Proponents are mixing a potent sales pitch that combines petro-dollars, patriotism and the prospect of thousands of new jobs in a struggling economy. But they also must combat the state’s $50 billion tourism industry, environmentalists and the U.S. Defense Department,…
Battling for Business Florida’s major business lobbies prepare for the Legislative Session By Gary Fineout In 2009, Florida’s unemployment rate zoomed past 11 percent and Florida’s businesses were hit hard by the recession. So when lawmakers kick off the…
Don Shula, now 80, quit coaching after the 1995 season, but during his 32 years on the NFL sidelines he learned many lessons that helped him successfully transition into a business career. A Conversation with Don Shula He holds…
I want to issue a challenge to you, the Northwest Florida reader of 850. Put your doubts aside. Don’t wonder if you are capable of posing a question to our state’s leader. This is an opportunity that the governor and…
St. Joe announces 2009 losses  JACKSONVILLE — The St. Joe Company on Tuesday announced a net loss of $130 million, or $1.42 per share, for 2009. That compares with a $35.9 million loss ($0.40 per share) for 2008. “In…
WEST BAY — The St. Joe Company (NYSE:JOE) today announced that it has entered into an agreement with CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc., the world’s largest commercial real estate services firm, to market for sale or lease more than 1,000…
DID YOU KNOW? There are 34,470 military retirees living in Okaloosa County, making up more than 20 percent of the county’s population. Military retirees have made the town of Crestview, which has grown by 40 percent since 2000, one of…
DID YOU KNOW? According to the Hass Center for Business Research and Economic Development, while the size of the total military force in the U.S. declined by 23.7 percent from 1975 to 2005, the military employment in Escambia County declined…
DID YOU KNOW? According to the Hass Center for Business Research and Economic Development, while the size of the total military force in the U.S. declined by 23.7 percent from 1975 to 2005, the military employment in Bay County actually…
DID YOU KNOW? According to the Hass Center for Business and Economic Development, defense spending in Florida comprises an estimated 7.5 percent of the state’s gross product. Northwest Florida is most heavily reliant on defense-related dollars, which represent nearly 35…
DID YOU KNOW? According to the Hass Center for Business and Economic Development, about 35 percent of Northwest Florida’s regional output is driven by defense spending, versus 18 percent for Northeast Florida, 5 percent for Central Florida and 3 percent…
Daddy’s Girl After working beside her father for decades, Michelle Styron has moved on from oil to real estate, with great success By Daniel Mutter As a little girl, she could be found in the back warehouse of Tate…
Woe, Christmas Tree Area Christmas tree farms persevere despite tough donditions and diminishing returns By Lilly Rockwell Farmer Bill Maphis spends his days worrying about trees. Specifically, whether the nine acres of Christmas trees on his Chipley farm…
On a Mission Helping sick and impoverished people around the world is a calling for Dr. David Keen By Lee Gordon Dr. David Keen has so many jobs that sometimes it’s hard to remember them all. He is the…
Kenny Knox’s Dream 18 Pro golfer Kenny Knox is your guide as you take a tour of his 18 favorite public golf holes in Northwest Florida By Linda Kleindienst and Daniel Mutter The day is mild, a gentle…
Tupelo Tango Drought, dredging, pests and disease haunt region’s tupelo honey industry By Jason Dehart Buzzing around the fields and flowers of Northwest Florida is a tiny economic dynamo, the most behind-the-scenes kind of worker you’ll find. The humble…
Young Independents Entrepreneurial spirit thrives in Phillip and Madra McDonald By Zandra Wolfgram Madra and Phillip McDonald grew up around the corner from one another in Miramar Beach, but they didn’t see each other until they applied for jobs…
Stepping Up Following the destruction wrought by Hurricane Ivan, Pensacola hopes to revitalize its economy with a new downtown Maritime Park By Jennifer Ewing Most recent visitors to the Pensacola area probably paid little heed to the Trillium site…
A Red Carpet All-Star Samantha Strickland brings fame to Florida Commerce By Daniel Mutter The TV reality show craze has given viewers the opportunity to see who is fastest at losing weight or racing around the world, how Jon…
Strength in Numbers From funeral directors to magazine publishers, professional associations represent the collective interests of their members — and provide a boost to Tallahassee’s economy By John Kennedy You don’t often use Washington, D.C., Chicago and Tallahassee in…
American Success Story At nearly 80 years old, family-owned Boyd Brothers Inc. is an example of good old-fashioned hard work and ingenuity By Wendy O. Dixon The year 1931 was not an ideal time to start a business. Investors…
Surf Dreams Trying to avoid a wipeout in the Panama City Beach surfing business By Tony Bridges Panama City Beach isn’t exactly known for its intense surfing action. Sure, there are some good, consistent swells off the jetty at St.…
Betty Castor, former state senator and Florida Education Commissioner, has joined Pennington, Moore, Wilkinson, Bell & Dunbar to launch the Center for Education Policy, an advocacy center for education. Sound Bytes: Our ear to the ground in the 850 Compiled…
In 1986, entrepreneur Rick Kearney left his job as a systems engineer for IBM, moved to Tallahassee and converted his own house into a homeless shelter. Standout CEO Has Focused on Philanthropic Efforts By Jennifer Ewing In 1986, entrepreneur…
Force Fields The economic influence of the military in Northwest Florida is undeniable — and in negotiations on everything from oil exploration to endangered species, it’s a component of our livelihood that should not be underestimated By SCOTT JACKSON It…
You’ve heard it before: "My life is on my smartphone." What you probably haven’t heard is this: If your employer provides that laptop, BlackBerry or iPhone, then you should have no expectation of privacy. The Intersection of Work & Life…
You’re trying to keep premiums at a minimum, but does your business have enough insurance protection? ChancesNot Worth Taking When did you last check your insurance coverage? Re-evaluate your policy now — before disaster strikes By Gary Fineout After…
As the legislative battle over oil drilling heats up, Dave Rauschkolb has called on fellow opponents to form a line in the sand —literally — to stop it. A Line in the Sand As the legislative battle over oil drilling…
Patents. Trademarks. Copyright. Learn how to protect your intellectual property. Protect Your Thoughts As competitiveness ramps up, learn how to put intellectual property protections to good use By Bill Hollimon As Florida and the rest of the country struggle…
Al Wenstrand, president of Florida’s Great Northwest, reflects on the military’s impact on the 850 region’s economic health. Married to the Military By President Al Wenstrand I’m pleased that 850 Magazine invited me as a guest columnist in the issue…
We would like to see some state economic development effort focused on the Northwest Florida area. Santa Rosa is a border county competing with a very aggressive neighbor state — Alabama — and we feel that the effort in attention…
He’s a hard-nosed litigator with a soft spot in his heart for the Special Olympics, a high-profile dealmaker who represents corporate giants such as Wal-Mart, Costco and McDonald’s — and "Girls Gone Wild" founder Joe Francis. The Deal-Maker: Rick Bateman,…
Florida home sales up again  By MICHAEL PELTIER | THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA TALLAHASSEE — Fueled by federal tax credits and low prices, existing home sales in Florida jumped 61 percent in November compared to a year ago,…
Lawmakers to hold job creation summit  By JOHN KENNEDY | THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA TALLAHASSEE — With the national recession going into a third year, House and Senate leaders Tuesday said they will hold a summit next month…
Northwest Florida Beaches Among Frommer's Top Destinations For 2010 DESTIN — Frommer's travel guide has named "Florida Panhandle Beaches" as one of its top destinations to visit in 2010. The region, also known as THE Beach, stretches for more than…
Second thoughts on unemployment tax hike By JOHN KENNEDY | THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA  TALLAHASSEE — Florida business groups are pressing lawmakers to stop a skyrocketing increase in the state’s unemployment compensation taxes, but are being told they…
Citizens high-risk rate increase approved  By MICHAEL PELTIER | THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA  TALLAHASSEE — Business and home owners living in high-risk areas and getting their insurance from state-run Citizens Property Insurance will see their rates increase…
Florida jobless rate holds steady  By Linda Kleindienst TALLAHASSEE — More than one out of every 10 Florida workers remained jobless in October as the state’s unemployment rate hit 11.2 percent. That means more than 1,027,000 workers out of…
Poll: Floridians not so jolly By MICHAEL PELTIER | THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA  TALLAHASSEE — Deluged by economic uncertainty — failing banks, stock market crashes, taxpayer bailouts and well publicized cases of investment manager fraud — four out…
Cabinet to Williams: Keep us better informed By MICHAEL PELTIER | THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA  TALLAHASSEE — Managers of the state’s $113.5 billion pension fund should have done a better job keeping Cabinet members informed of an ongoing…
Florida home sales continue to rise as prices remain low By JOHN KENNEDY | THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA  TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s plunging home prices sent sales soaring over the three months ending in September, the fifth straight quarter…
Oystermen say they're getting a raw deal By DAVID ROYSE | THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA  TALLAHASSEE — As oyster industry officials from Northwest Florida headed to Washington Monday to try to head off a proposed ban on summer…
Erin VanSickle, former communications director for the Republican Party of Florida, has joined Jerry Paul and Rob Wilson to form Capital Energy Communications LLC. The company will provide strategic communications services combined with energy policy and legislative expertise. Sound Bytes:…
In 2007, Tallahassee City Commissioner Andrew Gillum brought several businesses and organizations together to establish the Digital Harmony Program. Today, with the help of the school system and members of the Tallahassee business community, the program is scaling new heights.…
The business of renewable energy, especially in the 16 counties of Northwest Florida, is going through some awkward growing pains. Growing Pains The Panhandle’s renewable-energy business sector might have to come to grips with its own limitations By Jason Dehart…
With more and more Northwest Florida companies establishing international contacts and setting up export or import businesses, it’s important that travelers prepare for healthy travel abroad. Have Health, Will Travel Business taking you abroad? Forget about the solar PDA charger…
In this climate, the small and medium-size businesses that make up the bulk of the Northwest Florida economy have the most to lose. An Enemy Among Us Increasingly, small businesses are finding themselves victimized by those they trust the most…
The economic slump hasn’t done much for your business, your employees haven’t received raises, and morale is pretty much going down the drain. What do you do to lift spirits and encourage your employees to keep working hard and going…
Instead of responding to e-mail as it comes in, these experts suggest setting aside a daily block of time for e-mail. And even consider — gasp — turning your e-mail off completely. Your Business, Unplugged Productivity experts say minimizing use…
While the current national recession has taken its toll on us here in the Panhandle, just like it has hurt people throughout Florida, I am confident we will ultimately weather the storm and, for a variety of reasons, weather it…
