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Orlando Business Journal
SunRail DeLand station gets opening date
SunRail has a date for when it plans to debut its DeLand station. <\p> The Orlando-based commuter rail system will have a grand opening for the 12.2-mile expansion on Aug. 9, with service to the station beginning Aug. 12, according to SunRail documents. Work on the $42.8 million project started back in May 2023.<\p>
Lake Nona's Boxi Park to get upgrades
Lake Nona's Boxi Park is getting some upgrades.<\p> Tavistock Development Co. is currently seeking a new use permit from the city of Orlando for the popular destination, which includes 12 repurposed shipping containers with a variety of food and drink concepts, as well as beach volleyball courts and a live entertainment venue. <\p>
Red Lobster announces next owner
Red Lobster Management LLC on July 22 filed its "designation of successful bidder" paperwork with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida in Orlando.<\p> The seafood chain's new owner will be RL Purchaser LLC, a stalking horse bidder made up of Red Lobster’s lenders, which proposed a $376 million bid. <\p>
Introducing OBJ's 2024 Golden 100
It's time to reveal Orlando Business Journal's 2024 Golden 100, Central Florida's largest privately held companies.<\p> Several surveyed businesses shared gross revenue and only the top are included in this yearly ranking. The list includes industries from construction, hospitality, technology and more, employing thousands in the region and bringing in billions of dollars in revenue.<\p>
IRS ERC moratorium could cost the agency billions
Efforts by the Internal Revenue Service to crack down on Employee Retention Credit fraud could cost the agency billions of dollars in interest payments.<\p> The IRS in an announcement in June said it had taken the time since its Sept. 14 moratorium on processing new ERC applications to analyze the more than 1 million ERC claims filed in 2023. Through that analysis, it found that between 60% and 70% of the applications showed an unacceptable level of risk.<\p>
Winter Park Health Foundation names new head executive
A former Orlando Economic Partnership staff member will lead the Winter Park Health Foundation.<\p> The Winter Park-based nonprofit organization announced July 22 it picked Nicholas Abrahams as its next president and CEO effective August 26. Abrahams takes over for retiring CEO Patricia Maddox, who led the organization since its founding in 1994.<\p>
Holocaust center names new CEO
Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida has hired an interim CEO after its prior executive left. <\p> The Maitland-based organization announced Emily Sterling will lead the nonprofit, with her first day being July 22. The move comes after prior CEO Talli Dippold left for a role with the Boston-based Holocaust Legacy Foundation, which also is building a museum. <\p>
Lynx gets $27.6M federal grant
Lynx just got a major grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. <\p> The Orlando-based Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority, which does business as Lynx, received $27.61 million from the U.S. Federal Transit Administration’s Low or No Emission Grant Program. <\p>
Popular beachside Brevard retail plaza sells
A popular retail and restaurant plaza on Brevard County's barrier island sold in July to a South Florida-based investor.<\p> Paradise Beach, a 34,815-square-foot strip mall at 2324 N. Highway A1A in Indialantic owned by attorney Michael Sapourn, sold for $6.75 million to 2324 MB LLC, a company tied to investor Shlomo Melloul of Dania Beach, according to county and state records.<\p>
Historic downtown Orlando building hits the market
A more than 100-year-old commercial building has been put up for sale in downtown Orlando. <\p> Built in 1923, the two-story, 4,380-square-foot historic Rose Building at 49 N. Orange Ave. is being marketed for $2.9 million, according to a listing from Avison Young's Nathan Eissler and Gunner Leslie. <\p>
AdventHealth shares new details on future Poinciana ER
AdventHealth is advancing plans to build a freestanding ER and medical office building in Poinciana. <\p> The Altamonte Springs-based health system has proposed a 17,585-square-foot emergency room with a 48,000-square-foot medical office building and a helipad on 8.643 acres at 4271 Pleasant Hill Road it bought from Johnson Springs RV Park in April for $5 million. <\p>
What is CrowdStrike? Details on company at heart of Microsoft outage
The global technology outage caused by a CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: CRWD) update pushed to Microsoft Windows rocked the global economy on Friday, disrupting airlines, hospitals, banks and an array of other businesses.<\p> While the company has resolved the underlying issue, recovery for many industries has been slow as systems come back online.<\p>
Mike Griffin's real estate career path influenced by Jeb Bush nod
This week's Florida Business Minds podcast features an in-depth discussion with Mike Griffin, vice chair and co-head of the Florida region for Savills, one of the world's largest real estate brokerage companies which also has an Orlando office. <\p> Sponsored by TECO Peoples Gas, the audio series features candid conversations with top business leaders from the Orlando, South Florida, Tampa Bay and Jacksonville regions.<\p>
Leaders' memories of the late Orlando Magic co-founder Pat Williams
Jason Siegel, who grew up in Philadelphia, said he considered Pat Williams as "Philly royalty" even before he met the Orlando Magic co-founder. <\p> Siegel, the CEO of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission, remembers one of his first long conversations with Williams — who died July 17 at age 84 — came after Joanie Schirm, who was World Cup Orlando 1994 bid and host committee chair, had asked if Siegel could come to her home in 2021. There sat Williams, who chatted for hours with Schirm and Siegel on a variety of topics, including his work to bring the Magic here and his quest to bring Major League Baseball to Orlando. <\p>
Orlando International Airport sees flight delays, cancellations
Editor's note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership with WFTV. Subscribers will see stories like this on our website and in our daily emails as an added value to your subscription.<\p> Flights from several major U.S. carriers, including Delta, United and American Airlines, have been grounded.<\p>
Businesses, agencies ramp up backup systems after global tech outage
The global technology outage caused by a CrowdStrike update pushed to Microsoft Windows devices impacted everything from airlines to banks Friday morning — and reinforced the need for companies to have procedures in place to handle disruptions when they occur.<\p> Systems were gradually coming back on line by late morning.<\p>
I-Drive entertainment group snags prominent marketing director
When Brittany Graham talks about influencers, she’s careful to point out that they are more than social media content creators. <\p> “The word ‘influencer’ has expanded," said the new marketing director for Live! at Pointe Orlando. "DJs, hosts and MCs all fall into that category because they make such an impact."<\p>
SeaWorld eyes huge 2025 expansion in Texas
Orlando-based United Parks & Resorts is pursuing the development of a new area at SeaWorld San Antonio that will span nearly 150,000 square feet and tout its animal rescue efforts, according to an initial filing with the state of Texas.<\p> The current filing refers to a “confidential project” including new construction and a renovation but few additional details. An earlier version of the filing included the name Rescue Jr.<\p>
Home of iconic Sanford sub shop gets new owner
A restaurant property best known as a host to a couple of popular sandwich shops in Sanford has sold, with the new owners saying another restaurant should fill the space soon.<\p> SBLX Group 2 LLC bought 2435 S. French Ave. for $795,000 on June 18, according to records from the Seminole County Property Appraiser.<\p>
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