- December 16, 2025
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PRC adding 110 jobs
Call center management firm PRC said it is looking to double its current employment in Tampa by adding 110 positions over the next two months. The Plantation-based company has had a local center near Veterans Expressway for the last five years.
The hiring move is an indicator of PRC's growth as well as its continuing commitment to the Tampa Bay market, said Brian Russell, regional vice president of Central Florida operations. Local economic development officials are offering assistance in filling the positions.
PRC said it will provide training in interactive and communications technologies, along with competitive compensation and benefits. Applicants will be subject to a comprehensive background screening upon hire.
Evo's goes south
Evo's, a Tampa-based restaurant chain specializing in healthy fast food, has expanded into South Florida with the May 21 opening of its first location in Miami. Other locations are planned in Miami-Dade County over the next two to three years, with more openings possible in Broward and Palm Beach counties depending on the success of its first franchisee there.
Launched in 1994, Evo's offers reduced-fat items such as burgers, wraps and air-baked fries. It has only 10 locations since franchising began five years ago, with locations beyond Tampa including Atlanta, North Carolina and California.
Pill mill clampdown
Hillsborough County commissioners are attempting to close a loophole allowing so-called “pill mills” to operate. Under a new ordinance effective June 15, pain management clinics will be required to obtain a license from the county or face penalties up to a $500 fine or two months in jail.
The stopgap measure will work in conjunction with a new state law that requires physicians to register their clinics with the Florida Department of Public Health starting Oct. 1. Clinic employees and volunteers must also undergo criminal background checks. Law enforcement authorities told commissioners that Hillsborough County has a pattern of illegal drug use and distribution linked to pain management clinics. Undercover operations revealed that addicts and dealers from several states have been getting prescriptions from local sources.
Fewer distressed sales
A lower percentage of homes were sold in distress in the Fort Myers area in April, according to a Realtor group.
Conventional sales made up nearly 42% of residential home sales in April, according to the Realtor Association of Greater Fort Myers and the Beaches. That's a seven-percentage-point increase from 35% in the first quarter of this year. The remaining sales were bank-owned homes and short sales.
The sale of bank-owned properties fell 42% in April compared to the same month in 2009, the association reports. There were 1,019 bank-owned sales in April 2009 compared with 589 last month.
Lydian Bank expansion
Lydian Bank & Trust has hired three former executives from Bank of Florida's Trust Company to enter the Naples market.
The Palm Beach-based company has hired the former president of Bank of Florida's Trust Company, Scott Kellett, former senior vice president Kerry Edwards, and former client services officer Elizabeth Hackett for the expansion.
Lydian says it was attracted to the Collier County market because of the 50,000-millionaire households and the highest median family income in Florida.
“When analyzing Lydian's expansion throughout Florida, we identified Naples and Collier County as a natural fit given our business model and our sophisticated target audience,” said James Meany, Lydian Bank & Trust president and chief executive officer in a statement.
Outstanding retailer
The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade awarded The Sandy Butler one of six “outstanding retailers” of 2010.
The Fort Myers Beach food retailer and restaurant will receive the national award at a ceremony to be held at the Fancy Food show in New York City in June.
County cuts jobs
Manatee County officials recently laid off 60 employees in its ongoing effort to meet its lowered revenue projections.
The county has now eliminated more than 200 jobs since 2006. The departments that were impacted by the latest cuts include the library, public works and parks and recreation. But county officials say no department will be completely spared because more job cuts are expected in forthcoming months.
The county's budget for the current fiscal year is $487 million, down more than 10% percent from peak spending during the boom. Officials have already projected a shortfall of more than $24 million this year.
Property values fall
Sarasota County officials estimate that the 2010 total taxable value for property within the Sarasota city limits will be $7.3 billion, a decline of 10.78% from 2009.
City officials say the decrease will likely force the city to slash more than $5 million from next year's budget. These cuts would be in addition to the cuts of the last fiscal year, when the city's property values dropped 11.31% from the previous year.
Sarasota County is also primed to take a hit in total taxable property values. The county's property value numbers are projected to drop 9.77%, from $48.9 billion in 2009 to $44.6 billion in 2010.
The final numbers will be released July 1.
Stylish cities shine
American Style Magazine's 2010 list of the top 25 stylish small cities in the country included three from the Gulf Coast: Sarasota, Bradenton and Naples.
Sarasota had the top rating of the trio, going from 11th last year to fifth place in 2010. The city's numerous art museums and galleries and its commitment to promoting annual arts and culture festivals were mentioned in the ranking.
Naples, meanwhile, was ranked 14th on the list, eight spots ahead of Bradenton.
