- October 14, 2024
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County transfers manager
The Sarasota County purchasing department manager will be transferred to another position within the county's financial planning department, county officials say.
The manager, Jennifer Slusarz, becomes the latest of at least seven employees who have lost a position due to an ongoing investigation on the county's purchasing procedures. County Administrator Jim Ley, who announced the transfer of Slusarz April 28, says the county will recruit a new purchasing manager.
The issues in the department began to surface in March after a project manager was arrested for allegedly taking bribes from a contractor. Six employees from the department have since been fired or resigned.
Firm plans expansion
A Bradenton-based technology re-seller firm plans to expand, including hiring 38 employees over the next five years.
The firm, xByte Technologies, currently has 20 employees. If it grows to the projected 58 employees by 2016, it will receive $76,000 in incentives from Manatee County.
“Sales are up in 2011,” xByte's Chief Operating Officer Stephen Jaynes says in a press release. “Our current warehouse is maxed out, and we are looking now for a larger facility. As we grow, we'll be adding employees throughout the organization.”
Originally known as The Old Store Inc., xByte first came to Manatee County in 2003. It changed its name in August to reflect a new focus on technology refurbishing.
City considers increase
The Sarasota City Commission will consider a raise in the local business tax imposed on any firm based in city limits.
A state law allows municipalities to raise that tax by up to 5% every two years. So if the city foregoes an increase for 2012-2013, it will have to wait until 2014 to consider another increase. The commission was scheduled to debate the issue at a May 3 meeting.
Bank seeks to expand
The Bank of Tampa is looking to branch out across the bay with its first office in Pinellas County.
The $1 billion community bank, which currently has nine offices in Hillsborough County, will open a branch in St. Petersburg and possibly open a second branch in Pinellas by the end of next year. Bank executives say they awaited the passing of the recession before making the move.
Harris opens office
Harris Corp., a Melbourne-based information technology company largely known for defense contracts, opened a Tampa office at 4890 W. Kennedy Blvd.
The Tampa office, which has five employees, will support local defense clients including U.S. Central Command and Special Operations Command, both at MacDill Air Force Base.
Many of Harris' local clients work with the U.S. Department of Defense or national intelligence agencies.
Valued at $6 billion, Harris provides communications services related to intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, tactical communications and information technology. The company has 6,500 employees in Florida.
Super Bowl finalist
Tampa is a finalist, along with Glendale, Ariz., to host Super Bowl XLIX in 2015, the National Football League confirmed. Formal bid packages to host the game are due Aug. 1, with NFL owners deciding the host city in October.
After losing out to New York/New Jersey for the 2014 Super Bowl, Tampa was invited by the NFL to submit a new bid for the following year. Tampa has hosted Super Bowls in 1984, 1991, 2001 and 2009.
Next year's Super Bowl will be in Indianapolis, followed by New Orleans in 2013.
Fox expands to Canada
Fox Electronics, a Fort Myers-based manufacturer of electronic components, is expanding to Quebec, Canada.
Fox makes critical components for computers, cell phones and other electronic devices. The company reported $25 million in revenues in 2010, up 8.5% compared with 2009.
The company hired Ross Weiss as its vice president of North America sales. Prior to joining Fox, Weiss was president and majority shareholder of John G. Weiss Company, a Canadian manufacturers' representative.
More HMA acquisitions
Health Management Associates, a Naples-based hospital operator, continues its recent string of acquisitions.
In the latest deal, Catholic Health Partners announced it was negotiating exclusively with HMA to sell seven east Tennessee hospitals from its subsidiary, Mercy Health Partners Tennessee.
HMA did not disclose the terms of the deal and location or number of hospital beds. Currently, the company operates 60 hospitals with about 9,000 beds in non-urban areas of the U.S.
In the first quarter, HMA reported net income of $62 million, a 16% increase over the same quarter in 2010. In that same period, revenue grew 13% to $1.4 billion. HMA's stock is publicly traded (symbol, HMA; recent stock price, $11.41).
Commercial building lags
Commercial construction in Lee County continues to lag as vacant offices, shops and warehouses weigh on the market.
The Lee County Department of Community Development issued three permits in April for commercial buildings totaling $518,365. That compares with commercial permits valued at $7.7 million in April 2010.
Construction of single-family homes appears stable. Lee County issued permits for 30 single-family homes in April, the same number as the same month a year ago. In addition, the county permitted two multi-family homes, down from four in April 2010.
