Florida Trend articles from February 2002

Florida Trend archives from February 2002

10 months of added value. (Corner Office).
February 1, 2002... Along with the January 2002 issue of FLORIDA TREND you received the first of five supplemental publications that are included with your FLORIDA TREND subscription this year. The first was Florida History & the Arts, an excellent magazine...

Readers.
February 1, 2002... Troubled Springs In the December issue, John Dunn did an admirable job of pointing out the serious threats to Florida's springs ["Threat From Below," www.FloridaTrend.com]. Specifically, he identified nitrates and over-development of...

Players. (Talk of Florida).(employee changes, various companies)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... ADVERTISING -- Sandy Dougherty has been promoted to partner at The Davis Agency, a Tampa-based ad agency, which will be renamed Davis & Dougherty. Previously COO, Dougherty has 11 years' experience in the broadcast industry. She joined The...

Fits him to a "T". (Meeting Programs).(Disney Institute sales director)
February 1, 2002... Simon T. Bailey, Disney Institute sales director, calls back in the November week that saw Walt Disney Co. close some guest rooms at the institute. Blame the tourism slowdown. And how was Bailey holding up? "Very well, actually," he says. ...

Hitting the Big Time. (Production Studio).(Big Time Productions, Miami Beach, Florida)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Eugene Rodriguez, founder of Miami's Big Time Productions, tells a story about the time the season's hottest pink shoe slipped from a model's foot and into the ocean during a magazine shoot. The boat captain sent someone overboard to find it...

Shooting for the stars. (Film, TV).
February 1, 2002... Job: Since, 1990, heads the office that sells Jacksonville as a place to make movies and shoot commercials and advertising spreads. Big buzz: The recent filming around Jacksonville of Basic, starring John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson....

Spreading the word. (Tourism).(in Florida)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... 9-11, as everyone knows, put a big hurt on Florida tourism. Here are some leaders trying to resuscitate it: D.T. Minich responded to the WTC attack by putting on the road most of the 18 staffers at the Lee Island Coast Visitor and...

A wheel in the ditch: After several troubled acquisitions, Budget Group struggles to get back on the road. (Transportation).(Sandy Miller of Budget Group Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Four years ago, Daytona Beach businessman Sandy Miller was zooming along in the fast lane. After years as a Budget Rent a Car franchisee, he and two partners acquired the company from Ford Motor Co.; by mid 1998, Miller was quickly expanding...

A case of meddling? Miami-Dade officials say the state is trying to steamroll reform efforts. (Government).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... State lawmakers exasperated with what they see as rampant fiscal mismanagement have laid virtual siege to Miami-Dade County government, launching a series of reform initiatives that angry local politicians decry as meddling from Tallahassee....

40 acres of waterfront property. (In the News).
February 1, 2002... Key West -- After nearly six years of negotiations, the Navy has halted plans to transfer about 40 acres of waterfront property to the city of Key West. The decision was made because of heightened security concerns following Sept. 11. City...

The Grand Prix of the Americas. (In the News).
February 1, 2002... Miami -- Auto racing will return to the streets of downtown Miami in April after a six-year hiatus. City commissioners have given approval for a plan to hold The Grand Prix of the Americas April 5-7, featuring prototype sports cars from...

Patagon.com. (In the News).(layoffs)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Miami -- Citing the economic downturn, online banking and brokerage firm Patagon.com has laid off 18 of its 50 employees at its Miami headquarters. As many as 15 more may be laid off in the coming months. Four-year-old Patagon.com specializes...

Guillermo Socarras. (In the News).(developer proposes world's tallest building for Miami)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Miami -- The world's tallest building in Miami? Despite potential security risks posed by the 155-story structure, Cuban-born developer Guillermo Socarras has been pitching the idea to local officials, insisting the market can absorb the 4...

Homestead Air Force Base. (In the News).(will not be converted to commercial airport)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Miami-Dade -- After years of vituperative debate, plans for a commercial airport at the old Homestead Air Force Base are dead. In a split vote, county commissioners agreed to terminate a lawsuit challenging the federal government's decision to...

Florida International University. (In the News).(names graduate business school after Alvah Chapman)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Miami-Dade -- Florida International University has named its graduate business school after Miami civic leader and former Knight Ridden CEO Alvah Chapman.

Physicians Healthcare Plans. (In the News).(takes over 12 closed clinics)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Miami-Dade -- Heading off a crisis that threatened to leave thousands of residents without access to their doctors, Coral Gables-based Physicians Healthcare Plans has agreed to take over 12 CAC Medical Center clinics abruptly closed in December...

Beacon Council. (In the News).(survey shows over half of firms in Miami-Dade County area cut employment after September 11, 2001)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Miami-Dade -- According to a survey conducted by the Beacon Council, more than half of all companies in Miami-Dade cut employment following the Sept. 11 attacks. The Beacon Council is Miami-Dade's public/private economic development agency.

Miami Metro City Guide. (In the News).(ceases publication)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Miami-Dade -- With advertising sales plummeting, one of south Florida's most venerable publications, Miami Metro City Guide, has ceased publication. The monthly debuted in 1974, enduring a number of incarnations and name changes. In its heyday...

Fiscal fitness. (Government).(Governor Jeb Bush dissolves Florida's commission ot oversee Miamo's finances)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... MIAMI -- Gov. Jeb Bush has dissolved the financial oversight board created five years ago to help steer the city of Miami away from bankruptcy. The late Gov. Lawton Chiles formed the board in 1996 after auditors uncovered a $68-million budget...

Wired. (Telecom).(Ranking of leading cities by internet use in 2001)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... While New York is by far the internet's most global metropolis, Miami topped Florida cities to place eighth globally in internet capacity. A new study on international internet infrastructure ranks global internet cities according to their...

Pop went the Orchestra: The economy and a changing audience base make funding tricky for some institutions. (Arts).(Boca Raton area faces a loss of several cultural institutions)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... It's a disquieting time for the arts community in upscale Boca Raton. Increasing competition for audiences and dwindling cultural largesse have cost the city three of its cultural landmarks in recent months, leaving some bitter patrons and...

RailAmerica. (In the News).(RailAmerica Inc. issues stock)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Boca Raton -- RailAmerica (Nasdaq-RAIL) has completed a $54-million private placement of common stock. Proceeds from the offering will be used to pay down debt and complete buyouts.

American Media. (In the News).(American Media Group Inc. to move to new temporary headquarters)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Boca Raton -- American Media has signed a two-year lease for new temporary headquarters in the wake of the anthrax mailing that killed a photo editor and forced the closing of its offices. The company, which publishes the National Enquirer and...

Technology Business Incubator. (In the News).(incubator at Florida Atlantic University launches Cynocom Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Boynton Beach -- Florida Atlantic University's Technology Business Incubator has graduated its first startup, internet software provider Cynocom Corp.

Bethesda Memorial Hospital. (In the News).(plans addition)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Boynton Beach -- Bethesda Memorial Hospital has won state approval for a 28-bed rehabilitation unit. The $8.9-million, 52,32O-sq.-ft. facility is expected to open in 2004.

B/E Aerospace. (In the News).(closing plant in Delray Beach, Florida)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Delray Beach -- Aircraft interior maker B/E Aerospace (Nasdaq-BEAV) has announced plans to close its assembly plant here this year in the wake of a stalled market for new and refurbished airplanes. The downturn is attributed to the travel lull...

Touch-screen voting systems. (In the News).(Broward County, Florida, orders new voting machines)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Fort Lauderdale -- Broward County commissioners have approved a contract with Omaha, Neb.-based Election Systems & Software for the purchase of 5,060 touch-screen voting systems.

AutoNation. (In the News).(AutoNation Inc. to buy dealership in Texas)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Fort Lauderdale -- AutoNation (NYSE-AN) has signed an agreement to acquire a Fort Worth, Texas-based Chevrolet dealership. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The company has also announced plans to discontinue its auto lending business.

GMP Cos. (In the News).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Fort Lauderdale -- Privately held medical technology company GMP Cos. has received approval for clinical trials of therapy designed for the treatment of diabetes.

Dialtone Internet. (In the News).(opening data center in London)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Fort Lauderdale -- Web-hosting company Dialtone Internet, which recently expanded its Fort Lauderdale data center, is opening its third data center in London to serve its 330 European customers. The company also has a data center in Mexico...

NationsRent. (In the News).(files Chapter 11)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Fort Lauderdale -- Construction equipment rental company NationsRent (NYSE-NRI) has filed for Chapter 11 reorganization.

The SunCruz VI casino boat. (In the News).(ordered to vacate North Beach community)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Hollywood -- The SunCruz VI casino boat has been ordered to vacate the city's North Beach neighborhood in the wake of years of noise complaints by residents and city officials who argued that the 165-foot boat was too large to remain under...

WorldWide Security Associates. (In the News).(raided by federal agents)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Hollywood -- Los Angeles-based WorldWide Security Associates, a security company operating at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, was raided by federal agents looking into allegations of falsified employee background checks. No...

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. has announced plans for a 285-acre gated golf club community. (In the News).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Jupiter -- The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. has announced plans for a 285-acre gated golf club community. The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club & Spa will include a Jack Nicklaus golf course, a 68,000-sq.-ft. clubhouse and 54 private residences scheduled for...

Wackenhut Corp. (In the News).(partnership with Guarded Networks)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Palm Beach Gardens -- Security and investigation firm Wackenhut Corp. (NYSE-WAK) has entered into a partnership with Broward County-based Guarded Networks, which specializes in computer network security.

Global Technovations. (In the News).(files Chapter 11)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Palm Beach Gardens -- Auto oil test kit maker Global Technovations (Amex-GTN) has filed for Chapter 11 reorganization.

Port Canaveral. (In the News).(security certification)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Port Canaveral -- Port Canaveral is the first of Florida's 14 deepwater seaports to earn certification from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for substantial compliance with the Florida Legislature's new laws for seaport security. The...

Donald Root. (In the News).(named executive director of Economic Development Council)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Port St. Lucie -- Donald Root, formerly director of new business development for Lakeland Electric, has been named executive director of the county's Economic Development Council.

Cemetery mayhem. (Service Corp. International).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... PALM BEACH GARDENS -- Accusations of mishandled bodies and bulldozed gravesites at the Palm Beach and Broward Jewish cemeteries of Houston-based Service Corp. International had company officials scrambling to respond to videotape that seemed to...

Rising values. (Real Estate).(Coral Springs, Florida)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... For Coral Springs' fiscal 2002 year, residential taxable assessed value is expected to rise 6.5% from the previous year. The increased value of existing homes is expected to add $128 million; new residential construction is estimated at $132...

Gaining traction? Sebring is banking on upgrades to its Raceway and airport to lure more business. (12 Hours of Sebring).
February 1, 2002... Next month's 50th anniversary race at Sebring International Raceway will highlight both a recently rejuvenated raceway and a related burst in economic development-related spending in rural Highlands County, 60 miles south of Orlando. Now the...

Fifth Third Center. (In the News).(Fort Myers, Florida office building)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Fort Myers -- Construction of the 48,000-sq-ft. Fifth Third Center recently began at Daniels Parkway and Metro Parkway. The four-story building will be the centerpiece of a 7.6-acre business campus developed by Antaramian Development Corp.

F.N.B. Corp. (In the News).
February 1, 2002... Naples -- F.N.B. Corp. (Nasdaq-FBAN), the largest Florida-based bank holding company, was honored in this year's edition of America's Finest Companies by The Staton Institute. The publication is an annual investment directory that lists...

Pinellas County Fleet Management. (In the News).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Pinellas County -- Pinellas County Fleet Management is working with a Lakeland company to convert waste cooking grease into a diesel fuel additive to power its trucks. County officials say the new method will help reduce emissions, cut the cost...

Calpine Corp. (In the News).(begins construction of Osprey Power Center)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Polk County -- San Jose, Calif.-based Calpine Corp., an electric power company, recently broke ground on its $250-million, 540-megawatt Osprey Power Center. The company plans to invest about $40 million more on a peaker turbine in the county.

Gil Lazier, former dean of the Florida State University School of Theatre, is the new director of the FSU/ASOLO Conservatory for Actor Training. (In the News).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Sarasota -- Gil Lazier, former dean of the Florida State University School of Theatre, is the new director of the FSU/ASOLO Conservatory for Actor Training. Lazier has been involved with the conservatory for more than 20 years and replaces...

Jabil Circuit. (In the News).(profits drop)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... St. Petersburg -- Jabil Circuit (NYSE-JBL), an electronics manufacturer, reported an 82% drop in first-quarter profit and says it will miss its earnings targets for the second quarter. More job cuts are expected.

Police Chief Mack Vines. (In the News).(fired for racial slur)
February 1, 2002... St. Petersburg -- St. Petersburg Police Chief Mack Vines was fired after just two months on the job after comparing a black suspect's behavior to that of an orangutan. Since his firing, hundreds of citizens have written letters to Mayor Rick...

First Baptist Church. (In the News).(to be razed)
February 1, 2002... St. Petersburg -- The City Council voted to raze the 77-year-old First Baptist Church at First Avenue North and Fourth Street to make way for an $8-million expansion of St. Peter's Episcopal Cathedral next door. St. Peter's, built 103 years...

Go2Pharmacy. (In the News).(launched low carb chocolate snack)
February 1, 2002... Tampa -- Capitalizing on the low-carbohydrate diet fad, Go2Pharmacy (Nasdaq-GORX), a health-food company, has developed Lean Protein Bites, the first low carbohydrate chocolate snack. The 8-year-old company plans to release low carbohydrate...

Hillsborough Circuit Judge Robert Bonanno. (In the News).(resigns from office, Hillsborough County, Florida)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Tampa -- On the day his impeachment hearing was to begin, Hillsborough Circuit Judge Robert Bonanno instead resigned. The investigation likely would have exposed details of a longtime affair with a courthouse employee and the discovery of...

Bucking the trend. (Aviation).(Aviation Recorders Inc., business running smoothly)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Florida's aviation industry may be suffering since Sept. 11, but a Sarasota company is profiting. Aviation Recorders is the leading manufacturer of flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders in the U.S. Since the 1980s, the company has...

Tampa Museum of Art. (In the News).(being designed in Tampa, Florida)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Tampa -- The city recently broke ground on a new phase of its 28-square-block cultural district. The district's signature building, the new Tampa Museum of Art, is being designed by architect Rafael Vinoly and is expected to cost about $27...

Jobs. (In the News).(U.S. Department of Labor, Tampa Bay, Florida highest employment urban area)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Tampa -- The Tampa Bay area has been adding jobs faster than any other urban area in the nation, according to the Department of Labor. The number of employed people in the area grew 3.8% from October 2000 to October 2001. Three other Florida...

Sykes Enterprises. (In the News).(lays off employees)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Tampa -- Sykes Enterprises (Nasdaq-SYKE), an international call center operator, laid off 230 employees, including 32 at its Tampa headquarters, and closed two call centers. The move is part of an effort to cut costs by moving jobs to cheaper...

Pinellas snapshot. (Jobs).(Pinellas County, Florida, business and industry report)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Pinellas County Economic Development reports that 10% of Florida's high-tech employees work in Pinellas County. Other PCED facts: Pinellas is: * No.2 in the state in manufacturing employment with 41,000 employees and an annual payroll...

Looking for salvation: Now just a shell of its former self, Church Street Station faces another "repositioning". (Entertainment).(ballroom closed)
February 1, 2002... The future of Church Street Station, a mere shadow of the lively entertainment district that once hosted more annual visitors than anywhere else in Florida, became an even bigger question mark when the newly refurbished Presidential Ballroom...

R&G Financial Corp. (In the News).(to acquire Crown Group Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Casselberry -- As part of its expansion into Florida, Puerto Rico-based R&G Financial Corp. will buy Crown Group Inc. for $100 million in cash and a $5-million, five-year note. Crown owns Crown Bank with 14 branches in the Orlando and Tampa/St....

Adam's Mark Hotels & Resorts. (In the News).(discrimination case)
February 1, 2002... Daytona Beach -- Adam's Mark Hotels & Resorts has agreed to pay $1.1 million to Florida's four historically black colleges and to hotel guests who claimed they were mistreated during Black College Reunion week in 1999. The settlement ends two...

The Ginn Co. (In the News).(sales of units at Reunion Resort and Club)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Kissimmee -- The Ginn Co. sold 234 single-family lots and 30 townhouses in 16 hours during the opening of sales for the Reunion Resort & Club. The 2,300-acre development will feature two golf courses, a swimming pavilion, a commercial/retail...

Dragon Development Corp. (In the News).(plans to add up to 100 workers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Lake Mary -- Dragon Development Corp. says it will add up to 100 computer engineers, systems analysts and software designers this year as the company joins the war on terrorism. Dragon specializes in information technology systems for...

Harris Corp. (In the News).(contract for Joint Strike Fighter's avionics infrastructure)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Melbourne -- Harris Corp. (NYSE-HRS) landed a three-year, $55-million avionics design contract for the Joint Strike Fighter's avionics infrastructure and other hardware. The new fighter, designated the F-35, will be the first multirole combat...

On the front burner. (Orlando Culinary Academy).(Le Cordon Bleu cooking school to open)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... A culinary academy with ties to Paris' famed Le Cordon Bleu -- internationally known for training great chefs since 1895 -- plans to open a teaching center in south Orlando. The Orlando Culinary Academy expects to open by next July in 52,000...

Time Warner Communications. (In the News).(to roll out telephone service)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Orlando -- Time Warner Communications says it will begin offering web-based local and long-distance telephone service within the next few months and has chosen central Florida for the first full-scale rollout of its technology. The Public...

TW Metals. (In the News).(opens service center)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Orlando -- TW Metals, a metal distributor and processor, has opened a 44,000-sq-ft. service center with a 4,000-sq.-ft. office in the Airport Industrial Park of Orlando, doubling the size of its current Orlando facility. The privately owned...

AirTran Airways. (In the News).(files lawsuit against passenger who breached airport security)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Orlando -- AirTran Airways (NYSE-AAI) filed a federal lawsuit against the man who breached airport security at Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport just before Thanksgiving. The airline says the resulting closure of the airport for much...

Galaxy Nutritional Foods. (In the News).(Sbarro Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Orlando -- Galaxy Nutritional Foods (AMEX-GXY) says Sbarro restaurants is expanding its use of Galaxy's Veggie Mozzarella cheese substitute to all 800 restaurants in the Italian eatery's chain. The cheese has also been used at Pizza Hut stores...

Cavu Inc. (In the News).(layoffs due to lack of capital)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Orlando -- Cavu Inc. laid off about two-thirds of its staff when an anticipated infusion of $140 million in fresh venture capital failed to materialize when expected. The company reportedly cut 84 of its 120 employees, keeping enough on staff...

Traffic fatalities. (In the News).(Orlando, Florida)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Orlando -- Orlando is the worst city in the nation for traffic fatalities. The city racked up 18.8 accidents involving drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians per 100,000, according to the Road Information Program, a Washington, D.C.-based...

Planet Hollywood Chairman Robert Earl. (In the News).(gets salary boost from bankruptcy judge)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Orlando -- Planet Hollywood Chairman Robert Earl persuaded a bankruptcy judge to boost his salary from $200,000 to $300,000, then to $400,000, instead of the $600,000 a year he used to make, which he asked the judge to reinstate. The company is...

Correct Craft Inc. (In the News).(General Motors Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Orlando -- Correct Craft Inc. has struck a three-year deal for General Motors to become the title sponsor of the Masters Waterski and Wakeboard Tournament, which is owned by Correct Craft. The 2002 event will be held at Callaway Gardens in...

SurgiLight Inc. (In the News).(settles lawsuit with Presby Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Orlando -- SurgiLight Inc. (OTCBB-SRGL) has settled a patent-infringement lawsuit involving Presby Corp. of Dallas for an undisclosed sum. Under the terms of the agreement, SurgiLight will be able to continue clinical trials on the...

Universal Orlando. (In the News).(lawsuit filed by Gilbert Feliciano)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Orlando -- New York businessman Gilbert Feliciano filed a $500-million lawsuit against Universal Orlando, saying the Latin Quarter at CityWalk represented an idea he pitched to the company in 1996. Feliciano is represented by Stuart attorney...

Orlando Regional Healthcare System Inc. (In the News).(Florida rejects plan for Ovideo hospital)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Oviedo -- State regulators shot down applications by Orlando Regional Healthcare System Inc. and Florida Hospital to build a hospital in Oviedo. Regulators say there is enough unused hospital capacity in Seminole County without adding beds,...

Pan American Airways. (In the News).(service between Orlando and Baltimore added)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Sanford -- Pan American Airways added two flights per day between Orlando Sanford International Airport and Baltimore-Washington International, bringing to seven the destinations served by Pan Am's Sanford hub.

No honeymoon: JEDC's new chief, Kirk Wendland, confronts issues that could turn a plum post into a pickle. (Economic Development).(Jacksonville Economic Development Commission)(Brief Article)(Interview)
February 1, 2002... These are precarious times for the new executive director of Jacksonville's Economic Development Commission, Kirk Wendland. MayorJohn Delaney -- who leaves office in 18 months -- appointed Wendland as successor to Mike Weinstein after a long,...

University of Florida. (In the News).(robot for golfers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... GAINESVILLE -- University of Florida engineering students have designed two robots for golfers. "Li'l Golfing Buddy" finds the tee and sets up the ball for driving. "RoboWoods" putts the bail into the hole. Anyone willing to buy a $500 putter...

Hamburg Sud. (In the News).(to use Jacksonville, Florida, port)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... JACKSONVILLE -- Hamburg Sud, parent company of Crowley American Transport and a major worldwide container shipping line, has tapped Jacksonville's port for its expanded South American service. Port officials estimate the deal could generate...

Army Corps of Engineers. (In the News).(deepening the St. Johns River channel)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The Army Corps of Engineers and the Jacksonville Port Authority have begun to deepen 14.7 miles of the St. Johns River channel from 38 feet to 40 feet. The $31.6-million, two-year project begins at the river's mouth and ends at Drummond Point....

Pilot Pen Corp. (In the News).(new facility)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Pilot Pen Corp. has completed a 100,000-sq.-ft. expansion of its manufacturing and distribution center and is shifting production of the G2 Gel Ink pen there from Japan. The $10-million expansion is adding 27 jobs this quarter.

Robert A.M. Stern Architects. (In the News).(to design Jacksonville, Florida, library)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Robert A.M. Stern Architects of New York was selected to design the new $95-million library. The 300,000-sq-ft structure, part of the Better Jacksonville Plan approved by voters in 2000, is to open next year.

Class AA Suns. (In the News).(Jacksonville's new arena)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Construction crews have broken ground on Jacksonville's $125-million arena and a $25-million baseball park, the new home of the Class AA Suns. The city also has four downtown housing projects totaling 1,800 residential units either under...

Morrison Homes. (In the News).(now building homes in northeast Florida)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Atlanta-based Morrison Homes is expanding in northeast Florida. It has begun building homes in Julington Creek Plantation and expects to be active in three or four other neighborhoods this year, says Jeff Agar, vice president of operations.

Northwest Airlines. (In the News).(offers Minneapolis/St. Paul-Jacksonville serivce)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Northwest Airlines this month begins offering non-stop Canadair Regional Jet service between its Minneapolis/St. Paul hub and Jacksonville International Airport, while Continental Airlines revived its non-stop Jacksonville-Cleveland route, at...