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Results for:

  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Louis Llovio |
  • December 22, 2022
Dunedin hotel for Toronto Blue Jays players gets $14M in financing

A Tampa company with more than 100 years of experience in the hospitality sector plays a key role in a major-league hotel project.

  • Commercial Real Estate
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • March 9, 2007
Nailing it In

The 200-year-old nail industry isn't exactly a high-tech magnet. That hasn't stopped a trio of Gulf Coast entrepreneurs determined to hammer the industry with innovation.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • March 4, 2005
Urban Revival

Sarasota and Bradenton downtowns face a resurgence: What does it take to make a world-class shopping destination?

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Adam Hughes |
  • May 29, 2006
Come Sail Away

Few lenders were willing to fund a new business designed to sell art via a yacht docking in wealthy cities. Support ultimately came when the company known for bulldozers and cranes climbed aboard.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • April 18, 2008
'A Horror Show'

An Ohio business owner nearly jumped at the chance to move most of his $15 million company to the Gulf Coast. Now he'd jump for just about anything else.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Matt Walsh |
  • July 16, 2010
Here's our chance: Elect business competence

The media and Bill McCollum are pounding on Rick Scott's Medicare record. But the totality of his record clearly puts him on top.

  • Opinion
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • August 30, 2013
Will to Win

From sawdust to sweaters, Judith Williams has an unbridled energy to sell it. She also has one of a business owners' most potent weapons: She's fearless.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • June 22, 2012
Carpet Ride

Rufus Ashby scrambled to survive the recession. He made tough moves, including a major downsizing of his flooring and carpet business. Now, armed with a new financial backer, he finally sees better days.

  • Industries
  • By Elizabeth King |
  • January 28, 2026
Manatee County reopens Bradenton EDC partnership talks

A new contract from the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corp. could be presented in March.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Grier Ferguson |
  • March 26, 2021
Pet food company aims to increase sales through in-store recommendations

Tampa-based premium pet food company Better Choice Co.'s brands include Halo Pet Food and TruDog.

  • Strategies
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Beth Luberecki |
  • November 27, 2025
Sarasota County resort blends old with new in $1.5M double-storm recovery

To recover from the 2024 storm season, Manasota Beach Club is blending the tried-and-true with the modern-day.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • March 14, 2008
Coffee Talk

For Sale: Fort Myers City Hall: City Hall is for saleBroker goes 'green' with incentives: Diane Lawson, a commercial real estate broker and developer with Sarasota-based Abbey Realty & Management, is especially keen on green for St. Patrick's Day this year.Tribridge grows through acquisition: Tampa-based Tribridge started 10 years ago as a firm that helped companies make better use of technologyChico's new blame: Foreclosures in key statesGold Coast taps another beer:One of the Gulf Coast's largest beer distributors has won a small victory in the area's beer battles by buying the rights to sell Rolling Rock beer in Sarasota and Manatee counties from a competitor.Laser brings design into focus: The Tampa office of planning, engineering and surveying firm Wade Trim is betting on the future buy using a high-tech measurement tool that may become an industry norm.Naples attorney defends National Century execs: Naples attorney Brian Dickerson has been spending a lot of time in Ohio. He may be there for a while and it's not because he's snowed in.

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • June 19, 2008
Commercial Real Estate Briefs

Safe-Start Inc. changes Fort Myers warehouseCollex Collision Experts buys Cape Coral repair shopAssociates in Cosmetic Surgery buys back buildingInvestors buy, renovate former D&W buildingFP&L buys 8 acres for Manasota Industrial substationDoctors Hospital plans medical office scheduled to open in July Stuart S. Golding Co. renovates building for V.A.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • October 16, 2008
Coffee Talk

Economy rainson home paradeThe economic downturn is raining on the fall parade of homes.un Hydraulics founder,plant innovator, diesRobert Koski, the co-founder of Sarasota-based Sun Hydraulics who pioneered flat corporate hierarchies long before the idea became corporate dogma, died Oct. 11. He was 79.Super visiting time,just in timeThe Gulf Coast is getting ready to host the Super Bowl in February and just in time for the game and its visitors, the new 255-room, 16-story Westin Hotel will open its doors on Tampa's Courtney Campbell Causeway, just west of the Hyatt.Sarasota group aimsfor elected in mayorA plan to create an elected mayor system of government, albeit in a watered down plan, is coming back to Sarasota.dvertising firmsupset with EDCsShould economic development groups hire local marketing firms?Dear Joy:Gendusa gives adviceYou can't fault Joy Gendusa for not taking the personal approach.Fort Myers airportgets more destinationsAirlines keep trimming service at airports around the country, but Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers is getting three new airline destinations this winter, according to Bob Ball, the airport's director.

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • November 28, 2008
Coffee Talk

+ Homer's wine fest:Dough for D'oh!This awful year in business can pretty much be summed up with one word: D'oh!+ Obama electioncould help Largo firmGeoPhama, a Largo pharmaceuticals maker, is hopeful that the new Obama presidency will be good for the company, which is seeking government approval for breakthrough drugs, including an ovarian cancer detection device - the president-elect's mother died of ovarian cancer.+ Melting Potneeds a wheelbarrowPlenty of business awards are given out each year on the Gulf Coast.+ Naples to hostventure forumContrary to what you might have read, venture capital hasn't disappeared. It's probably sitting in T-bills waiting for the right opportunity.+ Tampa scorecardimproves slightlyThe latest economic scorecard for the Tampa Bay area, compiled by the Tampa Bay Partnership, showed a slight improvement, although the Bay area ranked in last place overall among six southern markets.+ Super Bowlleads to Super contestForget the Super Bowl, the 'Big Game' being played in Tampa Feb. 1. + Junior Achievementdinner draws big crowdWith the Gulf Coast's economy weakening, it was a pleasant surprise to see more than 650 people recently attend Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida's induction of Todd Gates and Paul Marinelli to its business hall of fame.Gulf Coast foreclosurescontinue to riseHome foreclosures rose at the steepest pace in the Naples-Marco Island area

  • News
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Business Observer Staff |
  • December 5, 2003
Harris Plugs FTAA (Sara/Mana edition)

Free Trade Area of the AmericasJohannes Werner is a Sarasota-based business journalist. He carries a German passport, is married to a Mexican, and publishes a trade monthly, Cuba Trade & Investment News

  • Opinion
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jean Gruss |
  • January 11, 2013
Seize the Opportunity

How did the owners of an air-conditioning contracting company become successful software developers? They were trying to improve their own operations.

  • Entrepreneurs
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Jay Brady |
  • July 8, 2011
Mass Exodus?

By 2014, more employers may opt out of offering employer-sponsored insurance once key parts of the U.S. health care law come into effect.

  • Florida
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Mark Gordon |
  • June 16, 2017
Branch Out

A Florida-centric community bank targeting $1 billion in assets is undaunted about seeking customers in places other banks traditionally avoid.

  • Finance
  • For Subscribers Only
  • By Elizabeth King |
  • August 23, 2024
Transportation, logistics entrepreneur behind the wheel of 2 companies

The president and CEO of FleetForce and ParkPro is "being methodical" about growth as he looks to fill the pipeline with CDL drivers and empty parking lots with truckers in need of rest.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
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