Getting Northwest Florida MovingBusy Ports, A Giant New Airport and Plans for More Roads Are Helping Open Up the Panhandle to the Wider WorldBy Linda Kleindienst It began with foot trails – narrow paths winding through the grassy savannahs,…
Power PlayerGulf Power CEO Susan Story Has Emerged as a Statewide Leader on Economic Development, Education, Energy and Taxation Issues By Gary Fineout For the past two years, Susan Story has been building her retirement home on a sliver…
No New Taxes in Special Session  By Michael Peltier | The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE – Higher taxes on cigarettes, alcohol or just about anything else will be off the table next week when lawmakers return to battle the state’s $2.3…
FREEPORT — Landowner Jolly Bay LLC has sued Walton County seeking to reverse the county commission’s decision to deny its project. The planned development, which would include a recreational vehicle park, a bed & breakfast, a 73-unit condominium, a…
TALLAHASSEE — Service-disabled veterans are being added to the groups of minority business the state assists through the Department of Management Services’ Office of Supplier Diversity. Gov. Charlie Crist signed House Bill 687 in June to create the Florida Service-Disabled…
TALLAHASSEE — Army veteran Andrew Wyatt credits Florida State University’s Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities with jump-starting his career after he was wounded in Iraq. “I am sitting in front of an ocean of business cards from some of…
ATLANTA — The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced that certain private, non-profit organizations (PNPs) that do not provide critical services of a governmental nature may be eligible to apply for low interest rate disaster loans. These loans are available…
JACKSONVILLE — The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE) today announced a net loss for the third quarter 2008 of $(19.2) million, or $(0.21) per share, compared to a Net Loss of $(6.8) million, or $(0.09) per share, for the third…
For the first time in almost three years, Florida’s existing home sales rose in September, a 24 percent increase in activity in the year-to-year comparison; last month’s sales of existing condos statewide increased 11 percent in the year-to-year comparison, according…
DESTIN — Florida’s Great Northwest Inc. is ready to pump $1.75 million into programs that will help develop a high-paid, skilled workforce for the region. The private, non-profit organization is comprised of county and local economic development groups, workforce development…
PENSACOLA – Using information technology to bring down the cost of health care – and improve the delivery of medical services – will be the focus of the second annual Strategic Health Intelligence Summit hosted by the Pensacola Bay Area…
TALLAHASSEE — Homes & Land announced on Wednesday that it will begin to offer its Realtor® advertisers featured listings on Yahoo! Real Estate. With this new ad package, Homes & Land Realtors are able to promote specific homes as featured…
St. Joe Cancels Sale of Conservation Land   JACKSONVILLE — The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE) early Tuesday announced that a contract for the sale of 67,365 acres of non-strategic rural conservation land in Liberty, Jefferson, Gulf and Franklin Counties has…
GARY FINEOUT Fineout has lived in North Florida for 25 years. He has worked for various newspapers, including The Miami Herald, Tallahassee Democrat, The News-Journal of Daytona Beach and the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group. His work has also…
Regional Economic Development OrganizationsFlorida’s Great Northwest Economic development organization serving 16 counties from Pensacola to Tallahassee. Provides leadership in workforce and economic development with goal of creating high-wage, high-skill jobs, branding and marketing and supporting local economic development organizations. floridasgreatnorthwest.com…
850: By the Numbers Population 1.3 million people in 2007 – about 7.3 percent of the state – an increase of more than 11,000 from 2006. Almost half of the population’s age is less than 35. More than two-thirds are…
Do you have business news to share? Send us an e-mail at editor@850businessmagazine.com or fax your letter, press release or other news to (850) 656-1871. We also accept your business news for our corridor SoundBytes sections. Information on mergers, acquisitions,…
Want to Ask Charlie Crist a Question? 850 editor Linda Kleindienst meets quarterly with Governor Crist to ask the questions at the top of your list. E-mail your inquiries for the governor to editor@850businessmagazine.com and look in our upcoming issues…
Media Communication Savvy Provide only your information. Know what is yours to share. That doesn’t mean you’re withholding information. You’re just telling the story you own. If you’re asked a question and your only source of information to provide an…
Passion, dedication, and creativity. Those are just a few words that describe the C2U (Committed to You) philosophy at Florida Commerce Credit Union. Blended with the national credit union credo of “people helping people,” this philosophy led to FCCU’s Commit-a-thon…
Notable business news in the Emerald Coast Corridor. Focus on the Economy DESTIN – A regional leadership conference on how to stimulate economic activity in the Northwest Florida market will be held at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in…
Having an emergency plan in place is essential to getting back on track following a natural disaster. By Jason Dehart Preparing Your Business for SurvivalPlan Ahead When Storms are NearBy Jason Dehart According to the Insurance Information Institute, more…
Lino Maldonado, vice president of ResortQuest, has lived in Northwest Florida for more than 25 years, and he still can’t get enough. By David Demarest The Serious Business of VacationingLino Maldonado works to bring visitors to the Gulf CoastBy David…
Business owners throughout the Gulf Coast, have not only survived – they have rebuilt and thrived, despite the destruction of recent hurricanes. The question is, how? By Catherine McNaught Weathering the StormPanhandle business owners bounce back quickly from nature’s worstBy…
Florida’s Panhandle is poised for substantial growth – but will there be enough trained workers to make it happen? Helping solve that problem is H. Britt Landrum Jr. By Sheryl Grace Grimes People HunterH. Britt Landrum has made a…
Notable business news in the Bay Corridor. Help for Chipley Kids and Business CHIPLEY – The engineering management firm of PBS&J, with funding through The PBSJ Foundation Inc., recently presented a $5,000 donation to the North Central Panhandle Education Foundation…
He is one of the most powerful and influential men in the Panhandle. A leader and visionary, L. Charles “Charlie” Hilton Jr. came from nothing and created an empire.The Man Behind the PowerL. Charles Hilton Jr., Businessman and Civic LeaderBy…
Banking and insurance will be essential to the growth of the Florida Panhandle, and helping make those available for that growth is Anthony DuBose.Anthony DuBose Goes CoastalJackson County native emerges as leader in Bay Banking and insurance will be…
Six years after the plan was first put to paper, the outline of a new international airport finally is taking shape in the piney woods of western Bay County. By Tony Bridges ‘Aerotropolis’ Under ConstructionInternational airport to open in 2010By…
Chad Terhune, it means having a chance to live where he wants to and still conduct business on a national level – via telecommuting. By Jason Dehart Give Me Pink Sky and Wi-FiAward-winning business journalist Chad Terhune leaves behind the…
Notable business news in the Forgotten Coast Corridor. Apalachicola Scores History, Technology APALACHICOLA – A new museum will showcase and preserve Apalachicola’s maritime history. Established by George Floyd, whose family has long roots in the area, the museum offers tours…
Facts and figures about oysters. Oysters: Economic Pearls Number of oystermen: 1,164 Size of public oyster “bars”: 7,000 acres Private leased bars: 600 acres Dollar value: $15 a bag (current as of 09/08) The total commercial fishing industry in the…
The passing of William J. “Billy Joe” Rish leaves an empty place in the lives of his family and friends, but this crusader for the common man will always be remembered for his strong Christian leadership. By Jason DehartStatesman, Leader,…
For 18 years now, the states of Florida, Georgia and Alabama have wrangled over how water is distributed throughout the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system. A reduced amount of freshwater flow is now having a serious effect on the Apalachicola River and…
Notable business news in the Capital Corridor FSU Keeps Growing TALLAHASSEE — Florida State University’s new 47,000-square-foot Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center, slated for completion in fall 2009, will feature a large auditorium, banquet hall, classrooms,…
The HondaJet can fly to all commercial airports, of course, but can also fly into more than 10,000 general aviation centers. By Jason DehartThe Civic of the SkyBy Jason Dehart Probably nobody outside the field of aeronautical engineering knows what…
In an interview conducted via IM on Yahoo! Messenger, Newspaperclips.com communications director Jaimi Wacksman explains how she effortlessly blends business, work, pleasure and enriches her community. By Rosanne Dunkelberger Civic-Minded EntrepreneurJaimi Wacksman effortlessly blends business, work, pleasure and enriches her…
Retired newspaper publisher Carrol Dadisman sat down with 850 Magazine to discuss the state of the newspaper business today – and what any business can learn from its challenges. By Rosanne Dunkelberger A Perfect StormCarrol Dadisman – retired publisher of…
Flightline Group’s HondaJet Southeast dealership already has many sales contracts in hand for its new advanced jet, built by a company known more for its fuel-efficient cars than aviation. By Jason Dehart Honda Takes to the Skies in TallahasseeDealership opens…
As Director of the Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development, Dale Brill finds thrill in his work and in helping people find their corporate stride. By Tisha Crews KellerFast Ball: Dale Brill, Ph.D.Director, Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic…
Regular business travel can be a grind, so here are some expert tips to help you beat the holiday business traveling blues. By Rosanne Dunkelberger When Business Travel Meets the Holiday RushBy Rosanne Dunkelberger Regular business travel can be a…
How to get your hands on: the Slingbox, the new BlackBerry, a $120,000 shotgun, a rare single malt, the perfect pocket camera, a handy translator, and a sharp watch. By Tisha Crews Keller By Tisha Crews Keller SLOW SIPPIN’ Brora…
The topic of job stress is a growing area of study and one that managers in Northwest Florida and across the country are working to understand. By Triston V. Sanders The ROI of Stress ReductionThink productivity and profitability returns when…
What do you do when the senior executive (and often the founder) suddenly dies or is no longer able to function as the leader or simply wants to step down? By Paul NormanAre You Prepared for Departure?Preparing for your (untimely)…
If there is one thing that strikes fear in the heart of a businessperson, it’s a notice from the Internal Revenue Service saying it is about to conduct an audit of the business. By Gary R. Crum When the Tax…
Your company's next crisis could be legal, political, industrial or financial. Whatever the cause, having a plan for communication can lessen the trauma. By Joyce ChastainSpilling ItYour mantra: Tell it all, tell it fast and tell the truthBy Joyce Chastain…
Gov. Charlie Crist tells 850 that he sees great potential in Northwest Florida despite the nation's economic woes. The area's greatest assets? Its beaches, wide open spaces and people. Its challenges? Thinking like a region. By Linda Kleindienst and Maria…
850 Magazine recently reached out and asked some of the region’s leaders – Rick Marcum, Mel Ponder, Jerry M. Ray, Ray Sansom, Susan Story and Al Wenstrand – about what the future holds for Northwest Florida. By Gary FineoutArchitects of…
