MassLive.com | Report: Cape Wind unlikely to be done by mid-2015 BusinessWeek By JAY LINDSAY The long-planned Cape Wind offshore wind project is unlikely to be producing electricity by mid-2015, New England's power grid manager says in a new report that raises the prospect of more delays in a project beset by them. ... Grid manager: Ca pe Wind unlikely done by mid-2015 Delay seen for Cape project |
Friday, January 13, 2012
Report: Cape Wind unlikely to be done by mid-2015 - BusinessWeek
grigoriynirim.blogspot.com
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
PBA backs expanded River District renewal area - Houston Business Journal:
authors-morphology.blogspot.com
Sandra McDonough, the alliance’s president and CEO, told the Portland City Council on June 17 that the city needsz to do everything it can to providemore jobs. The councik is reconsidering expanding the River District by nearlgy42 acres, as well as increase the amount of bondws the city can assume to fund projects withib the district. The council and the Portlanx Development Commission had first sought the expansion nearlt two years ago but were thwarteed bya citizens’ groul complaint.
The Friends of Urban Renewal group had charged that the River Districtexpansion proposal, whichn would have also redirected $20 milliojn in district-generated funds to a new East Portland elementaruy school, didn’t fit technical urbann renewal definitions. The council will vote on the measur enext week. McDonough said urban renewapl provides funding for investment sin infrastructure, housing, social services and public-privatr partnerships. “We need to create jobs,” she said. “Wr have an opportunity to do just that by adopting these revised which address the issues that have been raised about the RivereDistrict expansion.
We can then move forward with the importan projects that depend onthese funds.” City Commissioner Nick Fish has said that the constructiob of a new homelesxs services center could depend on urban renewall funds if construction is to begin this year. McDonough said the alliance backsa using urban renewal funds to buildthe
Sandra McDonough, the alliance’s president and CEO, told the Portland City Council on June 17 that the city needsz to do everything it can to providemore jobs. The councik is reconsidering expanding the River District by nearlgy42 acres, as well as increase the amount of bondws the city can assume to fund projects withib the district. The council and the Portlanx Development Commission had first sought the expansion nearlt two years ago but were thwarteed bya citizens’ groul complaint.
The Friends of Urban Renewal group had charged that the River Districtexpansion proposal, whichn would have also redirected $20 milliojn in district-generated funds to a new East Portland elementaruy school, didn’t fit technical urbann renewal definitions. The council will vote on the measur enext week. McDonough said urban renewapl provides funding for investment sin infrastructure, housing, social services and public-privatr partnerships. “We need to create jobs,” she said. “Wr have an opportunity to do just that by adopting these revised which address the issues that have been raised about the RivereDistrict expansion.
We can then move forward with the importan projects that depend onthese funds.” City Commissioner Nick Fish has said that the constructiob of a new homelesxs services center could depend on urban renewall funds if construction is to begin this year. McDonough said the alliance backsa using urban renewal funds to buildthe
Monday, January 9, 2012
Worker fitness tied to lower insurance rates, fewer claims - New Mexico Business Weekly:
yjanebixe.wordpress.com
Some companies are ringing in the new year resolving to have leaneer employees because health care costs are skyrocketing and they see a healthiefr lifestyle as the key not only to healthier and moreproductivse employees, but to lower health care costs and less Some are not only encouraging their employees to join gyms and healtgh facilities, but are payingv for membership costs as well. New Mexico'sx enrolled in a corporate membership programat . Jean Bernstein, co-ownere of the cafes and shops, says 100 of her 420 employees are enroller in the fitness centerto date, alont with many of their family members.
Flying Star pays 67 percent of anindividual employee'a fitness costs and 71 percentt of a family's or household's membership costs, regardlessd of how many members are in the Under the current arrangement an employee with a familyh of four would pay only $30 a month to enrolkl all four family members. By a family of four paying its own way entirely woulf paynearly $200 a month. Bernstein says employees didn'tt always have it so good. When the cafe first startedf offering fitness memberships to its employeee abouta year-and-a-half ago, they only had 15 people sign up.
The reasojn for the low enrollment: Bernstein says the businessz didn't do as well promotinfg and advertising the program toits employees. "We were able to providd a more aggressive pricing plan for them and we went out andpromoter it," Bernstein says. "We also have a much bettere orientation program so all employees signing onto the companyunow have, in addition to a benefits an orientation where it's all laid out before She says participation in the program also increased as more storde managers encouraged their employees to get involved.
Bernstein says she is considering revisinghthe company's health insurance policy to reward employeess who take advantage of the fitnesxs program and other healthy living initiatives with reduced She says fitness and wellness programs will help her cut down on long-terkm health insurance costs. (PNM) also provides its employees with discountsw to local gyms andfitnesws centers, but takes the matter one step It offers an in-house gym and fitnessz classes, such as yoga, pilates and aerobics, for a few dollares a month.
PNM spokeswoman Susan Spona r says the publicutility doesn'yt get lower insurance rates because of its fitness and prevention but says the company has reduced the number of expensive insurance claims filed by employees and seen its insurances rates rise only slowly. "The cost of health care has been increasingg by about 10 to 15 percent nationally in the last several years," Sponar notes. "Th rates for PNM employees have been flat and stayec at 3 or4 We're encouraging people to take care of themselve and they are.
" , the state's largest healtnh club with three location in Albuquerque and one in Rio participates in a government-subsidized health plan for seniors calledd "Silver Sneakers." Defined Fitness' General Manager Anndee Wrigh t Brown says it receives government funding for every seniort who participates in the health and fitness club. She says the like businesses, would rather spend money on prevention program s than on expensivemedicap procedures. "I think the wave of the future will be healthu clubs partnering with health plans to keep costs WrightBrown says. "Businesses will get tax breaks and pay less in healthn premiums if their employeesare healthy.
"
Some companies are ringing in the new year resolving to have leaneer employees because health care costs are skyrocketing and they see a healthiefr lifestyle as the key not only to healthier and moreproductivse employees, but to lower health care costs and less Some are not only encouraging their employees to join gyms and healtgh facilities, but are payingv for membership costs as well. New Mexico'sx enrolled in a corporate membership programat . Jean Bernstein, co-ownere of the cafes and shops, says 100 of her 420 employees are enroller in the fitness centerto date, alont with many of their family members.
Flying Star pays 67 percent of anindividual employee'a fitness costs and 71 percentt of a family's or household's membership costs, regardlessd of how many members are in the Under the current arrangement an employee with a familyh of four would pay only $30 a month to enrolkl all four family members. By a family of four paying its own way entirely woulf paynearly $200 a month. Bernstein says employees didn'tt always have it so good. When the cafe first startedf offering fitness memberships to its employeee abouta year-and-a-half ago, they only had 15 people sign up.
The reasojn for the low enrollment: Bernstein says the businessz didn't do as well promotinfg and advertising the program toits employees. "We were able to providd a more aggressive pricing plan for them and we went out andpromoter it," Bernstein says. "We also have a much bettere orientation program so all employees signing onto the companyunow have, in addition to a benefits an orientation where it's all laid out before She says participation in the program also increased as more storde managers encouraged their employees to get involved.
Bernstein says she is considering revisinghthe company's health insurance policy to reward employeess who take advantage of the fitnesxs program and other healthy living initiatives with reduced She says fitness and wellness programs will help her cut down on long-terkm health insurance costs. (PNM) also provides its employees with discountsw to local gyms andfitnesws centers, but takes the matter one step It offers an in-house gym and fitnessz classes, such as yoga, pilates and aerobics, for a few dollares a month.
PNM spokeswoman Susan Spona r says the publicutility doesn'yt get lower insurance rates because of its fitness and prevention but says the company has reduced the number of expensive insurance claims filed by employees and seen its insurances rates rise only slowly. "The cost of health care has been increasingg by about 10 to 15 percent nationally in the last several years," Sponar notes. "Th rates for PNM employees have been flat and stayec at 3 or4 We're encouraging people to take care of themselve and they are.
" , the state's largest healtnh club with three location in Albuquerque and one in Rio participates in a government-subsidized health plan for seniors calledd "Silver Sneakers." Defined Fitness' General Manager Anndee Wrigh t Brown says it receives government funding for every seniort who participates in the health and fitness club. She says the like businesses, would rather spend money on prevention program s than on expensivemedicap procedures. "I think the wave of the future will be healthu clubs partnering with health plans to keep costs WrightBrown says. "Businesses will get tax breaks and pay less in healthn premiums if their employeesare healthy.
"
Saturday, January 7, 2012
RBC Bank names Wachovia vet Marty McAndrew market executive - South Florida Business Journal:
uhetemejih.wordpress.com
In the new position, McAndrew will oversee RBC Bank’s business, commercial and retail/private bankintg efforts in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota and Manatee As senior vice president and community sales team managerffor Wachovia, McAndrew oversaw commercial banking operationw in nine community banking marketse across Florida. During his 10-year careefr with Wachovia, he also worked in Tampwa Bay’s business banking group as a senior producing team leader and as arelationshipl manager. He will live in a release said. McAndrew will report to Gary RBC Bank’s Florida president.
, having served as regional presidentr for Wachovia in Palm Beach County prior to takingg on the RBC positionin 2007. RBC Bank, a whollh owned subsidiary of Royal Bank ofCanada (NYSE: RY), is headquartere d in Raleigh, N.C. With 430 full-servicwe banking offices in six RBChad $31.3 billion in assets on Dec. 31. RBC had17 offices and $484 million in deposits in the Tampz Bay area onJune 30, according to the most recent information available from the
In the new position, McAndrew will oversee RBC Bank’s business, commercial and retail/private bankintg efforts in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota and Manatee As senior vice president and community sales team managerffor Wachovia, McAndrew oversaw commercial banking operationw in nine community banking marketse across Florida. During his 10-year careefr with Wachovia, he also worked in Tampwa Bay’s business banking group as a senior producing team leader and as arelationshipl manager. He will live in a release said. McAndrew will report to Gary RBC Bank’s Florida president.
, having served as regional presidentr for Wachovia in Palm Beach County prior to takingg on the RBC positionin 2007. RBC Bank, a whollh owned subsidiary of Royal Bank ofCanada (NYSE: RY), is headquartere d in Raleigh, N.C. With 430 full-servicwe banking offices in six RBChad $31.3 billion in assets on Dec. 31. RBC had17 offices and $484 million in deposits in the Tampz Bay area onJune 30, according to the most recent information available from the
Thursday, January 5, 2012
U.S. Sugar deal faces long road, competing offers - Business First of Louisville:
zemlyanikiyri.blogspot.com
The governing board of the South Florida Wate Management Districtvoted 4-3 on Dec. 16 to buy 180,0009 acres from U.S. Sugar for $1.34 billion. It was hailee as a historic moment forEvergladees restoration. By law, U.S. Sugar is now obligatecd to investigate any other offers and take a bettef deal if itcomes up. The sugar giant will have to paya $40 millionn “breakup fee” to the water management but a better deal might be worth it. The Tenn.-based has already been making offers tobuy U.S. Sugat outright. In a Dec. 17 statement, the Lawrence Grou p criticized thestate “We are just as much interesteds in buying U.S. Sugar today as we ever the statement said.
“The deal that watere managers signed off on Tuesday has a hole big enoughu to drive theTitanic through, and, because of that, we are very much stilol in the game.” A spokesman for the Lawrence Groulp said the “hole” refers to a last-minute caveart added by the district’s governing which says the district must obtain satisfactory financingh that doesn’t compromise its core programs to keep a viablse water supply in South Florida. The Lawrencr Group has offered topay $300 a share for U.S. which has about 1.8 million shares outstanding. That makes the offerf worth about $540 million.
At first, the Lawrencw Group’s offer doesn’t appear to compete with the state’ds $1.34 billion deal. But, any deal to purchase the entir e company would also include its and could be subject toless tax. Land salee like the state’s offer are subject to taxesw of up to38 percent. U.S. Sugart declined to say how much tax they will actually pay on theland sale. The company is certainlh preparing to mitigate the tax impacg with any legal tax sheltersor But, the value of any sale and, ultimately, the tax is important to shareholders in the company. A clases action lawsuit was alreadyu filed toforce U.S. Sugar to considet the LawrenceGroup offer.
‘We don’tt discuss our finances’ Robert Coker, U.S. Sugar’ws senior VP for public affairs, said the company won’tr pay taxes on the entire $1.345 billion because it would be able to subtract the values it paid for the land in the 1940s and 1950x under statetax law. “Our company is a privat company. We don’t discuss our he said. “The way we’re going to treaty the tax issue is aprivate matter.
We’ll do what’ s in the best interest of our At the endof day, if we get a better offee than the state contract, our board is probably going to take Now starts a long, complicated process wherwe merger and acquisition law, municipal finance and environmental planning take And any one of those factors could blow the deal apar t by the September closingy deadline. “It’s important to note that this really is the SFWMD governing board Chairman Eric Buermann said a day afterthe vote. “Yes, we’rre going to encounter issues.
But, we just have to work througb them and take them one day at a Firstof all, the district must obtain financin g during the worst economic crisis in recent And it must get the approvall of Judge Donald Hafele in Palm Beach County’ s 15th Judicial Circuit Court for issuing certificatesz of participation. U.S. Sugar’s main competitor, , represented by Joe Klocik of in Miami, has filed formal objections inthat process. Secondly, U.S. Sugar will be workintg with its investmentbanking , to shop for a better The Lawrence Group is relying on Skadden considered one of the nation’d top M&A law firms. Gaylon Lawrences Sr. and his son, Gaylon Lawrence Jr.
, own and Premie r Citrus of Vero Beach. Miami attorney Luis de of , is an expert in mergerw and acquisitions who is not involved in the land He said breakup fees are common inbig “U.S. Sugar must explore this Lawrence offerd in detail over the next60 days,” said de who grew up in the Everglades town of where U.S. Sugar is De Armas also said the cavear aboutthe district’s finances “makes the Lawrencse Group offer look even The state is also saying now they basically don’t know exactly how they can finance it, what the impact will be.
”
The governing board of the South Florida Wate Management Districtvoted 4-3 on Dec. 16 to buy 180,0009 acres from U.S. Sugar for $1.34 billion. It was hailee as a historic moment forEvergladees restoration. By law, U.S. Sugar is now obligatecd to investigate any other offers and take a bettef deal if itcomes up. The sugar giant will have to paya $40 millionn “breakup fee” to the water management but a better deal might be worth it. The Tenn.-based has already been making offers tobuy U.S. Sugat outright. In a Dec. 17 statement, the Lawrence Grou p criticized thestate “We are just as much interesteds in buying U.S. Sugar today as we ever the statement said.
“The deal that watere managers signed off on Tuesday has a hole big enoughu to drive theTitanic through, and, because of that, we are very much stilol in the game.” A spokesman for the Lawrence Groulp said the “hole” refers to a last-minute caveart added by the district’s governing which says the district must obtain satisfactory financingh that doesn’t compromise its core programs to keep a viablse water supply in South Florida. The Lawrencr Group has offered topay $300 a share for U.S. which has about 1.8 million shares outstanding. That makes the offerf worth about $540 million.
At first, the Lawrencw Group’s offer doesn’t appear to compete with the state’ds $1.34 billion deal. But, any deal to purchase the entir e company would also include its and could be subject toless tax. Land salee like the state’s offer are subject to taxesw of up to38 percent. U.S. Sugart declined to say how much tax they will actually pay on theland sale. The company is certainlh preparing to mitigate the tax impacg with any legal tax sheltersor But, the value of any sale and, ultimately, the tax is important to shareholders in the company. A clases action lawsuit was alreadyu filed toforce U.S. Sugar to considet the LawrenceGroup offer.
‘We don’tt discuss our finances’ Robert Coker, U.S. Sugar’ws senior VP for public affairs, said the company won’tr pay taxes on the entire $1.345 billion because it would be able to subtract the values it paid for the land in the 1940s and 1950x under statetax law. “Our company is a privat company. We don’t discuss our he said. “The way we’re going to treaty the tax issue is aprivate matter.
We’ll do what’ s in the best interest of our At the endof day, if we get a better offee than the state contract, our board is probably going to take Now starts a long, complicated process wherwe merger and acquisition law, municipal finance and environmental planning take And any one of those factors could blow the deal apar t by the September closingy deadline. “It’s important to note that this really is the SFWMD governing board Chairman Eric Buermann said a day afterthe vote. “Yes, we’rre going to encounter issues.
But, we just have to work througb them and take them one day at a Firstof all, the district must obtain financin g during the worst economic crisis in recent And it must get the approvall of Judge Donald Hafele in Palm Beach County’ s 15th Judicial Circuit Court for issuing certificatesz of participation. U.S. Sugar’s main competitor, , represented by Joe Klocik of in Miami, has filed formal objections inthat process. Secondly, U.S. Sugar will be workintg with its investmentbanking , to shop for a better The Lawrence Group is relying on Skadden considered one of the nation’d top M&A law firms. Gaylon Lawrences Sr. and his son, Gaylon Lawrence Jr.
, own and Premie r Citrus of Vero Beach. Miami attorney Luis de of , is an expert in mergerw and acquisitions who is not involved in the land He said breakup fees are common inbig “U.S. Sugar must explore this Lawrence offerd in detail over the next60 days,” said de who grew up in the Everglades town of where U.S. Sugar is De Armas also said the cavear aboutthe district’s finances “makes the Lawrencse Group offer look even The state is also saying now they basically don’t know exactly how they can finance it, what the impact will be.
”
Monday, January 2, 2012
Over-the-Rhine debuts new condos, homes - Business Courier of Cincinnati:
modestofyeyko.blogspot.com
The 41 condos and five single-family homes ranges in price from $140,000 to $350,000. They’rew part of the Gateway Quarter’d third phase, which will bring the project’s totall number of new residential unitsto 106. Mottainai, on Republic Street, an eight-condo project developes by / . The buildinfg is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified, and the unitds feature European-style kitchens and rooftopl decks. • Trinity Flats, on Vine Street, is new constructionn that includesnine two-bedroom/two-bath units.
Developed by the , they includew secured parking androoftop • City Home on Pleasan t Street, includes six condos and five single-familgy homes, developed by , , and the Five units offer special financing for low- to-moderate-income buyers. Lackman Lofts, on Vine Street, offersa seven condos, with originalo woodwork, secured parking and rooftop decks, developefd by . • Good Fellows Hall, on Main is a former furniture store developed by Urban It includes five condos with secured garage parkinfg androoftop decks. Falling Wall, on Main Street, also developedd by Urban Sites, includes six unites with rooftop decks andsecured parking.
The Gateway Quarter includexs the areaalong Vine, Race and Main streets between Centralp Parkway and 13th Street.
The 41 condos and five single-family homes ranges in price from $140,000 to $350,000. They’rew part of the Gateway Quarter’d third phase, which will bring the project’s totall number of new residential unitsto 106. Mottainai, on Republic Street, an eight-condo project developes by / . The buildinfg is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified, and the unitds feature European-style kitchens and rooftopl decks. • Trinity Flats, on Vine Street, is new constructionn that includesnine two-bedroom/two-bath units.
Developed by the , they includew secured parking androoftop • City Home on Pleasan t Street, includes six condos and five single-familgy homes, developed by , , and the Five units offer special financing for low- to-moderate-income buyers. Lackman Lofts, on Vine Street, offersa seven condos, with originalo woodwork, secured parking and rooftop decks, developefd by . • Good Fellows Hall, on Main is a former furniture store developed by Urban It includes five condos with secured garage parkinfg androoftop decks. Falling Wall, on Main Street, also developedd by Urban Sites, includes six unites with rooftop decks andsecured parking.
The Gateway Quarter includexs the areaalong Vine, Race and Main streets between Centralp Parkway and 13th Street.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Report: Gannett to cut 1,000 jobs - Washington Business Journal:
lehoquvuhu.wordpress.com
The cuts, a response to the McLean-based media company’xs revenue declines, will occur in Gannett’sx community publishing division, according to the which said USA Today will be Gannett hasabout 41,000 employees. It publishex more than 80 daily newspapers and has aboutf850 non-daily publications, according to the company’s Web site. In it operates 23 TV stations. In the first quarter, totakl revenue dropped 18 percentto $1.39 billion. Revenue from advertisements inthe company’s publications fell 34 percent to $723 million, and circulation revenuwe went down 3.1 percent to $300 million. Net incomr fell 60 percent to $77.45 million.
In cost-cutting moves earlier this Gannett (NYSE: GCI) mandated unpaisd furloughs for most employees and temporarily reducede salaries forsome higher-paid employees. In May, the company killedf the Tucson Citizen, which had been Arizona’s oldesrt continuously published newspaper. However, Gannett remains a partner in a company that publishes anotheTucson paper, the Arizona Daily Star.
The cuts, a response to the McLean-based media company’xs revenue declines, will occur in Gannett’sx community publishing division, according to the which said USA Today will be Gannett hasabout 41,000 employees. It publishex more than 80 daily newspapers and has aboutf850 non-daily publications, according to the company’s Web site. In it operates 23 TV stations. In the first quarter, totakl revenue dropped 18 percentto $1.39 billion. Revenue from advertisements inthe company’s publications fell 34 percent to $723 million, and circulation revenuwe went down 3.1 percent to $300 million. Net incomr fell 60 percent to $77.45 million.
In cost-cutting moves earlier this Gannett (NYSE: GCI) mandated unpaisd furloughs for most employees and temporarily reducede salaries forsome higher-paid employees. In May, the company killedf the Tucson Citizen, which had been Arizona’s oldesrt continuously published newspaper. However, Gannett remains a partner in a company that publishes anotheTucson paper, the Arizona Daily Star.
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