CareerSource North Central Florida Replaces FloridaWorks
After 15 months of research and development, FloridaWorks announced the official launch of its new brand name, CareerSource North Central Florida. The organization used this rebranding to better coordinate Florida’s workforce system as well as improve awareness of the organization and its services.
The new brand will provide more clarity and consistency for job seekers and employers seeking training, employment, talent development and other services. Florida is the first state to create a unified brand to be used among all of its state and local workforce boards and career centers.
“Moving to a single, distinctive identity takes our workforce development network to the next level, clearly communicating to our business and job-seeking customers that we have the professional resources to support their success, wherever they are in Florida,” said Chris Hart IV, CareerSource Florida president and CEO.
CareerSource North Central Florida serves Alachua and Bradford counties. Under the new brand name, there are 24 workforce organizations and nearly 100 career centers throughout the state.
For more information, visit careersourcencfl.com.
Delta Air Lines to Upgrade at Gainesville Regional Airport
Delta Air Lines will upgrade its fleet in order to offer travelers leaving out of Gainesville Regional Airport a better experience starting April 1.
Delta will be replacing much of its fleet with larger planes that will include first class accommodations, economy class seating and Economy Comfort, which offers travelers more legroom.
“Gainesville is a business travel market,” said Allan Penksa, Gainesville Regional Airport CEO. “Since many of them earn the upgrades, first class service is an opportunity our most frequent Road Warriors have been asking for from our airlines.”
As the transition takes place, the flight schedule will also change. The number of daily outgoing Delta flights will decrease from seven to five. Despite this reduction in the number of flights, however, there will actually be an 18 percent increase in the number of seats available due to the transition to larger aircraft.
Chamber Energy Report Moves Forward
In Nov. 2013, the Gainesville City Commission received four key policy recommendations through a Chamber energy report that are continuing to make a buzz. The policies focused on improving the regional business climate and making Gainesville’s energy costs more competitive with peer communities nationwide.
The report also addressed the cost of utilities proved by Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU).
“We greatly appreciate the City of Gainesville Commission’s efforts in implementing the Chamber’s energy recommendations to remain a competitive community for sustainable economic development,” said Tim Giuliani, president & CEO of the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce. “By ensuring that Gainesville maintains a competitive business climate, we will be able to continue to create jobs through the growth, retention and attraction of business, which will benefit businesses and residents alike.”
The four policies include: a GRU fuel adjustment levelization fund, a GRU general fund transfer, a GRU peer utility cost benchmark system and reconstructing the GRU governance model. For more information, visit bit.ly/1fn3WiZ.
New Starbucks To Include Drive-thru
Butler Plaza plans to open a new Starbucks that will feature a drive-thru in late May. The new coffee house will be located at 3524 SW Archer Road, joining the building with Which Wich, Gigi’s Cupcakes and BurgerFi.
“We had the advantage of being able to offer Starbucks a location that would accommodate a drive-thru in our new building,” said Kathy Ward-Darin, director of leasing of Butler Enterprises. “Our customers can look forward to a great meeting place. They are an ideal addition to the shopping center that compliments any shopping trip.”
Starbucks began in Seattle in 1971, and, according to a 2012 Starbucks profile, there were 17,651 Starbucks locations in 60 countries as of July 2012.
Cade Museum Receives Donation for New Development
The Martin Andersen-Gracia Andersen Foundation Inc. has promised to match 50 percent of the donations made to the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention up to $300,000 through June 2015.
“We thank The Martin Andersen-Gracia Andersen Foundation for its belief in invention and creativity in Central Florida,” said Phoebe Cade Miles, board president and CEO of the Cade Museum Foundation. “With this generous financial gift, we look forward to impacting the lives of future entrepreneurs and inventors.”
Future plans for the Cade Museum include a 21,000 square foot facility that is scheduled for completion in late 2015. The museum will be located in downtown Gainesville’s Depot Park, which is an area currently in a redevelopment phase as part of the city’s efforts to support new innovative companies.
The museum currently features exhibits highlighting the invention of Gatorade, the history of great American inventors and the interactions inside the human brain; more exhibits are scheduled to open with the new museum in late 2015. To learn more about the Cade Museum, visit www.cademuseum.org/.