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Jacksonville Business Journal
UNF MedNexus expands academic programs in Palm Coast
University of North Florida's MedNexus, an initiative that offers learning and research experiences to prepare future health care providers and leaders, announced Thursday the introduction of three academic programs in Palm Coast. <\p> These programs mark a significant expansion of UNF MedNexus' commitment to providing health care education and training opportunities in Flagler County. <\p>
Proficient Auto Logistics CEO shares vision for future after IPO
A few weeks after debuting as Jacksonville's newest public company, Proficient Auto Logistics is focused on growing its national presence in the industry.<\p> “It's such a great setup, it's an industry that I think will benefit from industry consolidation,” CEO Rick O’Dell said. “There's not any well-capitalized, high-quality nationwide player in auto logistics, and I think the market is ripe for the opportunities.”<\p>
Outside Voices: The value of community banks
The corporate world is welcoming more and more innovative and nontraditional industries, ranging from AI-backed startups to private jet charters. <\p> However, for many of these businesses, there are often roadblocks to financing or finding the right banking partner, but the answer to their problems is often closer to home than they might think. <\p>
Work on JTA Autonomous Innovation Center moving forward
Work is moving forward for Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s Autonomous Innovation Center.<\p> JTA held a ceremonial groundbreaking Tuesday to celebrate the start of construction. The center is part of a plan to bring autonomous transit vehicles to Jacksonville as part of the Ultimate Urban Circulator project. <\p>
Dream Finders Homes to build entry-level housing in Tenn., S.C.
Dream Finders Homes plans to build thousands of less expensive homes across South Carolina and Tennessee with the acquisition of 4,000 home sites.<\p> The Jacksonville-based homebuilder closed on a land banking arrangement with 400 Capital Management, an alternative credit asset manager, and Builder Capital. <\p>
New speculative warehouse planned at Imeson
Construction of a speculative warehouse planned for Imeson Park is close to moving forward.<\p> The city is reviewing permits for the project called Imeson Park S, Building D, which is located at 1511 Zoo Parkway, Unit 400.<\p>
Jacksonville engineering firm acquired
A Jacksonville-headquartered engineering firm was recently acquired by PRIME AE as it expands its presence in the Southeast.<\p> Connelly & Wicker joined Prosser | PRIME AE in the Southeast division, creating a robust planning and engineering firm in Northeast Florida.<\p>
Community benefits agreement: How it's different, what it promises
The community benefits agreement portion of the tentative deal between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the city is the largest sum of community money set aside in an NFL stadium deal, but it’s also the only one that has the city kicking in half the funds.<\p> As the deal is currently structured, the city is splitting the $1.4 billion cost of renovating EverBank Field equally with the Jaguars — but by adding in $150 million for deferred maintenance, the city will end up paying for about 55% of the $1.4 billion project.<\p>
Lawsuit targeting small-business grant program is tossed
A judge has tossed a lawsuit targeting Progressive Insurance and small-business funding platform Hello Alice for a grant program offered to Black small business owners.<\p> The decision, handed down by the U.S. District Court for Northern Ohio, found plaintiff Nathan Roberts, owner of Cleveland-based Freedom Truck DIspatch LLC, lacked the standing to sue the companies over a grant program it offered to Black small-business owners to purchase a new truck.<\p>
Mayors Jewelers green lit for St. Johns Town Center renovation
Jacksonville issued a permit on Tuesdaty for Mayors Jewelers of Florida LLC to begin construction on its original St. Johns Town Center location in unit 119 at 4834 River City Drive.<\p> This follows Mayors’ temporary move across the street to unit 137 in the fall and limited demolition of its store in preparation for renovation.<\p>
Behind the deal: How the city and Jaguars came together for $1.4B deal
In some ways, the City of Jacksonville and the NFL team that calls it home have been negotiating over the need for multimillion-dollar changes to EverBank Stadium for almost a decade.<\p> For years, the Jaguars would display a graphic showing which teams had new or heavily renovated stadiums. Each year, the number of teams without such projects dwindled. <\p>
Construction cost at SE Toyota site trimmed down as final bids let
Construction for the new Southeast Toyota Distributors facility on Blount Island is moving forward, with the Jacksonville Port Authority board approving changes Tuesday that will trim down the final price tag.<\p> The changes cut about $620,000 off the cost of the project, which will see the major distribution company vacate its 79-acre Talleyrand site and move to Blount Island.<\p>
$48M rehabilitation hospital opens
A Birmingham-headquartered national health care real estate investment and development company has opened its newest medical project in Northeast Florida.<\p> The Sanders Trust is the developer behind teh $48 million project, building a 60,000-square-foot facility with 50 beds, a 12-bed brain injury unit, multidisciplinary therapy gymnasiums and outdoor courtyards. It announced its grand opening Monday.<\p>
Resume gaps aren't the dealbreaker they once were, but there's a catch
Job seekers worried about gaps in their resume might still have to deal with some pushback from hiring managers, but the market today has become more forgiving to such openings than it once was.<\p> According to a recent Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey, while 36% of hiring managers said they might be deterred by applicants' unexplained work gaps, the vast majority (95%) believe there are valid reasons to explain career gaps. The top reasons cited were health issues, staying home with a child, going back to school and caring for an elderly parent.<\p>
Running store to open in The Avenues
Fit 2 Run received a permit Tuesday for an approximately $262,500 build-out at The Avenues mall at 10300 Southside Blvd. in Jacksonville. <\p> According to permit records, Fit 2 Run will remodel an existing 4,042-square-foot mall space in the Simon Property Group mall for a new store.<\p>
Community benefits agreement sways voters, poll shows
The community benefits agreement portion of the Jacksonville Jaguars stadium deal sways many voters to support funding the billion-dollar project, according to a University of North Florida poll.<\p> A new poll from the Public Opinion Research Lab at UNF found registered voters in Duval County are supportive of the proposed agreement but are opposed to the level of public spending on the construction costs, which stands at $775 million of the $1.4 billion total. Respondents were largely persuaded by the addition of the community benefits agreement, which pledges another $150 million of city money as well as $150 million from the Jaguars to invest in the area around the stadium and across the county.<\p>
Vitalis acquires medical building in Jacksonville
Vitalis announced recently that it acquired a 30,165-square-foot medical outpatient building and surgery center at 8262 Point Meadows Drive in Jacksonville. <\p> The transaction closed on May 23 for a sales price of $12.05 million. It was acquired on a 15-year leaseback.<\p>
The AI boom is coming for these at-risk manager roles
For years, front-line workers have worried about automation taking their jobs. It may end up being middle managers who are most in danger.<\p> Companies are gaining access to new artificial-intelligence tools and capabilities at the same time many are re-assessing their operations in a challenging post-pandemic economic environment. That combination of potential new efficiencies and a desire for cost savings is putting management-level employees in the crosshairs.<\p>
Four Seasons, Mercedes-Benz among top construction
Approximately $337.9 million of work was approved across 816 permits for the eight-day period ending May 27. Removing 699 permits for single-family homes, townhouses, duplexes, mobile homes and condominiums leaves 117 permits totaling $263.2 million.<\p> Among the top permits for the period are:<\p>
Restaurateur looks to bring distinctive tastes to life near downtown
A restaurant near downtown that looks to bring together cuisines from Spain into the Middle East is targeting a summertime opening, bringing fresh seafood, baked bread, braised meats and distinct spices to an historic space on North Pearl Street.<\p> “There are so many common threads of food, culture and language to celebrate, that's what Othello is going to be about,” owner Vanesa Ewais told the Business Journal. “The southern part of the Mediterranean — there's more to it than just Greek and Italian food, and, hopefully, we can showcase some of that.”<\p>
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