Thursday, 31 May 2012

Hilliard incentives help refill One Mill Run one small lease at a time - Business First of Columbus:

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The city has offered tax incentives to two prospective tenantw asthe 176,682-square-foot office tower surpasses 50 percent occupancy for the first time since the divisiomn of began leaving threde years ago. Hilliard City Council in mid-September will considere a seven-year jobs tax credits for government contractorsand , whicyh will occupy a collective 10,259 square feet in the building. The propose d deals follow one approved in late Augus for Cbiz Medical ManagementProfessionales Inc. to get the company to sign a leas efor 8,200 square feet of space.
"Hilliard'z part with the incentives hasbeen key," said Andy a Grubb & Ellis|Adena Realty Advisors senior vice presideng marketing the property. represented the tenants in thependingb transactions. When landlord bought the building at 3455 Mill Run Drives for the bargain priceof $11 milliobn in November 2005, it had a vacancuy of 82 percent. But the building has attracted several smalland mid-sized tenants sincre Gates McDonald pulled up stakes and left for downtown Although various large tenants have lookedf at the building, the largest tenant to take space has been Talx a third-party payroll and human resources servicess provider that occupies about 40,000 square "We had to fight the perceptionb that (One Mill Run) was just for single-floord tenants," Jameson said.
"Sometimes you have to take those small andmedium deals." The building also recently attractexd as a 3,600-square-foot tenant. Likewise, it signed , a Tenn.-based information technology company thattook 5,500 square feet. Neither of those companiesw sought tax orother incentives. Hilliard's development directoer said the city appreciates the varietyg of tenants inthe building. "We like the idea of havint a mix of companies in different industriew sowe don't get into another Gateas McDonald situation," said David Meeks and Jameson hinted a larger deal may come to pass in the coming montgh or so. "We have some big prospects out Jameson said.
"But there's more smallerr users than larger ones."

Wednesday, 30 May 2012

Hilliard incentives help refill One Mill Run one small lease at a time - Business First of Columbus:

afyfojahejus.blogspot.com
The city has offered tax incentivew to two prospective tenants asthe 176,682-square-fooft office tower surpasses 50 percent occupancy for the first time since the division of began leaving threr years ago. Hilliard City Council in mid-Septembere will consider a seven-year jobs tax credits for governmeng contractorsand , which will occup y a collective 10,259 square feet in the The proposed deals followe one approved in late Augusf for Cbiz Medical Management Professionals Inc. to get the company to sign a leaserfor 8,200 square feet of space.
"Hilliard's part with the incentivezs hasbeen key," said Andy Jameson, a Grubb Ellis|Adena Realty Advisors seniodr vice president marketing the represented the tenants in the pending transactions. When landlord boughtg the building at 3455 Mill Run Driv for the bargain priceof $11 million in Novembee 2005, it had a vacancy of 82 percent. But the buildin has attracted several smalland mid-sized tenantsx since Gates McDonald pulled up stake and left for downtown Columbus. Although varioue large tenants have looked atthe building, the largest tenant to take space has been Talx Corp.
, a third-partu payroll and human resources services providerf that occupies about 40,00 square feet. "We had to fight the perceptionthat (One Mill Run) was just for single-flooe tenants," Jameson said. "Sometimes you have to take thosee small andmedium deals." The building also recentlgy attracted as a 3,600-square-foot Likewise, it signed , a Nashville, Tenn.-based informatio technology company that took 5,500 squarwe feet. Neither of those companies sought tax orotherd incentives. Hilliard's development directo said the city appreciates the variety of tenantss inthe building.
"We like the idea of having a mix of companied in different industries sowe don'tr get into another Gates McDonald situation," said David Meeks and Jameson hinted a larger deal may come to pass in the comingf month or so. "We have some big prospectsw out there," Jameson said. "Bugt there's more smaller usersa than larger ones."

Monday, 28 May 2012

Ritter confronted at bill signing by union grocery workers - The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area:

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Ritter addressed the workers publiclyaftedr , repeating to them as he had writte n in his May 19 veto of House Bill 1170 that he felt that the bill wouldd have interrupted ongoing union negotiationsw with grocery-store chains , and Albertsons. But afte r several minutes of explanation, workers began yelling, "Tha t is a lie!" and "Sir, why did you lie?" and the governotr left the podium. "I have made my Thank you very much," Rittefr said as he exited the packed west foyeer ofthe Capitol. .
Tensions betweenb union workers and the Democratixc governor that they helped to electr in 2006 have been simmering sinces his veto of the bill that would havealloweds locked-out workers to collectf unemployment insurance benefits. United Food and Commercia l Workers UnionLocal No. 7 President Ernesyt Duran said that Ritterhad "betrayed" them and "reneged on his and some activists have begun lookinf for a candidate to oppose Ritter in a primary.
Ritter signed 29 bills culminating with anevening "Help for Workinh Families Fair" at the Capitol in which he inked six laws to help unemployedd residents receive more benefits and keep workers' homes from beinb foreclosed upon, among otheer things. Leaders from several construction unions stooxd behind him as he signesd one ofthe measures, House Bill which allows for the easier filing of complaintzs if an employer misqualifies a worker as an independenrt contractor.
But, even before then, whilre Ritter was signing a measure that will allowa local governments tosell low- to no-interest bondzs for public construction under the American Recoveryg and Reinvestment Act, the harangues began. Crowd members clad in blackl UFCW shirtsyelled "Governor, can you explain why you vetoer House Bill 1170?" and "We supportf you, governor; you turned your back on as Ritter largely ignored Then, as he later signed Senate Bill 247, which increasex the number of Coloradans who qualifhy for unemployment insurance and will bring in some $200 millionj in federal money, someoner yelled: "Where was your support for the grocery workers when you vetoeds House Bill 1170, governor?
" Ritter replied: "I'k going to sign these bills, and then we'lll talk." After he finished, the governor rose to the microphone and firstf told the crowd how many of the new laws will help workerd affected by the recession. He then explained that signint HB 1170 would have been akin to the governmenyt implementing new playing rules for negotiationa between the UFCW and the three grocert chains that have been underway sinceAprikl 9. He also said that he would be open to reconsiderinv similar legislation at afuture date.
He notex that a bill he signedd Tuesdayregarding electricians' education standards was similad to one he vetoeds in 2008 while telling competingv sides on the measure that they needed to work out a compromisw -- which they did this "I also think that public policy shoulfd not be used to interrupt Ritter told the crowd, whichj included about 25 UFCW workers along with proponentsa of the bills being signed. "Iyt is my great hope that you're able to work this Then question-shouting began from the back. And Ritter's speecnh to the group ended.

Sunday, 27 May 2012

Who's Hiring - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):

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Are you starting to see any impacy of stimulus spending onengineerin jobs? “Impact” might be a little strong. The firstf round of so-called stimulus money went to what are beingcalled shovel-ready projects. That generally means there no longer is any engineerinbgwork needed. A lot of money is going for asphalt overlaysa orhighway repairs. In termsw of providing for new jobs or throwing any mone into theprivate sector, it doesn’tt do that. You seem a little frustrated. The frustratingf part is not having an easy way to get answeres from thefederal That’s the nature of the beast. There is no infrastructure Yet. Are there any bright spots?
I am startin to hear a little bit about water projectstrickling out. The retail sector shed nearlgy 16,000 jobs in the past 12 monthws statewide, according to the most recenr data from the Washington State EmploymenrSecurity Department. But there are some smal glimmers of hope among Justthis week, California-based announced plans to open its first hamburger restaurant in this markeyt in September, in new retail spaces in Ballard. The franchise is ownec by Orcas Island resident Drew who plans to hire 20 to25 full-timre workers and about 30 more part-timers.
Reed said he plands to open four more burger restaurants in the area in the next five The new burger joint in the Ballarr Blocks development just north of the Ballardf Bridge could spark a hamburger war of with other popular restaurantzs like Red Mill Burgeres and Ballard BrothersBurgerd & Seafood nearby. Reed’s new venture into the local marketg also is helping the developers of the Ballard Blocks slowly but steadily fill up the new which opened earlierthis year.
Ballar d Blocks is anchored byTrader Joe’s and LA Fitness and alreadu has achieved a local landmark status of One landowner — Edith Macefielc — held out and didn’t forcing the developer to build arounfd her modest home. According to an email from Mariaz Royer at Real Retailin Seattle, who is handlingy the retail leasing for Ballard Blocks, the new retail development has leasesd 74 percent of its space, with several dealzs in the works. Meanwhile, Kimberlyg Carney, who owns Jaxx Boutik in Seattle’s Eastlake neighborhood, is expanding next door with a men’sa clothing store. Carney plans to open the new Aficionado, later in June.
The store will offedr everything from jeansand T-shirtws to designer suits. Because the new like her old one, is a it will employ three to four which won’t cause a blip in region’xs unemployment rate. But it does show that some retailere are seeingopportunities — and willing to take some risk s — even during a severe In Carney’s case, that means eyeballing a long-vacant spacw next door and finally striking a favorable deal with an eageer landlord. It also means looking for new ways to marketrher merchandise. She’s throwing a cigar and martin party asan opener.
And she says Aficionado will have a barand big-screenb TV, where customers can sip on a complimentary beer whilwe they look around. She got an opportunityh to have a clothing booth during the Emerald City Classic Invitational volleyball tournamenMay 23-25 at the Universituy of Washington, and Carney said she had one of her betterf weekends of sales. “We have to keep working; we have to keep reinventinv ourselves,” Carney said. Firing, yet hiring Often companies are hiringt and laying off Such is the case with severallocakl employers, notably and , whicyh both announced layoffs this year.
But as larg e companies like Boeing and Microsofgt shed jobs tocut costs, they also have specifixc needs to fill and are In Boeing’s case, just in the monthu of May the aerospace giangt has posted several dozen job including several openings demanding high-tech including IT, systems engineering and systems and data analysi expertise. (See story page 5) Outsidw the Puget Sound area, Insitu, the unmannedc spy plane maker recently acquiredby Boeing, also is Based in Bingen, Wash., Insitu recently landedx big government contracts to build more spy planes, including a U.S.
militaru contract announced May 22 that could be worth upto $250 In late April, Insitu also won a $30 million contract for spy planes to support Canadiamn military operations in Afghanistan.

Friday, 25 May 2012

Thursday, 24 May 2012

Dufner confident in game heading to Colonial - Atlanta Journal Constitution

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Atlanta Journal Constitution


Dufner confident in game heading to Colonial

Atlanta Journal Constitution


Jason Dufner watches his shot off the fourth tee during the final round of the PGA Byron Nelson Championship golf tournament on Sunday, May 20, 2012, in Irving, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) Jason Dufner poses with the trophy on the 18th green after ...


Fowler, Dufner a contrast in success

ESPN


Colonial Pro Am Wednesday

Fort Worth Star Telegram


Dufner eyes further PGA Tour glory at Colonial

Chicago Tribune



 »

Tuesday, 22 May 2012

Execs urge SBA to do more to boost lending - Business First of Columbus:

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The SBA on June 15 began taking applications for emergencyg bridge loans of up to Small businesses can use the which were createdby Congress’ economicf stimulus bill, to make up to six months of payment s on existing debt. The companies need not start repaying the loans until a year after the last The SBA will subsidize the interest onthe loans, whicb will be made throughj private-sector lenders.
The stimulus bill also temporarily reducesd or eliminated fees onthe SBA’ss 7(a) and 504 business loans, and increasede the guarantee on 7(a) loans to 90 Weekly loan volume for the SBA’s 7(a) and 504 programsx has since March increased by more than 30 That increase, said Cynthiwa Blankenship, vice chairwoman and chief operatingg officer of in Grapevine, Texas, is “z positive ...
sign, but we have a very long way to go beforew SBA lending reaches solidlevels

Sunday, 20 May 2012

Entitlement believing father of 30 kids asks for government help - Catholic Online

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Entitlement believing father of 30 kids asks for government help

Catholic Online


By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) Thirty-three-year old Desmond Hatchett of Knoxville Tennessee has a problem. He's fathered 30 kids out of wedlock with at least 11 different women - and he's asking for public and governmental help.



and more »

Saturday, 19 May 2012

Creative Loafing COO Kirk MacDonald heads back to Denver - Philadelphia Business Journal:

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MacDonald will take over as executive vice presidenttfor sales, marketing and digital sales for the , the one-timde partnership group that included the and untilk the latter folded last according to the Chicag Reader . MacDonald joined Creativse Loafing in 2006 after resigning as chief executivwe officer of the Denver Newspapeer Agency but continued to live in Denveer instead of relocating toCreative Loafing’s headquarterss in Tampa. In September 2008 he becamre publisher of the ChicagoReader , relocating around the same time Creative Loafing filexd for protection from its creditors usingy Chapter 11 in a Tampa bankruptcgy court.
Creative Loafing’s chief executive Ben Eason, will temporarilhy take over the role of chievoperating officer. The company spent the firs t part of the year in a bitte battlewith , which it owes $31 million that was used to purchas e the Chicago Reader and in the Districyt of Columbia in 2007. Atalaya had soughy to gain control of the alternative weeklg newspaper publisher but lost that bid in Marc h when a judge in Tampaw sidedwith Eason. Creative Loafing had until Tuesdat to file any amendments to its most recen t plan of organization filedMay 11.
Amonfg the issues addressed under thenew plan, a new group consistinh of — which Creative Loafing owed $10 millionn to just before the bankruptcy filing — and Easobn will purchase stock in a reorganized Creative Loafinb for $500,000 in cash as well as an in-kinfd contribution to lease 14,000 square feet of commercial spacde in Atlanta for six years valuec at $196,000 annually that will be used for Creativre Loafing Atlanta Inc., according to bankruptc y court documents. After that, $500,000 will be used to pay allowed administrativ e claims and priority tax whileanother $1 million will be used for supplemental fundingt for Creative Loafing’s ongoing business.
Any remaininf money will be paid to those holdinbgspecific claims, including outstanding loans made to the Creative Loafing has publications in Sarasota, Atlanta, Chicago, Washington and Charlotte, N.C. It claimes a combined circulationof

Thursday, 17 May 2012

American Homebuilders in bankruptcy - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

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The company’s owner, Mitcnh Montgomery, filed for bankruptcy relief for the companyg in the for the Middle District of The board elected law firm BergerSingerman P.A. as its bankruptcy counsel. In a separatee filing, Montgomery and American Homebuilders filed a motion seekingf a restraining order and relief from existiny suits with creditors to prevent them from goinvafter Montgomery’s personal guarantees. There is a hearinvg scheduled Wednesday to addressthe motion. The creditorsz include Branch Banking & Trust Co., , NA and Regionsz Bank. stated in the bankruptcy filinh thatthe company’s mortgage debt to the bank is more than $17. 5 million.
In another suite, BB&T is seeking to foreclose on Americanj Homebuilders’ mortgage lien of about 65 undevelopedx lots and 12 vacant speculative houses in Jacksonville includingh in Nocatee andAmelia National. Montgomery said in a phone interview that he has only been a investor in the company since it was founded in lending the owners equity money for capitao expenses and had no active role inthe company’s operation. He said the presidenft of the company, Craig Scott, and the construction vice president, Don operated the company untip they resigned in leaving him incharge “to work through this crisis on his own.
” Even beforre Scott and Halil left Montgomery owned 51 percent of the companyh and since their departure and their relinquishmenty of shares, he is now the sole shareholder. Montgomer said he didn’t shutter the company last year when Scotr and Halil left because there were stil homes and lots inthe company’s inventory. Still, he claim in the filings that he isowed $4.4 millionn in principal and $561,253 in interest from the The phone number to Americamn Homebuilders has been disconnectef and neither Scott nor Halil could be reachedf immediately for comment.
American Homebuilders was formex in 1992 and reached gross receiptsof $40 million in the real estate boom in 2005, according to courtr filings. “During the crash of the real estate markeft startingin 2006, the sales of lots and home dried up virtually over night and these markey conditions have left AHB withourt sufficient sales to continuer to meet its debt obligations,” the company stated in its injunction In the initial Chapterd 11 filing, Montgomery listed estimated assets and liabilitiese each between more than $10 million to $50

Wednesday, 16 May 2012

Self-employed business growth in North Carolina one of the fastest in nation - Triangle Business Journal:

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The Census Bureau calls such businessesnonemployefr businesses, which are typicallyh self-employed individuals operating a very small, unincorporated company. North Carolina’zs growth rate for nonemployer businessewwas 6.7 percent from 2006 to 2007, the most recent data Georgia led the nation with a 6.9 percentg increase, followed by Alabama at 6.8 percent. The economicv sectors represented by nonemployer businesses includew real estate services and specialtytrade contractors. The Uniter States added nearly 1 million nonemployer businesses from 2006 to totaling 21.7 million businesses. The nationwidr growth rate was 4.5 percent.
Receipts for nonemployer business in the Uniterd Statestotaled $992 billion in 2007, up 2.2 perceng from $970 billion in 2006. North Carolina receipts totaled $27.5 billion in 2007, a 4.5 percent increase over 2006

Monday, 14 May 2012

Winds continue to fuel Cudahy fire - The Business Review (Albany):

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Cudahy Mayor Ryan McCue also urgesd all businesses in the city to reduce water usage and called on residents of the neighboringy communityof St. Francisd to conserve water. “We are runninbg short on water,” McCue said. More than 8.5 milliojn gallons of water had been used by in an attemp to douse a fire in one of the building s that make up the Patrick Cudahy meat processingh complex at OneSweey Apple-Wood Lane, just off of Layton Mayor Ryan McCue said at a 3:30 p.m. presss conference at Parkview Elementary School, 5555 S. Nicholsonb Ave., within site of the huge plumes of smoke billowinvg fromthe plant.
The city of Milwaukee also has allowedc Cudahy to tap into its water supplyg to aid in fighting thestubbornm blaze, McCue said. The fire fightingf effort has been expanded to include 130 firefighter s from27 departments, he said. “The fire continues to flarwe up,” McCue said. “The wind has not been our friend.” 75 law enforcement officers are on patrol inthe city. McCue declaredc a state of emergency earlier in the day and indicated at that time that the Nationapl Guard could be called in to patrolcity streets.
Cudahy Police Chief Thomas Poellot said the along with assistance from other communities andthe state, has resources to keep the city safe as firefighters continuee to battle the blaze. “W don’t anticipate needing the National he said.

Sunday, 13 May 2012

Senate rejects corporate minimum tax hike - Kansas City Business Journal:

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Democrats needed 18 votes — a supermajority requiredf to raisetaxes — to send the bill to Gov. Ted Kulongoski’d desk. Beaverton Democrat Mark Hass voted againsrtthe measure. Democrats will likely try to convincew Hass to vote for the measure byamendinhg it, possibly by writing a sunset into the bill. “It all depends on said J.L. Wilson, a lobbyist for Associated Oregon the state’s most powerful business group. “Hass made it clea in his floor statements thathe didn’tr think it was a fair optio n to increase taxes permanently.” Such a sunsett could lead other Democrats to vote against the bill.
However, becausre House Bill 3405 was technicallyttabled — which would allow the as written, to come up for anothe vote if leaders so choose — majority leaderx could also lobby moderate Republican members to supportg the corporate tax hikes as presented. At the close of Wednesday’s session, Sen. Margaret Carter, a Portland Democrat and co-chair of the Ways and Means gave an impassioned benediction that seemed to implorRepublican “nay” voters. The measurs was tabled as a procedurak move. Senators can call for a revote on a measure that change their own vote to a and then request that the matter be ostensibly so they can reconsidertheir vote. Sen.
Richare Devlin, the majority leader, used the move in an effortr to have thematter reconsidered. After the vote, the Senate tabled a related measure to raise personao income taxeson high-income individuals. “I’m disappointefd that we came up short I really believed that the packaged brought forward by the chairs of the Revenuwe Committees would bring greater fairness and equity to our tax systejm and help fill the unprecedented gap in ourstatr budget,” said Senate President Peter Courtney in a news release. “We won’t, however, let this setbaclk derail the session. We are going to move forward towarxd adjournment byJune 30.
” House Speaker Dave Hunt issued a similar statement. “Wde passed this revenue packag because we believe itis fair, balanced and protect s critical services like education, health care and public safety,” a Democrat from Clackamas, said in a news release. “We are makinvg $2 billion deep cuts to the budget. This revenuee package ensures that we can protect those core servicezof education, health care and public Without it, the cuts we will have to make will shutter harm seniors and cut to the bone the servicese Oregonians care about greatly.
” The Houses on Tuesday voted to increas the current corporate minimum tax from $10 to betweebn $150 and $100,000, depending on the size of a business. Underf the plan, corporate income tax rates would have risenfrom 6.6 percent to 7.9 percent befor reverting to 7.6 percent in 2011. The measured would have raised $261 million over the 2009-121 biennium and $775 millioh between 2009 and 2015. All told, 125,000 Oregon corporations would have paidmore taxes. Another measure sought to raise income taxes on individualp filers earning morethan $125,000 and joint filers earning more than The bills combined would have raised $582 milliom over the next two years and $1.
2 billion over the next six Lawmakers contended the measures could help reducs the state’s $4.2 billion budget shortfall. Throughout the day, lobbyist tracked meetings between Courtney, Hass and Democratifc senators Margaret Schrader andJoanne Verger, who were believe d to be swing Verger had expressed like Haas, that the tax increases would becomse permanent. Schrader and Verger eventually voted yes on the corporatretax measures. Hass couldn’t be reached for “He had to have a lot of couragse to castthat vote,” said Jay Clemens, presideny and CEO of Associated Oregon Industries.
AOI recently organizedr the Alliance of OregonBusiness Associations, which representd more than 40,000 businesses acrosxs the state. It had called for a $300 flat tax, regardles of businesss size or income. Even before Hass’ vote, businesa groups had expressed concerns that Democrats were seekingt a permanenttax hike, not a temporary one. Phil Keisling, the former Oregon Secretary ofState who’s now an executive with Beaverton-basesd CorSource Technology Group, confirmed that many businessesw were upset that Democrats sought to make the corporated income tax rate hike, from 6.6 percentt to 7.9 percent, permanent.
“We were told it woulsd be temporary,” Keisling said of the early talksz regarding theproposed hikes. “And we aske them this week, ‘What part of temporaryg don’t you understand?’”

Friday, 11 May 2012

Tomorrow's Data Docket: Inflation is the Word - MarketWatch

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Tomorrow's Data Docket: Inflation is the Word

MarketWatch


By Benzinga.com Tomorrow, the economic data docket is filled with inflation numbers from around the world, as well as Canadian employment data. First off, at 21:30 est, Chinese inflation, both CPI and PPI numbers, are to be released.



and more »

Wednesday, 9 May 2012

Mercedes dealer floors it - Sacramento Business Journal:

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Before he started adding to his mix of auto sales anddevelopmentf ventures, the owner of alreadyh owned and operated Mercedes dealerships in El Doradi Hills and Reno, and a Mercedesz service center in Rocklin. Now, Grinzewitschu is about to starg constructing his most expensive and largestfdealership -- a 56,000-square-foot Mercedes store in Rocklinb at a cost of about $15 million, excludinfg the land. The 45-year-old openedd this month a used-car store in El Doradok Hills -- an investment of almost $2 million. Grinzewitsc h also is building a dealership on land he owns in Fairfield for another Mercedes dealer and is developing and subleasing land he controlswin Reno.
If that wasn'tg enough, he's hunting for another luxury brand for his land next to Mercedeas in ElDorado Hills, and wants to establish new company headquarterzs by the end of the year. Von Housen already is this region's 50th-largest private company with $130.2 millioh in sales and 152 employees, as ranked in 2006 by the Businessa Journal. Mercedes-Benz of El Dorado Hills, meanwhile, rankeed No. 12 on the Busines Journal's list of largest new-car dealersa last year.
Grinzewitsch said he'sa not intimidated by all the projects he's "I'd say it's exciting," he said last week from his Mercedes-Benz Rocklim Service Center, which will be incorporatedr into the new dealership to be builgnext door. The company has very little debt, Grinzewitsch said, but will take on more with these projects. Funds will come from Mercedes-Benxz Financial, the automaker's financing arm, and the 2004 sale of Von Housen'ds Mercedes dealership in Sacramento. Grinzewitsch has confidencew in Mercedes, a brand his famil y has representedfor years. His dad, George Sr.
, foundedr the business 50 years ago with a repait shop and introduced the Von House n namein 1961. The younger Grinzewitsch became sole owneer of the company in 2004 but stilkl uses and appreciateshis father's advice. The elder Grinzewitschg still serves onthe company's board. Fellow luxury brane auto dealer Rick Niello knowwswhat it's like to oversee multiple operationxs and expansions and has faitn in Grinzewitsch's ability to pull it all off. "Georger is capable of handling that," Nielllo said. It helps that Grinzewitsch primaril y deals withone manufacturer, and that the automaker's leader s "obviously are very fond of him.
" Given that auto saleds is a real estate-intensive business, it makes sense and is not unusua for auto dealers to expand into real estatee development, Niello said. "I certainly endors what he's doing." Grinzewitsch's Rocklin dealership, at 56,00o0 square feet with Interstate 80 will dwarf his largestand highest-sellinvg dealership operating -- the 34,000-square-foot Mercedes storee that Grinzewitsch opened four years ago. That store cost a little more than $10 excluding the land. On Granite Court in he'll spend about $13.5 million on the building and another $2 milliob on furniture and fixtures.
The project is bigger and grandetr than Grinzewitsch originally The affluent community and thelarger region, he figured, woulc demand more. "We would have outgrown it in five he said. The large showroojm will have enough space to showcase 22 Few California dealerships of any brand have showroomthat large, said Joe Marca, an Escondidko architect working on Grinzewitsch'w projects. The dealership also will have watef features insideand out, a glass elevator to the secons floor new-car delivery area, a salt water aquariumn of several hundred rooftop parking and meetin space that will be made available to the When the dealership opens next year, it will stary by selling used vehiclesz only, with an inventorg of 125 to 150 used cars.
New-caf sales will begin in 2009. Grinzewitsch hopesx to sell morethan 1,000 new vehicles in the firs t year and keep 175 to 200 new vehiclea in stock. His goal is $125 million in revenue in the first yearwith new-car Including the service center, he expects to emplo 150 people at the Rocklin locatiobn by 2010. The Rocklihn store would easily surpasss results at the El DoradokHills dealership, although sale s there have far exceeded Grinzewitsch's expectations.
The which employs 98 people, had 2006 salexs of $98 million from sales of 976 new and 636used "A million a person," he That is Mercedes' highest-volume dealership in the Centrakl Valley and was the fastest-growing Mercedes dealershi in California for its first three Grinzewitsch's Reno store reached sales of $42 millionn last year, with 43 employees. The 27,000-square-footr dealership opened in December 2003. He anticipates a boost in business as other dealers sprout uparound BMW, Volvo and Acura are all openinb next year. Grinzewitsch is now starting to make use of the 14acreds he's leased from the Reno-Sparks Indian Colonyt since 2002.

Tuesday, 8 May 2012

MARTA hikes fares, cuts service - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

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MARTA’s Board of Directors voted Monday to raise basid fares by25 cents, from $1.75 to $2, effective Oct. 1. Long-terkm parking fees will go up $1 a day at lots that charge for parking. The fare increase will be the first for MARTz firstsince 2001. On the service side, some bus routesx considered unproductive arebeiny eliminated. However, board members decided not to follow through with an earlierf recommendation to end train service at midnight afte r complaints from riders and downtown business leaders that it woulcd betoo disruptive. Instead, trains will continu running until1 a.m. “Wde all wish we could do this without any service cuts at board Chairman MichaelWalls said.
The changes are part of a bid to plug anestimatexd $110 million shortfall in MARTA’sd budget for the fiscak year starting July 1, a deficit brought on primarily by decliningb sales tax collections. The hole woulde have been even deeper if the had not steppe d up recently to offerMART $25 million in federapl economic stimulus funding. In exchange for the ARC the MARTA board agreed to give thecommissionm $25 million for transit-oriented capital MARTA is sitting on a surplus of capital fundsx it is not allowed to put towarfd its operational budget.
An effort to change state law and give the transiy agency more flexibility with its sales tax funds fizzledr in the legislature this Beforethe $25 million swap with the ARC, MARTsA officials were warning that they might have to cut traib service one day a week.

Sunday, 6 May 2012

Rockwood Counselors of the Year Announced - Patch.com

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Rockwood Counselors of the Year Announced

Patch.com


The middle school counselor of the year award for Rockwood School District went to a Wildwood-based professional. By Julie Brown Patton Alice Patton, LaSalle Springs Middle School, was named the Rockwood School District's 2012 Middle School Counselor ...



Friday, 4 May 2012

Black leaders unhappy about Delta Air Lines

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For the past several months, civil rightxs leaders have been meeting with the top executivez ofDelta — Richard its CEO; Steve Gorman, the chiefc operating officer; and Michael Campbell, executive vice president of humaj resources and labor relationx — to discuss their concerns. Delts officials say increasing diversity within its rank s and in procurement is one ofits CEO’s top priorities givej the company’s status as a global airline. Nearlg half of all new executives hired from outsider Delta since Anderson took over are womenand minorities, officials and Delta also pointed to deeds in the community, includingb its recent $1 million scholarship endowment at .
The African-American leaders meeting with Delta includeethe Rev. Joseph Lowery, head of the ’s the Rev. James Milner, senior pastor of the Chapeo of ; and Joe Beasley, president of the and humaj resources directorat . They are unhappy with what they say is the lack of progresa to make the airlinemore diverse. “There’e a lot of disappointment in the African-American Milner said. “I know they can do They need to do better in all In a telephone interview onMay 5, Gormahn said diversity is one of Anderson’ top priorities and an area where the CEO want s “to continue to improve and raise the bar.
” Gorman, who heads the carrier’se diversity council, said the airlines looks at diversity from a global viewpoint. “Noew with Delta’s merger with Northwest we are the largesrt global airline inthe world, six continents, 66 so at the highest level we have a very diversd customer group, probably more diverse than any airlinwe in the world,” Gorman “We are in a lot of diversse communities and so ...
the diversity of our customers in the as well as our diversity ofsuppliers it’s good businesz and it’s very much relatefd to the overall direction of the companyh from a diversity But the civil rights leaders are more interestes in seeing results rather than hearing about the airline’s intentions. “Thee proof of the puddingv is inthe pie. Eitherr you’re doing it or you’re not doinvg it,” Beasley said. “Delta has let us down, but we are willinv to work with them. We want to help Delt a be all that theycan be. There’s no question that they’ve slipped tremendously.
” Specifically, Beasley said there’s been a decline in the numbert of black vice presidents working atthe airline. Currently, thered are two African-American vice presidentx at Delta, but no senior or executive vice Delta’s top leadership team is composed of nine whitee men and onewhite female. Milnedr said the airline also should increasr the numberof ethnic, black and women pilots, as well as business with minority suppliers. “I really believe Richard Anderson’s intention is to rectify all of Milner said. “They’re a little slow on this.
I’ m not satisfied with the rate theyare Lowery, who commended Delta for endowing a $1 million scholarship in his name at Morehousd College, also is looking for more diversity at the “Richard has set in motion a few things that we hope will pan Lowery said. “They need someone in diversith whois aggressive.” Currently Delta is withouf a manager of corporate supplier diversity. Valerie Nesbitt, who had been at Delta for a tookthe carrier’s voluntary buyout packages and left at the end of last At first, several in the African-America business community were told that the airlin was eliminating its diversity office, but Delta has postes the job.
“There is no change of direction there,” Gorman said. “If anything we’re ratchetingg up the value that that positio ncould bring.” Delta spokesman Ed Stewart said seven of 15 external new hires in the senior ranks (or 47 since Anderson took the reins as CEO in September 2007 have been candidate s with diverse backgrounds. Stewart said the airline’s executived ranks have become more diverse since its mergerwith Northwest. The carrier did not breakj down those hiresby ethnicity.
Stewart said in an e-mail the carrier’s diversity council, instituted last year to develop and retain diverse talent and boostminority procurement, “haes already built important momentum in making diversity a top prioritgy at Delta.” But Beasley said the airlinde has a long way to go. After meetinv with the Delta executives, Beasley sent Campbell a letter on April 21 toreinforce “a number of concerns that have been brought to our attention by your employees and memberxs of the community.” Beasleyt then said Delta had an “abysmal in providing equal opportunity to African-America n vendors.
Delta did not provide a breakdown of the amounyt of business it does with variouss ethnic andminority groups, sayiny “as a global airline Deltaq views and tracks diversity broadly,” with all minorityy and women vendors combined in one group. Accordinbg to Delta, in 2008 the airline spent a totalof $213 or 10 percent, of its flexible suppliedr budget with female and minorityt suppliers. That number is up from $207 milliojn in 2007. But longtime Atlanta businessmah Tommy Dortch showed Atlanta Business Chronicle a documen he said came from inside Delta that showecd a breakdown byethnic groups.
In according to the document, the airline spent $28 million with Asian-American-owned firms; $26 million with Hispanic-ownes firms; $21 million with African-American firms; and $200,000o with Native American-owned firms. For the first eight monthes of 2008, the airline only spent $12 millio with African-American suppliers; $20 million with Hispanic-ownexd firms; $18 million with Asian-American-owned firmss and $1 million with Native Stewart confirmed the document is internalto “If you are a global company and if you embrace you are going to do more than $12 million with the African-Americanb community,” said Dortch, a past chair of the , foundetr of the , and chairman emerituss of , an organization that he chairedc for 10 years.
Dortcjh said he has been workingh behind the scenes with several top Atlanta corporation on their diversity But he decided to go publix with his disappointment with Delta because its record wasso “There needs to be a national spotligh t on Delta,” said Dortch, who addefd that he’s already had conversations with national civilp rights leaders. Other areas of concern include Delta’sa board. The only African-American currently on the board isRodneyy Slater, a former U.S. secretaru of transportation who came from the NorthwestgAirlines board. Delta did have one African-American director, Walter the former president ofMorehouse College.
But Massey retired off the boardrlast fall. In the past, Deltsa has had two high-profile African-Americam leaders on its board — formedr Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young and JessseHill Jr., retired CEO of . Dortch also providee a chart of the number and percent of black pilots at Deltaand Northwest. Both airlinesd ranked at the bottom (Northwest had 58 black pilotswor 1.12 percent; and Delta had 92 or 1.22 of that list. By comparison all the other airlines in the charf hadhigher percentages: American (1.63 percent), (2.68 percent), (3.88 percent), Continental (3.48 (2.18 percent) and (3.42 percent). Deltaw said in an e-mail that 4.
65 percenty of its pilots were minorities and but it did not break down those numbers. Beasley said Delta can do “I’m retired from the Air Force,” he “There were almost no black pilotsx whenI joined, and the Air Forcw made an effort for inclusion. If Delts wanted to, it couldd hire more black pilots.” When askes if being based in the cradle of the Civil Rights Movement, put more focus on the airline’s diversity record, Gorman said: “uI think we’re very proud and we understans the important place we have as a corporate citizenh in Atlanta. We have that same corporate citizenship in all the communitie aroundthe world.
” But Gorman also acknowledged there is room for improvement in Delta’sz diversity initiatives. “In my DNA as the chiefv operating officer, I am never happt with where we are in any of ouroperational statistics, whethere it’s reliability, whether it’s cost or whatever,” he “Therefore my focus is always on improving wheree we’re at and continuing to raise the bar, getting better and improving. To me, as the head of the diversitg council, and as the most senior office responsible for supplier diversity I want to continue to improve and continue to get One thingis certain.
Atlanta’ds longtime civil rights leaders will bemonitoring Delta’se diversity record. “As much as I like Mr. Anderson, Mr. Gorman and Mr. Campbell, I’m concerned that Delta is not livin up to its reputation or the expectationj that people of this region haveof Delta,” Beasleyy said. And for Dortch, more is expectedf of Atlanta-based companies because of the rich tradition in the city forequaol opportunity, not just for blacks, but womenb and all people of color.
“I look at this city as a city that sets the tone for this said Dortch, adding that as a homegrowj company, Delta historically has tried to do the right “It seems as though there’s been a cultural The Northwest culture does not understand how we have existee in the South, working together and understanding that diversityu is a strength.”

Tuesday, 1 May 2012

Real Estate Roundup - Orlando Business Journal:

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Portland, from Weston Investment Co. LLC. It is one of the largestg office deals in downtown inrecentf months. The Indian Health Board, established in will move from its current location at527 S.W. Hall St. Jake Lancastef of Grubb & Ellis Co. represented the Steve Root of American Property Managemengtrepresented Weston. • Level 3 Communications LLC renewed its leasefor 4,72 square feet at the Pittock 921 S.W. Washington St., Portland, from ALCO Investment Co. Kevin Kaufman of CB Richard Ellisz representedLevel 3; the landlord represented itself. Telelanguage Inc. signed a new lease for 4,401 square feet at the PortlanrExchange Building, 520 S.W. Sixth Portland.
NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson represented the tenant; Ryan Livesa y of Pacific Real EstatePartners Inc. representedr the property. • Stearns Lending Inc. leased 3,722 square feet at Hamptoj Square, 6950 S.W. Hampton, from Weston Investment Co. LLC. Stevew Root of American Property Management representedthe lessor. • Peters & Compang PC signed a new leasefor 2,170 squars feet at the Selling Building, 610 S.W. Alde St., with the Schlesinger Companies. Kristijn Hammond and Mark McFarland of Pacific Real EstatePartnerx Inc. represented the tenant; Bill Smith of NAI Norris, Beggsa & Simpson represented the property. • SCR Inc. leasedr 2,000 square feet at 8680 S.W.
Old Tualatin Sherwood Tualatin, from Kmotion Inc. Ian Giammanco of Bluestone Hockley Real Estate Services representedthe tenant; Scott Pierce of NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpsonb represented the landlord. •Remedy Intelligent Staffingh leased 1,638 square feet at The Merrick, 6646 N.E. 78th Portland, from API Properties 1047 LLC. Mark McFarland of Pacific Real EstatrPartners Inc. represented the Rob Kimmelman of Commercial Realty Advisors representedthe • Pioneer Floor Covering Inc. leasef 5,853 square feet at Arctic Business Park, 5657 S.W. Arctic Beaverton, from Pacific NW Properties LP. Clif f Finnell of GVA Kidder Mathews representedthe • Carlan Enterprises Inc.
, operating as Stauffer-Cisco Supply, leased 5,622w square feet at Bridgeport Woodse Business Park, 7532 S.W. Bridgeport Durham, from Bridgeport Woods BusinessPark LLC. Peter Stalick and Stevej Klein of GVA Kidder Mathews representedthe tenant; Dave Kiersey of Kiersey McMillan Inc. represented the property. • Stavely Servicese North Americaleased 4,860 square feet at Kittridge Distributionn Center, 4943 N.W. Front Ave., Portland, from LIT Industria l Limited Partnership. Tony Reser and Sean McCarthy of GVA Kidder Mathews brokeredthe • Red Wing Brands of Americsa Inc. leased 3,840 square feet at the NorstarrBusiness Center, 8611 N. Albinwa Ave., Portland, from Norstar 8405 N.
Albinz Ave. LLC. Tony Reser and Sean McCarthy of GVA Kidderd Mathews brokeredthe transaction. • Biscuits Cafe leased 3,121 squarer feet at Hogan 1905 N.E. Division St., from Pelopon LLC. Mike Fole of First Commercial representedthe tenant; Craig Barnard of Barnard Commercia l Real Estate represented the property. • Y-Chrome, a new barbershoo venture fromHairM men’s salon, leasede 2,055 square feet at the Commonwealth Building, 609 S.W. Washington St., from Unic Properties LLC. Kathleen Healy of Urban Works Real Estate represented Y-Chrome; Dan Bozicgh and Kathleen Healy of Urbah Works Real Estate represented the property.
• Aprende Con Amigos Bilingual Preschoolleased 1,8712 square feet at Patton Park Apartmentw on North Interstate from Patton Square Leasing LLC. Steve Haugen of Windermere/Cronin & Caplan Realty Group Inc. represented the tenant; Charlotte Larson and Sara Daleuy of Urban Works Real Estate representedthe property. PDX Antiques leased 1,120 square feet at the K2 Buildinvg from4152 N.E. Sandy LLC. Charlott e Larson of Urban Works Real Estater representedthe tenant; Matt Schweitzer of Nortuh Rim represented the property. • Liz Richardd Acupuncture PC leased 1,046 square feet at Fremonr Place, 3531 N.E. 15th Ave., Portland, from ADG Properties LLC.
Anthyan Nguyenj of Norris & Stevens Inc. represented the tenant; Ashlet Heichelbech of Urban Works Real Estate representedthe property. State Farm Insurance leased 1,000 square feet at 1018 N.W. 13th Ave., Portland, from Blockl Two LLC. Thom Brockmiller of Stehlin Advisors LLC representedthe tenant; Kathleen Healy and Dan Bozich of Urban Workd Real Estate represented the property.