The University of West Florida's Center for Business Research and Economic Development announced the results of its tourism Economic Impact Study. As of the end of August 1995, the economic impact of tourism on the Pensacola area was $310 million with 7,800 total jobs.

Pensacola ranks top in the state and eighth nationally among small cities on the 1995 list of entrepreneurial hot spots for young and growing companies. The list, compiled by marketing research company Cognetics Inc. in Cambridge, Mass., focuses on businesses no older than ten years with at least five employees or with significant growth in the last four years.

Tallahassee's Simmons Outdoor Corp., Blount Inc. and S.O.C. Corp. signed an agreement to merge. S.O.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of outdoor products manufacturer Blount International in Montgomery, Ala., will buy the outstanding shares of Simmons common stock at a purchase price of $10.40 per share. The transaction is subject to regulatory and shareholder approval.