›Higher Costs, Gas Prices Cutting into Firehouse Sub's Sales [Orlando Sentinel]
"The typical Firehouse customer is the working man," CEO Robin Sorensen said. Restaurant supplies and ingredients are also more expensive due to higher fuel costs, Sorensen said. "Almost everything we buy is under attack," he said. Firehouse's main rivals -- Subway and Quiznos -- have turned to $5 large sub offers, bolstered by advertising blitzes. Quiznos recently started to offer home delivery.
›A Focus on Filling High-Tech Jobs in South Florida Is Paying Off [Sun-Sentinel]
South Florida works to generate quality jobs to ease the downturn.
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