After more than a year of negotiations, the Florida State University board of trustees has approved the purchase of all Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare assets.
The $110-million deal transfers TMH, founded in 1946, to FSU Health — a major academic initiative designed to improve health services, research, education and clinical care in North Florida.
FSU President Richard McCullough is the driving force behind the merger.
"This is the first major step in building FSU Health and taking the big step toward improving health care, but also building clinical, biological and biomedical research for Florida State University. So, it's a big deal," says McCullough.
City commissioners narrowly approved the sale of the city-owned TMH by a 3-2 vote in late March.
McCullough says the TMH acquisition also addresses a "critical need" for required clinical hours for FSU's more than 1,750 nursing students.
What's more, ownership of TMH expands students' access to specialty rotations in pediatrics and emergency medicine, while establishing new residency and fellowship programs in cardiology and pulmonary care.
The move is expected to attract more medical specialists to the capital city, thus reducing the number of Northwest Florida patients forced to travel to distant cities for treatment and care.
"It's been a long process," FSU board chair Peter Collins says, "but this is going to be transformational for the university, Tallahassee, North Florida and TMH."
Q & A
DAVID ALAN HAINES, PRESIDENT OF PRECISION MEASUREMENT INC.
Testing, Testing
David Alan Haines is president of Precision Measurement Inc. (PMI), a Fort Walton Beach-based calibration and testing laboratory he founded in 2005. A former U.S. Air Force helicopter crew chief, Haines leads a growing staff of technicians who provide precision calibration expertise to both defense and commercial customers.
Q: What inspired you to start PMI?
A: After leaving the Air Force, it didn't take long for me to recognize a major challenge: reliable, high-quality calibration services for test and measurement equipment were both expensive and slow. Seeing this gap firsthand motivated me to take action.
Q: What are some of the market factors contributing to the company's growth?
A: PMI's growth has been driven by increasing demand for measurement accuracy, traceability and compliance. More organizations now require 'accredited calibrations' to meet quality standards, maintain mission readiness and pass audits, and this is especially so in our region with our large military presence.
Q: Have you added any jobs as a result of your recent workplace expansion?
A: Yes, PMI has added several full-time positions as a direct result of our recent growth. Since 2021, we have expanded our workforce from 13 to 21 employees. Notably, over 80% of our team is made up of military veterans.
DEVELOPMENT
- Two large-scale housing projects slated for downtown Pensacola have been canceled. Developer John Buzzell with Louisiana-based Bearing Point Properties says "economic conditions outside our control" led to the decision to abandon the condo and apartment projects.
- Escambia County commissioners have approved an alternative deal for the sale of a 540-acre commercial development site known as OLF 8. The change, requested by lead developer Chad Henderson, allows the county to retain 171 acres for economic development. The original deal, agreed to in 2025, had Henderson and Alabama-based partner Tri-W Development purchasing the entire 540 acres for $42.5 million. The new agreement lowers Henderson's price tag for the remaining 369 acres to approximately $28 million.
TRANSPORTATION
- Construction has begun on Pensacola International Airport's $152-million expansion, which includes five new passenger loading gates and two additional security lanes. The expansion, scheduled for completion in late 2027, is designed to alleviate congestion at the airport, which has experienced double-digit passenger growth over the past five years.
A Floating ER
HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital and the Destin Fire Control District have launched Marine 19, a floating "emergency room" that is the largest fast-response vessel of its kind in Florida. Docked in Destin Harbor, the ship gives emergency responders rapid access to nearby coastal locations that typically see a large amount of boating traffic. The high-speed 52-foot vessel is equipped for advanced life support to provide on-the-water ER-level care, particularly for trauma cases near Crab Island and Destin Harbor.