Florida Trend articles from March 2002

Florida Trend archives from March 2002

Florida's Guide to Dining. (Corner Office).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... FLORIDA TREND has recognized the state's best restaurants with Golden Spoon Awards[R] each year since 1967, and our shiny Golden Spoon plaques are displayed in select restaurants from Pensacola to Key West. You can be assured when you're dining...

Florida's Economy. (Readers).(Jeb Bush response)(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2002... I read with interest the editor's page in the January issue regarding the Florida Chamber Foundation's New Cornerstone report and its evaluation of our state's economic performance in the 1990s ["Slippage," www.Florida Trend.com]. While I...

Clarification.(Brief Article)(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2002... FLORIDA TREND reported in February that Richard Cherry, the founder of WillowCSN, a telecommuting firm, had founded a previous telecommuting firm in Canada that went into receivership in 1995 with a loss of nearly $2 million to creditors....

Rocket science. (Defense).(Molly Warren of Coleman Aerospace)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Some kids see their cousins at Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July. Growing up in the 1960s in Maitland, Molly Warren and her two brothers saw them at Apollo launches. Warren's father was an Apollo engineer; her uncle also worked at NASA....

No Pratt falls: Employment at Pratt & Whitney in Palm Beach County has undergone a depressing decline. Here's the path three ex-Pratt workers took in the face of relocation or layoffs. (Aerospace).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Neat stuff: Spiritech has a $70,000 small-business innovation research contract -- one of 12 Florida companies to receive one -- from NASA to develop a pulse detonation engine, which DeFrancesco says will be to jets what jets were to...

Players. (Talk of Florida).(personnel changes in Florida business)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... BANKING -- Raymond K. Mason Jr. has been named president and CEO of Jacksonville-based startup CenterBank, which specializes in serving small businesses. Mason was chairman of American National Bank of Florida, now SouthTrust Bank, and has more...

Obituary.(former Florida Supreme Court Justice Alan C. Sundberg)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
March 1, 2002... Alan C. Sundberg. Former Florida Supreme Court Justice Alan C. Sundberg, 68, died Jan. 26 after a five-month battle with lung cancer. Sundberg earned a law degree from Harvard in 1958 before moving to St. Petersburg, where he practiced...

Riding out the storm: Spun off from Bankers Insurance in 1999, Insurance Management Solutions has had a rough time on its own. What's next? (Insurance).(Bankers Insurance Group, Insurance Management Solutions Group)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... In Florida, it's quite common for owners of insurance companies to outsource policy and claims processing to other companies they own. That's the case at Bankers Insurance Group in St. Petersburg. A decade ago, Bankers created a separate...

Two degrees, no separation: Miami-Dade County's dual enrollment program gives students a leg up on a college degree. (Education).(Florida)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... This June, more than half of the 200 seniors at Miami-Dade's School for Advanced Studies will pass two milestones: In addition to graduating from high school, they will earn a two-year Associate of Arts degree from Miami-Dade Community College....

University of Miami Faculty Senate. (In the News).(votes on pay increase for contract workers)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Following a national survey of university wages, the University of Miami Faculty Senate is proposing pay increases for contract workers and other low-skill employees that could nearly double their salaries. Most of the employees involved work...

Sereca Security Corp. (In the News).(to open U.S. headquarters in Miami, Florida)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Venezuela's Sereca Security Corp. plans to open its U.S. headquarters in Miami, creating at least 400 jobs over the next three years. Sereca provides a range of security and investigative services, including employment background verification,...

Univision Online has cut at least 35 jobs from the Miami headquarters of its Univision.com subsidiary. (In the News).(Miami, Florida)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Univision Online has cut at least 35 jobs from the Miami headquarters of its Univision.com subsidiary. The cost-cutting move is a response to the weak economy and sluggish advertising sales. Meanwhile, the Miami Herald has announced it will...

Miami's Hamilton Bank. (In the News).(Miami, Florida bank placed in receivership)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Amid mounting financial troubles, Miami's Hamilton Bank (Nasdaq-HABK) has been placed in receivership by the FDIC. About half of the bank's insured deposits have been assumed by Israel Discount Bank, which reopened Hamilton's three U.S....

Miami-based Burger King. (In the News).(plans 35 new stores in Britain)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Miami-based Burger King, a subsidiary of British beverages giant Diageo, will open 35 restaurants in Britain this year. The expansion is part of a plan to increase the value of Burger King prior to a spinoff from Diageo perhaps as early as next...

Chancellor Academies. (In the News).(to merge with Beacon Education Management)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Miami-based Chancellor Academies and Beacon Education Management of Westborough, Mass., are merging, creating the second-largest school management company in the country. The new company, Chancellor Beacon Academies, will serve about 19,000...

The 45-story Blue and Green Diamond condominium towers. (In the News).(Miami Beach, Florida condominiums go bankrupt)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The 45-story Blue and Green Diamond condominium towers, the tallest on Miami Beach, have gone into foreclosure and bankruptcy. Although nearly 80% of the twin towers' 630 units have been sold, sluggish sales in 2001 led to missed loan payments...

Donald Trump has teamed with developers Michael and Gil Dezer to develop an 11-acre oceanfront tract in Sunny Isles. (In the News).(Florida)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Donald Trump has teamed with developers Michael and Gil Dezer to develop an 11-acre oceanfront tract in Sunny Isles. The three-phase project, to be called Trump Grand Ocean Resort and Residences, will include a 32-story condominium hotel and...

Citing a weak economy, Miami Lakes-based Applica (NYSE-APN). (In the News).(announces layoffs)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... Citing a weak economy, Miami Lakes-based Applica (NYSE-APN), the maker of Black & Decker appliances, will reduce its North American workforce of 650 by about 10%.

Two terminals in the works. (Miami International Airport).(Miami, Florida)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... MIAMI -- Miami International Airport has broken ground on a new $780-million south terminal due for completion in 2005. Also under way is a north terminal built for American Airlines. The $1.3-billion project is scheduled to open in mid-2006....

Regeneration: Wilton Manors' mayor is betting that the city's large gay population will speed up redevelopment. (Neighborhoods).(Wilton Manors, Florida, mayor John Fiore)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Wilton Manors Mayor John Fiore has an ambitious vision for the 2.5-square-mile city where he has lived most of his life. He sees a downtown district modeled after West Palm Beach's successful strip of trendy bars and restaurants along Clematis...

Artesyn Technologies. (In the News).(receives $$50 million in funding)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Computer component maker Artesyn Technologies (Nasdaq-ATSN) has received a $50-million boost from an investment group headed by Bruce Cheng, chairman of Taiwan-based Delta Electronics.

Motorola's pager manufacturing operations. (In the News).(layoffs)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Motorola's pager manufacturing operations continue to shrink. As part of 9,400 nationwide layoffs announced by the Schaumburg, Ill.-based wireless company last year, 275 Boynton Beach employees will lose their jobs by mid-year.

Development and investment company Greystar plans to develop a 600,000-sq.-ft. business park in Deerfield Beach. (In the News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Development and investment company Greystar plans to develop a 600,000-sq.-ft. business park in Deerfield Beach. The project, which will include five buildings, is expected to be complete by year's end.

Divers Direct SCUBA. (In the News).(acquisition of Performance Diver)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Divers Direct SCUBA retailer has acquired North Carolina-based SCUBA Catalog and internet retailer Performance Diver for an undisclosed price.

Imaging Diagnostic Systems. (In the News).(patent for laser-based breast imaging system)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Imaging Diagnostic Systems (OTCBB-IMDS) was awarded a design patent for its laser-based breast imaging system. The patent covers a system for dealing with the large range of light intensity used to develop 3-D, cross-section images.

Ambassador Resort and Hotel. (In the News).(approval for casino boat)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The oceanfront Ambassador Resort and Hotel has received permission from city commissioners to dock a 137-foot casino boat behind the hotel to help boost business. Just last year, city officials fought the docking of the SunCruzVI gambling boat...

Florida Power & Light Co. (In the News).(capacity added with new turbines)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Florida Power & Light Co. will boost power at its Martin County plant by 2005. Plans call for the addition of two new turbines and the conversion of two high-demand units to everyday use. The $500-million project will add 800 megawatts of...

The International Swimming Hall of Fame's. (In the News).(new home in Pompano Beach)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The International Swimming Hall of Fame's search for a new home has moved to Pompano Beach as city officials there move forward with negotiations to bring the facility to an eight-acre site that is now a beach parking lot. Hall of Fame...

Port of Palm Beach. (In the News).(looks for deal with Texs Day Cruise company)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Port of Palm Beach officials are negotiating with the Texas Day Cruise company to bring a 400-foot gambling cruise ship to the port's new cruise terminal set to open this month. The ship would be the county's third gambling cruise ship.

Witham Field airport. (In the News).(reducing noise pollution)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... A group of airport users, local residents, business owners and government officials charged with reducing noise at the Witham Field airport is considering proposals ranging from a $4.5-million project to insulate and sound-proof nearby homes to...

The Palm Beach County Metropolitan Planning Organization. (In the News).(apply for grant money to start water taxi service)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The Palm Beach County Metropolitan Planning Organization and the state Department of Transportation have applied for $1 million in federal grant money to start a public water taxi service on the Intracoastal Waterway. Plans call for the...

Kolter Property Co. (In the News).(looks to acquire property to build condominiums)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Toronto-based Kolter Property Co. has offered the city $9 million for a two-acre site across from CityPlace. Kolter proposes to build two 15-story condominium towers with 490 units, a garage, a rooftop pool, a pedestrian plaza and 6,460 square...

Al Dunlap. (In the News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Former Sunbeam Corp. CEO Al Dunlap paid $15 million to settle a fraudulent-accounting lawsuit brought by disgruntled shareholders. Another lawsuit filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission is still pending.

Palm Beach County's 2001 office vacancy. (In the News).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... Palm Beach County's 2001 office vacancy rate rose 3 percentage points, bringing the vacancy level to 15.6%. The increase was blamed on sluggish activity in suburban areas.

Homeowners seek class-action suit. (Citrus Canker).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... FORT LAUDERDALE -- Some south Florida homeowners believe they were not fairly compensated for the value of citrus trees cut down in the state's war on canker and have asked a Broward Circuit Court judge to allow them to pursue their lawsuit...

Tampa-to-Tampico: Economic developers say it's still an uphill battle to sell companies on the advantages of Gulf shipping. (Trade).(shipping trade between Mexico and Tampa Bay Area)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... Each week Tampa-based Gulf Caribbean Transport ships about 500 Mexican-made PT Cruisers and Dodge Ram Trucks across the Gulf of Mexico through Tampa's port and distributes them to car dealers in Florida. Shipping across the Gulf instead of...

Tech Data Corp. (In the News).(ranked on Forbes Platinum 400)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Tech Data Corp. (Nasdaq-TECD) has been named to the Forbes Platinum 400, a ranking of the nation's "best big companies." The IT products provider, ranked 218th has made the list the last four years. Companies are picked for their long- and...

Tampa Bay Regional Reservoir. (In the News).(funding from Congress)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Congress will give the Tampa Bay Regional Reservoir a $9.6-million boost, but Tampa Bay Water, the region's wholesale water supplier, is hoping for more. The company wants to build a 15-billion-gallon above-ground reservoir this year and is...

Clearwater-based Eva-Tone. (In the News).(merges with Eagle Marketing Services)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Eagle Marketing Services, a direct marketing agency, is joining forces with Clearwater-based Eva-Tone, a provider of print, mailing services, fulfillment, CD/DVD replication and e-business/multimedia development. Eagle Marketing has moved its...

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites. (In the News).(opens in Dunedin, FL)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... A three-story, 76-room Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites recently opened in downtown Dunedin. It is the city's first Holiday Inn affiliate.

Florida Department of Citrus. (In the News).(national advertising campaign)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The Florida Department of Citrus, based in Lakeland, has launched a sixmonth, $20-million national advertising campaign, its first since 1998.

www.iloveleecounty.com. (In the News).(Lee County, Florida's chamber of commerce Web site)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Lee County is taking a page from the Big Apple's advertising book. The county's chamber of commerce recently launched its www.iloveleecounty.com website modeled after the "I [heart] New York" campaign. The site is designed to direct more...

Gulf Coast National Bank and First National Bank of the Florida Keys have merged to create Orion Bank. (In the News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Naples-based Gulf Coast National Bank and First National Bank of the Florida Keys have merged to create Orion Bank, which will be headquartered in Naples. Both banks are owned by First Bancorp Inc., the second-largest privately held bank...

Polk County's population. (In the News).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... University of Florida economic researchers estimate that Polk County's population likely reached 500,000 last summer, based on its population of 496,923 on April 1 and growth patterns since the 1920s. Polk now ranks eighth in population among...

Portable on Demand Storage (PODS). (In the News).(opens franchise in Atlanta)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Portable On Demand Storage (PODS), based in St. Petersburg, has opened a franchise operation in Atlanta. The company, which provides portable storage units, has expanded rapidly since 1998 to 25 company-owned and franchise operations.

Two-way traffic. (In the News).(St. Petersburg is converting 20 blocks back to two-way traffic)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... St. Petersburg is converting 20 blocks along 8th Avenue North and 9th Avenue North back to two-way traffic. The change will cost about $10,000. The city spent thousands of dollars from 1960 to 1981 making the streets one-way. The city hopes to...

Capital One Financial Corp. (In the News).(expanding in Tampa, FL)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Capital One Financial Corp. is expanding its auto finance business into Tampa, adding 100 jobs. For the last six years, the Falls Church, Va.-based holding company has been expanding its Tampa presence, stepping employment up to 2,600. It plans...

SRI Surgical Express. (In the News).(restated 3rd-quarter earnings leads to class-action lawsuit)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... SRI Surgical Express (Nasdaq-STRC) faces a class-action lawsuit after restating its third-quarter earnings. The company originally reported a profit of $1.8 million on sales of $22.4 million. It later revised its profit to $1.5 million and...

Hydrogen Media runs out of Gas. (Technology).(closes down)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... TAMPA -- Hydrogen Media, a website development company that developed a high profile during the dot-com boom, shut its doors in January. Investors, including top executives at Outback Steakhouse, say the company ran out of cash. Clients...

Craving normalcy: The Orlando hotel market is hurting, but bullish signs are surfacing. (Hotels).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... The slowdown in vacation and business travel has some hotels in central Florida on the brink of failure, and many of the rest are tightening their belts. Disney has shuttered 16% of its 22,000 rooms and delayed the opening of what will be its...

Lennar Homes (NYSE-LEN) has been fined nearly $62,000 for drawing too much water to irrigate the 181-acre Clermont Legends Golf & Country Club development. (In the News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Lennar Homes (NYSE-LEN) has been fined nearly $62,000 for drawing too much water to irrigate the 181-acre Clermont Legends Golf & Country Club development. Lennar had counted on using treated wastewater provided by the city for irrigation, but...

Developer Richard Hanor is scheduled to begin construction this quarter on the 1.1-million-sq.-ft. Brevard Crossings Mall. (In the News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Developer Richard Hanor is scheduled to begin construction this quarter on the 1.1million-sq.-ft. Brevard Crossings Mall, a regional mall that will include a 300-room hotel and multiplex cinema with 3,300 seats.

Team Information Services. (In the News).(wins contract from SBA Communications)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Team Information Services landed a $3-million contract from SBA Communications of Boca Raton to manage outside employees involved with SBA's network of 3,000 cell-phone towers.

Harris Corp. (In the News).(to supply radio systems to the UK military)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Harris Corp. (NYSE-HRS) has signed a $200-million contract with General Dynamics United Kingdom to supply 10,000 radio systems to the British military.

AT&T Corp. (In the News).(cuts jobs at Local Network Services division but adds jobs at local call center)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... AT&T Corp. eliminated 70 jobs from its Local Network Services division in east Orange County -- about 20% of the total -- as part of a restructuring but added 70 jobs to its local call center after closing a call center in New York City.

Walt Disney World is closing a quarter of its Disney Institute. (In the News).(and plans to build more time-share units)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Walt Disney World is closing a quarter of its Disney Institute resort and plans to build an additional 192 time-share units starting this spring.

OurBeginning.com. (In the News).(files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... OurBeginning.com, the online stationery store that enjoyed fleeting fame with its "battling brides" Super Bowl commercial two years ago, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation after burning through $7.5 million in venture capital.

Historic Creations. (In the News).(proposes 15-story condominium tower in downtown Orlando)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Historic Creations of Orlando has proposed a $50-million, 15-story condominium tower in downtown Orlando. The proposed development, bordered by Church, Pine, Osceola and Eola streets, would include 288 living units and 10,000 square feet of...

Universal Studios Florida. (In the News).(discounts sound-stage rental fees)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Universal Studios Florida is discounting sound-stage rental fees by 80% to small filmmakers. To qualify for the $500-a-day rate, the film's budget must be $5 million or less and 80% of the crew has to be hired from within Florida.

Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. (In the News).(exploring surcharges to airline tickets to pay for security upgrades)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority is exploring surcharges to airline tickets to help pay for renovations and other changes needed to improve security. The authority estimated the cost of the changes would likely exceed $50 million and...

Tiffany's & Co. (In the News).(to open store at new Millenia Mall)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Tiffany's & Co. will join other high-end retailers at the new Millenia Mall scheduled to open this fall at 1-4 and Conroy Road. Crate & Barrel is also a possible addition in 2003. The mall's anchors include Blooming-dale's, Macy's and Neiman...

Country Fresh. (In the News).(to move to larger space near Orlando Airport)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Country Fresh, a Houston-based food distributor, plans to move to a new location near Orlando International Airport and nearly triple its space to 45,000 square feet. The move will also allow the company to double employment to 200.

Walt Disney Co. (In the News).(loses case with American Casualty over judgement regarding Wide World of Sports Complex)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Reading, Pa.-based American Casualty does not have to cover a $240-million judgment Walt Disney Co. had to pay for stealing the idea for the Wide World of Sports complex. Disney claimed the judgment should fall under its insurance coverage.

Titusville's first new hotel since 1975. (In the News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... An unidentified developer has committed to build Titusville's first new hotel since 1975. The project will be adjacent to the Astronaut Hall of Fame. The hotel will be a nationally known brand. Opening date is projected in 2003.

Orlando Magic. (For Sale).(owner Rick DeVos plans to sell NBA team)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... ORLANDO - Orlando Magic owner Rick DeVos plans to sell the NBA team for about $185 million. DeVos says he's ready to retire and can't come up with a way to give the team to his daughter and son-in-law.

Agere Plant. (For Sale).(plans to sell Florida semiconductor plant and close two in Pennsylvania)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... ORLANDO - Agere Systems plans to sell its semiconductor plant in Orlando and close two others in Pennsylvania. The Orlando facility employs more than 1,100. All told, the moves will result in about 300 job cuts. Last year, Agere, which is being...

No 'Knife Fights': GOP veteran Tom Slade will referee a hot intra-party contest to see who replaces Mayor John Delaney. (Politics).(There are several Repulican candidates for mayor of Jacksonville)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... With still more than a year left in John Delaney's final term as Jacksonville's mayor, the field of potential successors has swollen into a crowd that has local GOP leaders a little nervous. Super Bowl chief Mike Weinstein and City Councilwomen...

Palm Coast Holdings. (In the News).(Acquires 6,785 acres zoned for residential and commercial development)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Palm Coast Holdings, a unit of Allete Properties of Duluth, Minn., has completed its two-stage acquisition of 6,785 acres zoned for residential and commercial development. Deed stamps indicate the total transaction was in the $16-million range....

Unison Industries. (In the News).(Wins a contact with an alliance of airlines)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Airline engineparts maker Unison Industries won a $2.5-million contract from an alliance of airlines to provide parts for Airbus, Boeing and Bombardier aircraft. Unison, a privately held manufacturer with about 645 employees, was sold in...

The University of North Florida. (In the News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The University of North Florida expects to begin a $16-million, 115,000-sq.-ft. library expansion in September, provided funding arrives from Tallahassee. The addition will nearly double the library's size.

Port Authority and Tourist Development Council in conjunction with Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruise lines concludes that Jacksonville is a viable port of call for cruise ships. (In the News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... A $100,000 study commissioned by the Port Authority and Tourist Development Council in conjunction with Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruise lines concludes that Jacksonville is a viable port of call for cruise ships. Of 600 people from 19 areas...

Galleria is the latest retail development project on the Southside. (In the News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The 40,000-sq.-ft. Galleria is the latest retail development project on the Southside. The Edmonds Co. is building two 17,500-sq.-ft. buildings plus three out-parcels on eight acres along Philips Highway near the J. Turner Butler Boulevard...

Northeast Florida Builders Association. (In the News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Northeast Florida Builders Association data shows Duval County issued a record 4,935 single-family building permits in 2001. The previous record of 3,847 was set in 1998. Meanwhile, the Florida Association of Realtors reports the median sales...

Al Battle Jr. has succeeded Paul Krutko as Jacksonville's managing director of the Downtown Development Authority. (In the News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Al Battle Jr. has succeeded Paul Krutko as Jacksonville's managing director of the Downtown Development Authority. Appointed by Mayor John Delaney, Battle will manage the implementation of the downtown master plan that City Council approved in...

Municipal utility JEA. (In the News).(has acquired United Water's regulated properties in Florida)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Municipal utility JEA has acquired United Water's regulated properties in Florida for $219 million and has formed a 20-year partnership with United to operate some of the facilities obtained. The acquisition gives JEA new customers in St. Johns...

Ponte Vedra East. (In the News).(more development)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The last parcel of residential land east of A1A in Ponte Vedra Beach is now under development by Ponte Vedra East, a local development partnership. The nine-acre tract has 19 lots -- three of which have been sold -- ranging from $212,000 to...

Casa Monica. (In the News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The upscale Casa Monica hotel expects to open its $250,000-rooftop pavilion in May. Built to accommodate about 100 people, the 958-sq.-ft. facility is designed to look like a Turkish sultan's tent, featuring couches and pillows and surrounded...

AgFoods Limited Partnership, a subsidiary of Opus South. (In the News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... AgFoods Limited Partnership, a subsidiary of Opus South, has purchased about 32.5 acres in St. Augustine Industrial Park for $1.98 million to build a 400,000-sq.-ft. distribution center for ConAgra Foods.

TE Consolidated. (In the News).(A titanium mining project)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... TE Consolidated, an Orange Park subsidiary of lluka Resources Ltd. of Australia, is studying the feasibility of a titanium mining project in Yulee. TE's process uses only water to extract titanium and zircon from timberlands that have been...

Clarification.
March 1, 2002... JACKSONVILLE -- Wachovia Corp. plans to close 37 of its more than 700 branches in Florida as a result of its merger with First Union. The bank says job losses related to the merger will be minimal; front-line employees in good standing at...

Building a 'Critical Mass': Economic leaders are now banking on Tallahassee's 'intellectual talent' to attract jobs. (Research).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Regional leaders have been trying for years to create concentrations of skills in industry sectors that would help provide a firmer economic foundation for the region. Efforts at bolstering manufacturing, biomed and high-tech have met with...

Apalachicola Bay oystermen. (In the News).(red tide put 1,036 out of work last year)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Federal officials rejected Gay. Jeb Bush's request for a disaster declaration to help Apalachicola Bay oystermen, saying damage was not severe enough. The bay was closed late last year to oyster harvesting because of red tide, which put 1,036...

The Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County was successful in getting an Enterprise Zone in and around the Crestview Industrial Airpark. (In the News).(Okaloosa County, Florida)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County was successful in getting an Enterprise Zone in and around the Crestview Industrial Airpark. EDC officials say the designation will boost negotiation efforts under way with aviation-related...

Aerospace Integration Corp. (In the News).(working on new airport hangar)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Aerospace Integration Corp. broke ground on its new hangar facility at Bob Sikes Airport in Crestview. The 76,000-sq.-ft. facility is scheduled to open next February, and the company plans to hire an additional 75 people to staff it. AIC's...