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Northwest Business Briefs - Aug. 2007
Destin —
» BancorpSouth Bank, a $13-billion financial holding company headquartered in Tupelo, Miss., has opened its first branchin Florida, with plans for more.
» One Water Place, the Sterling Cos.’ $115-million, three-tower, 16-story condominium at Kelly Plantation, will be completed by the end of August. The 162 units and all but three penthouses were presold at a private offering, with average prices around $1 million.
Escambia County —
» The Environmental Protection Agency has budgeted $17 million for soil cleanup on the Escambia Treating Co. Superfund site. Work will begin in late summer. The county plans to convert the remediated site, once a wood-preserving facility, into a commerce park.
Freeport —
» The town’s new city hall, being constructed in front of the building it replaces, is expected to be ready for move-in by the fall. The old city hall will be razed to make room for parking.
Holmes County —
» The county has approved plans by the Emerald Cos., of Scott, La., to build a maximum-security prison. The prison will provide 120 to 200 jobs.
Jackson County —
» The Department of Veterans Affairs will open a community-based outpatient clinic within the next eight months, expected to serve the county’s 3,574 veteran patients and 310 additional patients. Veterans seeking care currently must travel to Tallahassee, Pensacola, Lake City or Panama City.
Marianna —
» WestPoint Home will close its 140-employee bed and bath accessory plant at Marianna Industrial Park this month, along with two others in Alabama, affecting 1,000 jobs. The company’s 500-employee plant in Chipley will remain open.
Okaloosa County —
» Eglin Air Force Base has selected Dick Corp. of Pittsburgh and Hunt Development Corp. of El Paso, Texas, to build a high-tech business park adjacent to the University of Florida Research and Engineering Education Facility. The $250-million project will provide 1.1 million square feet on 100 acres.
Perry —
» Acknowledging growing concerns about greenhouse gas emissions, Taylor Energy Center has suspended permitting activity for its proposed 800-megawatt coal-fueled power plant. In June, the Public Service Commission rejected plans by Florida Power & Light to build a coal-fired plant near the Everglades.
Port St. Joe —
» St. Joe Co. (NYSE-JOE) and Miraval LLC have agreed to design, develop and operate Miraval Village at St. Joe’s WindMark Beach. In a separate deal, Exclusive Resorts, a destination club, is buying 30 home sites at WindMark to build luxury residences. Both Miraval and Exclusive Resorts are largely owned by AOL founder Steve Case.
Tallahassee —
» The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has placed Florida A&M University on six months’ probation, jeopardizing the school’s accreditation and financial aid for students. SACS found FAMU violated 10 accreditation standards.
» The U.S. Marine Corps has placed an $18.5-million order with Tallahassee Technologies for its Rugged Personal Digital Assistants, for use on the battlefield and under water.
