Local Business News

Mirroring the rise of logistics jobs in Jacksonville, the finance sector could be poised for growth, but only if the area — particularly area schools — put resources toward it, a panel of industry experts said Thursday.

Finance-focused companies like the area because of a strong workforce, particularly in entry level jobs, the speakers told a 250-person audience at a JAX Chamber event titled Bullish on JAX.

“But when it comes to higher level talent, we have a tough time,” said Fredrik Eliasson, chief financial officer at CSX Corp.

read more

Anxiety among First Coast pub owners and managers is increasing as they worry their business could be wrecked by a federal recommendation that the legal blood-alcohol level be lowered.

read more

A Jacksonville company is expanding and hopes to revive an American industry along the way.

Nuflo, located on Evergreen Avenue, is entering a joint venture with the German company KME to produce copper-nickel pipe for ships, oil rigs and other marine uses.

John Licausi, president of Nuflo, said the venture will have about 12 employees when production begins at the beginning of next year, with salaries ranging from $40,000 to $100,000. Eventually, he hopes to grow it to 40 or 50 employees.

read more

TUESDAY

Health Care Council, 8 a.m., Osprey Village at Amelia Island Plantation, 48 Osprey Village Drive, Amelia Island. Speaker: Eugenia Ngo-Seidel, director of the Nassau County Health Department. Group focuses on sharing information about health care issues. $25. (904) 261-3248 or email info@aifby.com.

read more

With each honoree extolling the value of community service, three Jacksonville business executives and a globe-trotting University of North Florida professor were honored as distinguished business leaders by the Coggin College of Business on Wednesday.

The Prime F. Osborn III award, in its 16th year, is designed to recognize the careers of local leaders. This year, it went to Gary Chartrand, Hugh Greene, Robert Frankel and Anna Lopez Brosche.

read more

Another domino falls.

A day after striking a deal with the largest general city employee union, Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown reached an identical deal with the Jacksonville Supervisors Association on Wednesday.

The agreement will have to be ratified by both the union membership and the City Council before going into effect.

read more

On Thursday, BJ's Wholesale Club at 12200 Atlantic Blvd. in Jacksonville will give a $15 store gift card to the first 500 customers who purchase at least 10 gallons of gas.

The station opens at 6:30 a.m., according to a news release. The offer applies only to the Atlantic Boulevard location.

People who are not BJ's members are eligible for the special gas promotion if they sign up for membership while in line for the offer. A free 60-day trial membership offer is running through July 14 

read more

PHOENIX — It was the customer service disaster heard around the Internet.

An Arizona restaurateur, fed up after years of negative online reviews and an embarrassing appearance on a reality television show, posted a social media rant laced with salty language and angry, uppercase letters that quickly went viral last week, to the delight of people who love a good Internet meltdown.

"I AM NOT STUPID ALL OF YOU ARE," read the posting on the Facebook wall of Amy's Baking Co. in suburban Phoenix. "YOU JUST DO NOT KNOW GOOD FOOD."

read more

Rich Rapp has a lot of new hopes riding on the old medium of recorded music at his recently-opened store in Five Points area of Jacksonville’s Riverside neighborhood.

In December, Rapp opened Deep Search Records on Lomax Street, hoping to lure connoisseurs of what he calls a resurgence of those who favor musical recordings on 12-inch vinyl discs, focusing on independent and alternative artists who are issuing more music on vinyl.

read more

ST. AUGUSTINE | Morris Communications Group Executive Vice President Derek May announced Tuesday that Delinda D. Fogel, vice president of finance and strategic planning at The Florida Times-Union, has been appointed the new publisher of the St. Augustine Record and staugustine.com.

Her first day will be June 3.

May said, “I’m thrilled to have somebody of Delinda’s character and experience at the Record. She is going to be a real asset to St. Augustine and St. Johns County.”

read more

The union representing most of Jacksonville’s non-public safety government workers has tentatively agreed to a package of pension changes that would mainly affect only new workers.

The package, similar to the deal struck between the Mayor’s Office and the Police and Fire Pension Fund, would lower the percentage of pay retirees would get and would make some retirees wait longer to start getting their pension.

It would also increase how much new workers have to contribute, from the current 8 percent to 12 percent.

read more

While business leaders say local companies are making strides by increasing diversity in the workplace, they remain anxious about lingering perceptions of intolerance in Jacksonville which they say hurts commerce.

Those concerns were the thrust of a roundtable discussion at the “Equality in Business” forum at the University of North Florida Monday which drew about three dozen corporate representatives from around the Jacksonville area.

read more

University of North Florida economist Paul Mason has been tracking figures that impact the First Coast economy for 12 years, but he’s never seen the housing market jump like it did between March and April.

“We saw a monumental increase in the housing market,” Mason said Friday, with both rents and the sales prices of homes and condos increasing.

read more

Lots of changes are coming to St. Johns Town Center, including particularly good news for those who need a cocktail while getting their nails done:

MShack, the burger place owned by the Medure brothers, will open in October where Ritz Camera used to be. The only other location is in Atlantic Beach.

Cosmo Nail Bar, a hybrid bar and salon complete with cocktails, opens in July where Lotus Massage was.

Pandora jewelry will have its grand opening Thursday.

read more

Myron Noodleman gets the crowds dancing at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville with his geeky gyrations and has kids wanting his autograph after he belts out “Sweet Caroline” on top of a dugout.

Though Noodleman has never turned a double play or hit a home run, he’s an important part of what goes on at the stadium: While baseball may be the focal point of the Baseball Grounds, the game itself seems almost secondary in the marketing plan.

read more