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Miami-Dade Business Briefs - Nov. 2007
» Latina Style has selected American Airlines as one of the “Top 50 companies for Latinas.” The magazine’s annual survey features employment and career information for Hispanic women based on a pool of more than 800 companies in the U.S.
» Janitors at Bayside Mall in Miami joined other custodial workers around the country in filing labor charges against the mall’s owner, General Growth Properties. The employees, who are also suing two GGP subcontractors, charge that the company illegally discouraged unionization.
» Miami-based Brightstar Corp., a global distribution and supply company in the wireless industry, received a $500-million senior secured loan from a group of lenders led by PNC. The company will use the money for working capital and for expansion.
» Raminova — a joint venture between the Ramirez Group, a 75-year-old real estate development company, and Caixanova, one of largest financial institutions in Spain — plans to invest about $650 million in various resort and tourism-related projects in Miami, New York, the Dominican Republic, Panama and Mexico.
» Despite the recent difficulties in the condominium market, One Flagler Development has arranged financing and begun sales at One Flagler, a 15-story building that is being converted into office condos and retail space. The 145,000-sq.-ft. historic building is in downtown Miami.
» Strike Miami, a high-end bowling alley and entertainment center in Dolphin Mall near the Miami International Airport, will be used as a prototype for the national expansion of its corporate parent company, Strike Holdings. Strike Miami is 34,000 square feet and has 34 bowling lanes, meeting rooms, a sports bar and a restaurant.
» Gisela Valladares, owner and operator of Miami-based PRN Home Health Care, a medical equipment company, received a 10-year prison sentence for Medicare fraud. Valladares was also ordered to pay restitution of $1.7 million for more than $3 million in fraudulent Medicare claims.
Miami Gardens —
» Lombardi Media Corp., a publicly traded Canadian company, bought Pronto Post, a 25-year-old direct marketing services company, and Joshua Blank has been named president. Pronto’s customers include Fortune 100 companies. Pronto is ranked among the top 500 Hispanic companies in the U.S.
North Miami —
» Biscayne Landing, a master-planned mixed-use community in North Miami, is under development and has been designated a pilot “green neighborhood” project through a program run by U.S. Green Building Council. Developed by Boca Developers, Biscayne Landing will be built on about 200 acres of former landfill close to a nature reserve. The project includes 6,000 residential units, a town center designed by Arquitectonica, offices, retail stores and 200 hotel rooms. Many of structures will be certified “green.”
South Beach —
The 107-suite Bentley Beach Hotel in South Beach will become Hilton’s first franchise on Miami Beach. Following the conversion, the hotel will be known as Hilton Bentley South Beach Hotel. Located on the southern tip of Ocean Drive in the Art Deco District, the Bentley consists of two 10-story towers that were designed by Arquitectonica.
