• Jacksonville-based Swisher International Inc. won this year’s Manufacturer of the Year award for a manufacturer employing more than 400 employees by the Manufacturers Association of Florida. Swisher was founded in 1861 and has been headquartered in Jacksonville’s Springfield area since 1924. In March, it was named Manufacturer of the Year for 2009 by the First Coast Manufacturers Association.
• There’s an app for that: The Blood Alliance recently debuted a smart phone application, iDon8, which allows donors to keep track of previous donations, upcoming donation dates and locations of blood drives. The alliance also is offering an iPad high school promotion to attract young donors. High school students who register to donate blood and do so twice at participating schools will be eligible for a chance to win. For more information, visit www.igiveblood.com.
• Academy Sports + Outdoors opened its first Jacksonville store over the weekend, two months after opening its first area store in Orange Park. The new store, at 11901 Atlantic Blvd., has 135 jobs and more than 67,000 square feet of space.
• The Alhambra Theatre & Dining plans a New Year’s Eve Party featuring “A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline.” starring Gail Bliss. There’s a cocktail reception and dinner, by Executive Chef Matthew Medure, before the performance and dancing and a champagne toast after, and more food. A breakfast buffet will roll out about 11 p.m. Tickets are $125. For information, call 641-1212 or visit www.alhambrajax.com.