• The Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce reminds businesses that school starts soon and it asks employers to be flexible with staff during the first two weeks to deal with new schedules and to make sure students attend class. “Companies considering Northeast Florida desire qualified candidates for jobs, and it starts with ensuring students are attending class,” said Wally Lee, chamber president. The chamber began its back-to-school effort after thousands of Duval County students were absent the first day of school in 2001.
• School start dates in Northeast Florida counties are Monday in Nassau, Tuesday in Clay, Aug. 22 in Duval, Flagler, St. Johns and Baker and Aug. 23 in Putnam.
• Downtown’s Northbank office vacancy rate ended the second quarter at 27.2 percent, reports the Cushman & Wakefield real estate company. The Southbank rate was 11.8 percent, creating a 22.7 percent Central Business District vacancy rate. The biggest lease transaction was the 118,209-square-foot lease for Wells Fargo at the renamed Wells Fargo Center. The bank leaves another Downtown building.
• Meanwhile, the suburban office vacancy rate was 21 percent, with the largest suburban market, Butler/Baymeadows, at 19.6 percent. The overall vacancy rate for Jacksonville was 21.5 percent, down from 23.1 percent over the year.
• Barney Bishop resigned as president and CEO of Associated Industries of Florida effective at the end of the year, saying there are “other things in life – other passions” that he wants to pursue, reports The News Service of Florida. Bishop will continue through 2012 in a consulting arrangement. “Barney has accomplished great things at AIF by rebuilding our membership and enhancing our effectiveness in the halls of the Florida Capitol,” said Erika Alba, chair of the AIF board of directors.
• Existing single-family home sales by Realtors fell 3 percent in Northeast Florida from the second quarter of 2010 to the second quarter this year, from 3,979 to 3,878, while the median sales price dropped 7 percent from $143,800 to $134,200, reports the Florida Realtors. It said April data wasn’t available from the St. Augustine and St. Johns County Board.
• Meanwhile, the median sales price for condos rose 6 percent from the second quarter of 2010 to 2011, from $72,000 to $76,300, said the Florida Realtors. Sales dropped 2 percent from 647 to 630.
• Sen. John Thrasher, chair of the Duval County Legislative Delegation, said the deadline for filing local bills, called J-Bills, in the Duval Legislative delegation office is noon Sept. 1. Public hearings on the bills are tentatively scheduled Dec. 1 in Council Chambers at City Hall. For information, call Susan Stewart at 630-1680.
• Winn-Dixie officially celebrates the completion of its fifth transformational store and the first in the Jacksonville area at 2220 County Road 210 in the St. Johns Commons center between Jacksonville and St. Augustine. Wednesday was “grand opening day” and 5:30-7:30 p.m. today is an open house, with tours, product samplings, live entertainment, giveaways and more. “A Taste of Winn-Dixie” is 4-7 p.m. Aug. 19. “A Day with the Florida Insider Fishing Report” is 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 27. “Jaguars Super Cheerleaders Kick Off with The Roar” is 5-7 p.m. Aug. 30.
• The Florida Department of Transportation plans to widen the ramp at the Interstate 295 interchange at Commonwealth Avenue and also widen the turn lanes on Commonwealth under I-295. FDOT seeks an environmental resource permit from the St. Johns River Water Management District.