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Jacksonville Business Journal
Want to get contracts with St. Johns County? Policy change might help
Building on a previous attempt to help local businesses become more competitive to earn contracts with the county, St. Johns County recently amended its purchasing policy. <\p> The plan is to make it easier for local firms with purchases between $10,000 and $250,000.<\p>
New pet day care, movie theater on their way to St. Johns
A new location of the dog daycare franchise Hounds Town is under construction just north of St. Augustine.<\p> A $650,000 building permit was issued by St. Johns County on May 23 for the interior build-out of a 5,231-square-foot facility at 45 Summerlin Lane, which is just off U.S. 1 near the Northeast Florida Regional Airport.<\p>
Jacksonville chef vies for $250,000 on reality show
A local chef is vying for $250,000 as part of Gordon Ramsay's Food Stars reality show.<\p> Roman Desmond opened the Hot Box Pretzels food truck in February 2023 — just a few months before the British chef's show first season started airing.<\p>
Autonomous vehicle maker confirms interest in Jax — but also elsewhere
Jacksonville is competing with locations in Louisiana, Michigan and South Carolina to house a U.S. manufacturing facility for Holon, a German autonomous vehicle manufacturer that is looking to be part of JTA's Ultimate Urban Circulator program.<\p> "Jacksonville is a great place to be, plus the city seems very welcoming for autonomous vehicles.” Gregory Crandell, the company's U.S. general manager, said during an event hosted by JTA on Friday.<\p>
Small-business grants you can apply for this month
Despite the seemingly endless number of challenges that come along with being a small-business owner, the vast majority of entrepreneurs recommend it. <\p> A survey of employed adults and small-business owners by Justworks and The Harris Poll earlier this year revealed that 93% of small-business owners would recommend business ownership to others, with 59% saying it was easier than they had anticipated. <\p>
Work on homeless services center off SR 16 gets started
A long-planned homeless services center in St. Johns County has begun construction.<\p> Home Again St. Johns, a local nonprofit, received its building permit on May 28. The $584,000 permit allows for a 3,000-square-foot community center and offices.<\p>
New customs building coming to Jacksonville International Airport
As the Jacksonville International Airport embarks on its Concourse B expansion, another project is under city review.<\p> The city is reviewing an $8 million permit for a new customs building. It calls for the construction of a single-story, 59,672-square-foot building at 2155 Barnstormer Road.<\p>
Construction approved for Jacksonville history museum
Jacksonville’s history is a step closer to being on display in the Sports & Entertainment District as the Jacksonville Historical Society moves forward with construction. <\p> The city issued a $1.15 million permit Thursday for the renovation of the 104-year-old Florida Casket Company Building. The nonprofit plans to renovate the three-story building, which is not a historic structure but is located on property that contains the historic Old St. Luke's Hospital, on Palmetto Street. It will also build additions on the east and west of the structure.<\p>
More workers are staying with their current employer in 2024
Most U.S. employees are now choosing to stay with their jobs instead of looking for new ones, a sharp turnaround from the job reshuffling that was common during the Covid-19 pandemic. <\p> A new survey by global advisory firm WTW found 72% of employees are choosing to stay with their employer — up substantially from the 53% who said the same thing in 2022. Back then, about 25% of workers were open to job offers, compared to just 11% now.<\p>
Prospective homebuyers are missing out as sellers cut their prices
The chronically troublesome housing market is seeing more price drops, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into relief for homebuyers.<\p> Data from real estate firm Redfin Corp. shows 6.4% of active listings on the platform had a price drop through the week ending May 26. While that's not a massive portion of listings, the percentage is substantially higher than the 4.4% of listings with price drops recorded during the same time in 2023.<\p>
A rising cost for companies and employees takes hold as summer arrives
Editor's Note: Welcome to The Playbook Edition, a look at stories, trends and changes that could affect your business and career. Want more stories like this in your inbox? Sign up for The Playbook newsletter. <\p> In the coming weeks, schools around the nation will be out, and many employees will find themselves scrambling for child care options.<\p>
What to expect from TPC Sawgrass' new chef
As TPC Sawgrass’ new executive chef, Johnattan Hernandez<\p> After a successful year as the TPC Las Vegas chef director, Hernandez returns as Sawgrass’ executive chef, where he will manage a team of 45 back of the house employees.<\p>
Porsche service center, car wash planned on World Commerce Parkway
A Porsche auto service center, car wash and detail center may come soon to the World Commerce Center in St. Johns County.<\p> Fields Automotive Group applied for a environmental resource permit with the St. Johns Water Management District May 24 for the proposed facilities and associated infrastructure.<\p>
Accessing equity: Advice for Jacksonville's small businesses
How do small businesses, particularly minority-owned, access government contracts and resources? Several experts in the field gathered last week at the Business Journal's annual Minority-Owned Small Business Forum to discuss those and many other struggles facing small business owners. <\p> During the forum, moderated by T & N Xpress CEO Nichole Mobley, panelists Demika Jackson of the Jax Vets Chamber of Commerce and ReInVentU; Willie Gonzalez, board chairman of the FCHCC and retired SBA director; Tina Pham of the Asian Chamber of Commerce; and Gregory Grant with the city's Equal Business Opportunity Administration, emphasized the importance of education, relationship building and networking for minority-owned businesses to succeed in the government contracting space. <\p>
New proposal for Laura Street Trio bumps up incentives, sets deadlines
The Downtown Investment Authority is considering a proposal that would see the developer of the Laura Street Trio receive $87.2 million worth of city incentives, covering about 45% of the project cost.<\p> Draft versions of term sheets hashed out between the DIA and developer Steve Atkins would have the city support both the historic preservation and new construction portions of the project. Previous negotiations suggested removing the new construction, but Atkins said that would be a "non-starter."<\p>
Report: Potential tenants showing interest at Cecil Commerce Center
Potential tenants of Cecil Commerce Center expressed interest in using space for manufacturing, automated distribution and multifamily development, according to a report from Alliance Florida at Cecil Commerce Center.<\p> The report detailed economic activity from October to December 2023. No notable development activities took place during this time, the report said.<\p>
Commercial success leads to change in Five Points
Jacksonville’s Five Points neighborhood has seen quite a bit of change in the last few years. Whether that change is positive depends on the viewer’s perspective.<\p> So named for the confusing five-point intersection where Park, Margaret and Lomax streets cross, the commercial district has evolved into a vital economic hub and commercial destination. <\p>
What's coming to WGV? Likely restaurants, entertainment options
Now that residents have made it clear that they don't want residential or big box retail at the county-owned World Golf Village property, the future of the area is starting to take shape — slowly.<\p> St. Johns County administrative leaders and commissioners led residents on a tour of the vacant World Golf Hall of Fame building on Wednesday as they try to decide what to do with it.<\p>
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