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Northwest & Big Bend Business Briefs - March 2008
» The Florida Department of Community Affairs has ruled that the Escambia County Commission’s action in lifting the building cap on Perdido Key, amending the comprehensive land use plan, is not in compliance with state law. The move would increase allowed residential units from 7,150 to 12,000 and hotel/motel rooms from 1,000 to 2,500.
Gadsden County
» The county has approved Plum Creek Timber’s Riverbend, a 2,067-acre development featuring 177 homes with a 1,311-acre preserve bordering Ochlockonee River. Plum Creek Timber, based in Seattle, is Florida’s second-largest private land owner, with 598,000 acres.
Graceville
» The GEO Group has purchased 51.6 acres for $153,180 in the Graceville Industrial Park for the possible construction of a prison or work camp with room for 2,300 inmates. The Boca Raton prison management company recently opened a 1,500-bed prison, currently being expanded by 385 beds, in the industrial park.
Jefferson/Wakulla Counties
» The Nature Conservancy and the Sam M. Shine Foundation of North Venice Beach combined have bought 9,704 acres in Jefferson County and 10,288 acres in Wakulla County for $34 million to prevent development. The land, formerly owned by Flint Rock Investments and managed by the state for hunting, could be added to the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.
Pensacola
» First Gulf Bank, along with its parent company, Alabama National BanCorp., is being acquired by RBC Centura, a subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada, Canada’s largest bank, in a $1.6-billion deal. First Gulf, one of 11 ANB subsidiaries, has $700 million in deposits, with branches in Pensacola and Panama City and Baldwin County, Ala.
» Semcan Inc., a Toronto-based investment company, has struck a $3.5-million agreement to buy Enviro Pro Tech, calling the purchase a first step in its U.S. acquisition strategy. Grady Swann will remain president of the Pensacola environmental engineering firm he founded in 1989. Semcan says it plans to expand Enviro’s operations.
Tallahassee
» Florida State University College of Business will establish the Gene Taylor/Bank of America Center for Banking and Financial Studies, boosted by the Bank of America’s $2-million donation. The gift honors Taylor, an FSU alumnus, who retired in December as bank vice chairman and president of global corporate and investment banking.
» Florida A&M University was ordered to pay back wages to 352 employees totaling $272,988, following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. FAMU violated overtime provisions and record-keeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the agency says.
Walton County
» Conservationist M.C. Davis is launching construction of the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center, expected to open in late 2009, to provide ecosystem education for Panhandle schools. The multimillion-dollar, 25,000-sq.-ft. center will consist of an exhibit hall, theater and laboratories in addition to nature trails. It is located within Davis’ 48,000-acre Nokuse Plantation nature preserve. The center name honors Harvard scientist and Pulitzer Prize winner Edward Wilson, who did his early research along the Gulf Coast.
Washington County
» Pensacola Anheuser-Busch distributor Lewis Bear Co. is building a 110,000-sq.-ft. distribution center at Ebro, consolidating facilities currently at Panama City and DeFuniak Springs. The $15-million center, employing 130, will open Nov. 1 and serve seven counties.
