Press Release: U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke Announces $2 Million Investment to Create Jobs, Strengthen Economy in Pensacola, Florida EDA Grant Expected to Create 670 Jobs and Generate $27 Million in…
Category: News
Pratt may try one more time on pensions
One of the big issues during the 2008 city election season was the city pensions – which are costing about $14 million a year to fund. Councilwoman Diane Mack has tried to…
CMP developer responds
Scott Davison of Maritime Park Developers called in response to Judge Lacey Collier comments yesterday at the Pensacola City Council committee meeting and my subsequent blog post. He categorically denied asking that…
Consolidation Special Advisory Committees set
SPECIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Charles Wood Elected Chairman; Meeting to be set at in next two weeks Pensacola Junior College: Dr. June Line Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce: Charles…
What is Frank Lay thinking?
The daily newspaper has a front page report on Pace High School principal, Frank Lay, speaking out against the School District’s policy that limits graduation speakers from the student body to only…
Oops, Mobile port is losing money
The Mobile Press Register is reporting that Alabama State Port Authority has reported that state docks operations lost $3.6 million in April as revenue fell in most areas. The docks had budgeted…
Richburg challenges firing
The president of Northwest Florida State College, Bob Richburg, is challenging his firing—claiming that the board committed a breach of contract when it fired Richburg on April 28. Richburg has been charged…
Collier says CMP developer may be playing the Council
Today, the Pensacola City Council debated the agreements of the Community Maritime Park. CMP developer, Scott Davidson, has been working the council members individually over the weekend trying to convince them that…
Storm surcharge drops off Gulf Power bill
Press release: A surcharge used for hurricane repairs will be dropped from Gulf Power bills starting in July. The electric utility will stop collecting the $2.57 per 1,000 kilowatt-hours fee that was…
Pensacola airport boarding down 17 percent
The Panama City News Herald is reporting that the Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport has been hit hard by the recession. While the airport still has more boardings than either Panama City…
Economic Development update
From Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce: # $2,000,000 – We received confirmation late last night from the US Economic Development Administration that we have been awarded $2 million toward the construction…
Pratt tackles pensions and benefits
Pensacola City Councilwoman Megan Pratt has posted on her website her recommendations for city pensions and benefits. She has reviewed the plans from Gulf Power, Baskerville-Donovan, O’Sullivan Creel, Escambia County, and others…
Little more on 2008 Mobile successes
I found a copy of the 2008 Mobile Chamber annual report (anlrpt). The majority of Mobile’s 2008 economic development expansions were with local shipbuilders: Atlantic Marine, Austal USA, C&G Boatworks, Evonik Degussa,…
Chamber behind Mobile success
Commissioner Gene Valentino and his PR person, Jane Birdwell, make much of the Mobile success story. Mobile outshines Pensacola in the economic development arena. I wouldn’t want to live there but there…
Miller and Payne try to take out Cronley
The day after the November 17 Enterprise Operations Committee meeting, Airport Director Frank Miller and Asst. City Manager Robert Payne focused on how to discredit Jim Cronley who spoke out against the…
IN investigation of the Airport Hotel deal
The two primary negotiators of the Airport Hotel Lease are gone – Frank Miller and Robert Payne. In December 2008, IN paid $187.16 to get copies of the city emails concerning the…
Buzz: Rumors flying about County Complex
State Attorney’s office is questioning county employees and others about possible Sunshine Law violations by Commissioner Gene Valentino. Jane Birdwell is trying to convince people that the Comm. Valentino was the winner…
Whatburger closes 14 FL stores
The Corpus Christi, Texas-based Whataburger company is closing 14 of its Central Florida locations. About 400 people will lose their jobs. Whataburger has been in the Pensacola area for over 40 years…
McCollum speech on violence in the black community
Attorney General Bill McCollum spoke today at the National Conference on Preventing Crime in the Black Community that is being held in Jacksonville. Last year’s conference brought 1,600 participants. The conference is…
Jamal Lee case thrown out
No good witnesses….and the statements given by witnesses were too inconsistent to allow the case to proceed, according to Judge Linda Nobles. Lee was to go on trial for the murder of…