Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Southeast Florida Business Briefs - March 2008

BOCA RATON —
» The GEO Group, a correctional services firm, received a 20-year federal contract to house 768 detainees at the Robert A. Deyton Detention Facility in Clayton County, Ga.

FORT LAUDERDALE —
» BankAtlantic Bancorp posted a $22.2-million loss for 2007, largely stemming from a $9.5-million provision for loan losses at its BankAtlantic subsidiary.

» Home Diagnostics has signed an agreement to be the exclusive supplier of a co-branded blood glucose monitoring system for Rite Aid.

HOLLYWOOD —
» TOUSA Inc. has become the largest home builder nationwide to file for bankruptcy. In its Chapter 11 filing, TOUSA cited the sagging housing market and a loss of 98% of its business. Its CFO, Stephen Wagman, resigned and was replaced by Executive Vice President Tommy McAden.

JUPITER —
» Miami physician and entrepreneur Phillip Frost and his wife, Patricia, have donated $1 million to Scripps Florida.

LANTANA —
» Atlantis Foods will add about 23 jobs to its 150-person workforce in the next six months and use a grant to train some of its employees. The company will also add a 6,000-sq.-ft. building to its 50,000-sq.-ft. facility.

MIRAMAR —
» Spirit Airlines plans to add 20 flights from Fort Lauderdale, including flights to Caracas, Venezuela, and Cartagena, Colombia. It also plans to add more than 400 jobs in south Florida.

PLANTATION —
» DHL has renewed its contract to be the primary carrier for U.S. express shipping for Kraft Foods and is working with Walgreen Co. to install package-shipping kiosks in its drugstores. DHL’s Americas headquarters is in Plantation.

PALM CITY —
» Custom home builder J. Cherry & Sons has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

PORT ST. LUCIE —
» To deal with growth in the southwest part of the city, the St. Lucie County Fire District will build two new fire stations and hire more than 50 firefighters.

SUNRISE —
» Western Union opened its Latin American and Caribbean headquarters, consolidating multiple offices throughout south Florida. The site employs 172.

» Mounted Memories, a division of Dreams Inc. of Plantation, is selling and auctioning off memorabilia from Miami’s Orange Bowl Stadium, which is slated for demolition.

» World Avenue USA reached a $1-million settlement of a lawsuit filed by the Florida Attorney General over its use of the word “free” in online advertising. The company will be required to clearly and conspicuously disclose when any item offered “for free” is subject to the consumer’s completion of additional requirements, such as a purchase.

VERO BEACH —
» The Baltimore Orioles have signed an option agreement with Indian River County to explore replacing the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodgertown. The Orioles now hold spring training in Fort Lauderdale.

WEST PALM BEACH —
» Palm Beach International Airport is one of the least expensive airports in the country, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, which ranked it 84th out of 100.

» Oasis Outsourcing Holdings, a professional employer organization, bought Professional Employer Plans, Advantage Employer Solutions and related companies for an undisclosed amount.

WESTON —
» Rick Case Automotive Group has opened a Smart Car dealership.