City Notes
The Jacksonville Aviation Authority promoted Tony Cugno to Director of Aviation Management. Cugno’s new role covers the operational oversight of Jacksonville International Airport, Craig Airport and Herlong Airport. Cugno has been employed with the authority since 2002.
03/10/2010
• Speaking of the Aviation Authority, if you want to keep up with its four airports, now you can through JAA’s presence on Facebook and Twitter.
• At its meeting Tuesday, the City’s Professional Services Evaluation Committee approved the issuance of a Request for Proposals to study the feasibility of relocating the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair to Cecil Commerce Center. Better Jacksonville Plan Project Manager Dave Schneider told the committee the City is “trying to get the project to the point we can get permits and cost estimates,” which he predicted would top $30 million. Schneider said studies of the scope of the RFP typically cost “several hundred thousand dollars.”
• According to Doug Alred, race director of the Gate River Run, Saturday’s race should be a record-breaker. Alred is expecting 15,000 runners for the 15K race and 20,000 overall. There’s the 5K charity run, the adidas Junior River Run and a “Diaper Dash” for the kids.
• Speaking of the River Run, here are a few numbers to keep in mind: 12 bands along the 9.3-mile course, about 300 portable toilets, $80,000 in prize money and 70 kegs of Miller Genuine Draft Lite 64 calorie beer.
• In less than two weeks, the merger between Wachovia Bank, N.A. and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. will be complete. According to Wells Fargo, all transactions as of March 20 will be performed by Wells Fargo and that name will begin to appear on statements and trade confirmations.
• The City is reestablishing the Jacksonville Sports and Entertainment Board. On Monday, letters from Mayor John Peyton went out to Carl Cannon, Willie Gonzales, Ron Salem, Nancy Hogshead-Makar, Shannon Miller, Lonnie Marts and Michael Munz asking them to serve on the nine-member board. According to City spokesperson Ginny Walthour, Munz has already accepted.
• The Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce says that so far this year, 57 qualified prospects are looking at Northeast Florida for corporate expansions or relocations. Qualified means the projects are definitely considering the area. Two-thirds would be new to town, half are in manufacturing and 40 percent are international.
• Last year, the Chamber worked with 108 prospects. Of those, 16 announced plans, 43 remained active at year end, 39 were on hold and 10 “died,” the Chamber says. Of the dead deals, six canceled plans and the others chose sites in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah and Brazil.
• Duval County dominated by drawing 83 of the prospects last year as well as 13 of the 16 announced projects. The other three chose Clay, Nassau and Flagler counties.
• Staff of Jacksonville University, the host school for the Jacksonville Regional portion of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, is preparing to be floored by the event’s arrival on Monday. Normally the logos of the tournament are applied to the Arena hardwood prior to the start of the tournament, but this year the NCAA will be bringing its own court to the Arena.
