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Results for:

  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Matt Walsh |
  • October 2, 2020
2020 Election Recommendations: The amendments

As always, many of the proposed constitutional amendments sound good. But they aren’t.

  • Opinion
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Beth Luberecki |
  • October 11, 2019
Firm turns complicated data into revenue streams

Harnessing the power of data means big growth potential for Fort Myers firm.

  • Technology
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Matt Walsh |
  • February 27, 2015
Republicans could go all out, but they won't

You know the old joke: Starting Tuesday, March 3, hold on to your wallets. Florida's annual legislative session begins.

  • Opinion
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Matt Walsh |
  • July 7, 2025
Historic, yes; could be better

Credit Speaker Perez and his House colleagues for finally reining in spending. But there are still political gimmicks and pet projects in the budget.

  • Opinion
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Lesley Dwyer |
  • July 16, 2025
Manatee receives threat of litigation over increased impact fees

Freedom Housing Alliance Inc. says the impact fee increase — it could go from $13,442 for a house to more than $33,000 — violates state statute.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • By Elizabeth King |
  • March 13, 2026
$5 million Sarasota-Manatee pet retail business starts franchising

The franchise market for retail dog food and toys is lucrative. Entrepreneurs — and passionate dog parents — Rob and Linda Emery enter it with a litter full of in-the-field experience.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • June 19, 2008
Coffee Talk

Continental Airlines jets out of Sarasota: Talk about the high price of gas.What's behind Riverside Bank shakeup?: The shakeup at Riverside Bank of the Gulf Coast in Cape Coral is not because of pressure from banking regulators, Elmer Tabor, the bank's chairman, assures Coffee Talk.Tampa real estate market seen as deals and steals: Tampa-area Realtors might want to grab a copy of the June 23 issue of Fortune magazine for office framing.Early Father's Day present for Gulf Coast money manager: Money manager Robert Stovall has just about seen and done it all in his 50-year plus career in the stock marketsBanks sell more loans to clean up books: As a way to strengthen their books, some Gulf Coast banks are selling more non-performing commercial loans, sometimes at a discount, to get the loans off of their bookshe Heights shifts to commercial: The Heights, a 50-acre mixed-use redevelopment project along the Hillsborough River just north of downtown Tampa, has delayed its residential work and will instead focus on the office portion of the project first.Riverwalk project gets a boost: Tampa entrepreneur, chief executive and real estate veteran Brenda Doring recently brought a local industry group into the effort to improve downtown.WCI's next big date: Aug. 5 and $125 million: Bonita Springs-based homebuilder WCI Communities is going to face its biggest test this summer on Aug. 5.Landowners seek hotel deals on empty l

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • June 27, 2008
Coffee Talk

+ I'll take the Obama girl dress: It's called the Tank Leaf Print dress, but Chico's FAS should rename it The Michelle Obama dress. Or come next year, maybe the White House dress.+ Quick I-75 relief comes from hard work, luck: Thousands of commuters and drivers in northern Manatee County were happy, relatively speaking, to be back on the road heading southbound on Interstate 75 to start the workweek June 23.+ Infinity acquisition comes through the Review pages: Dale Ott decided about 10 months ago that his Sarasota-based technology-consulting firm, Vitil Solutions, was getting too big and unwieldy.+ WCI Communities: An Icahn transaction?: In a recent filing for Bonita Springs-based WCI Communities, Carl Icahn says he may enter into a "transaction" with the builder.+ Accountant fights in Washington D.C.: It might only have been five minutes, but Bradenton accountant Byron Shinn didn't hold anything back when he got a chance to speak before a U.S Congressional committee about challenges facing small businesses.+ Getting 245 mpg electric in Clearwater: Gulf Coast residents have heard a lot about electric cars, but they haven't been easy to find.Going green in St. Pete: Part environmental, part marketing, whatever the motivation, the green trend seems here to say.GULF COAST UNEMPLOYMENT RATEFort Myers area sees no foreclosure letup: The Cape Coral-Fort Myers area registered the nation's second-highest foreclosure

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • November 14, 2008
Coffee Talk

+ The first change:A run on gunsBusiness has soared in the past month and a half at Shoot Straight, a chain of Florida gun shops in Tampa, Casselberry and Apopka.+ The list no onewants to be onCoStar Group, the firm that tracks commercial real estate on the Gulf Coast, recently highlighted a list of the largest problem loans in the country.+ Global construction firmlikes local marketA Portuguese-based international construction giant is entering the Gulf Coast market - and thanks to the industry slump it's doing so at a heavy discount, by buying a $100 million Manatee County company for $33.7 million. + New retailers stillstream to the Gulf CoastIt may turn out to be a dreadful holiday shopping season, but that doesn't mean new retailers have given up on the Gulf Coast.+ Entrepreneur findsright market, right timeJohn Barry had no idea how clairvoyant he was three years ago when he set out to launch his own global bonds information business from Sarasota.+ Hurricane Charleynot ancient historyIt's been four years since Hurricane Charley blew through the Gulf Coast, but we are reminded of its lingering impacts on so many businesses even today. + Rebuilt, rebranded, reborn,renamed ChappellRobertsThe transfer of ownership and authority at Tampa's Roberts Communications finished going full circle this month.+ Going green goesthe world of GoogleJust when you thought you'd heard everything

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • July 23, 2004
Marquee's Maker

As construction starts on the Marquee en Ville, Sam Hamad turns his attention to Sarasota's Main Street and a new 15-story condominium building.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • October 24, 2003
Ahead of the Wave

Transplanted British developer Derick Coles sees rising British investment and immigration coming to Florida. His New Horizons' clients are bringing $500 million a year into Florida.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Grier Ferguson and Mark Gordon |
  • February 5, 2021
Homebuyers from Tampa to Naples increasingly arrive from new states

California and Texas top the list of states that aren’t traditionally feeder markets where more area buyers are coming from.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Brian Hartz |
  • November 30, 2018
The story of here: Communities embrace narrative, culture as key planning criteria

Creative placemaking is a property development strategy based on the inclusion of art and cultural assets as a fundamental part of the process, and its results are on full display in the Tampa Bay, Florida, region.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • September 21, 2018
Loans rise at area community banks

Executives at five banks in the region share the why behind their loan growth.

  • Finance
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • October 30, 2008
Corporate Report

Former Wild Oats CEO Maysto lead Source Interlink Cos.CPC of America picks BC Techto make new medical devicesOrthopedic Development Corp.files suit against ex-distributorMIVA reaches content dealwith AccuWeather.comBrown & Brown Inc.increases dividendConcession club rated ninthin Golfweek's top 100 listSarasota CVB picks Rocca forGerman, Scandinavian outreachWalter Industries board toissue new quarterly dividendFifth Third picks Call to headS. Florida bank operationsIllum Productions to provide animation for "9 to 5" showL-3 to provide flight recording systems for AirbusBritish gas grill maker movesU.S. division to Sarasota

  • Industries
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • May 14, 2010
Serious Action

John Lemp built a $120 million company in eight years — in a place not exactly known for technology gazelles. Despite the doubters, he predicts much more growth to come.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • June 30, 2021
Car rental giant officially exits bankruptcy with one question: will it survive long-term?

Hertz leaves bankruptcy with about $5 billion in debt gone, with a $2.8 billion credit line and $7 billion in financing for its vehicle inventory

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • July 15, 2021
Music Man in the Boardroom

Johnny Crowder balances running a tech start up that offers mental health support and life on the road as frontman of a heavy metal band

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Kevin McQuaid |
  • August 18, 2021
Multifamily momentum mows down other sectors

Apartment deals once again rule top commercial real estate sales through the first half of 2021.

  • Commercial Real Estate
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Matt Walsh |
  • June 10, 2021
Opinion: Time's up for public education

Employers’ struggles with a lack of workers and the quality of those hired stem from the actions of the State. To turn the tide, think of this: all private education.

  • Opinion
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