Wells Fargo Senior Economist Mark Vitner returns to Jacksonville Oct. 25 to provide an economic outlook to the Economic Roundtable of Jacksonville. The lunch meeting starts at 11:30 a.m. at the Jacksonville University Davis College of Business. For more information, visit www.ertjax.org.
• Coming soon! The Battalion Airsoft Arena is planned at 2253 Dennis St. and is described on Facebook as a 40,000-square-foot indoor field, a 6,700-square-foot air-conditioned player lounge, canteen and a ready room, “all designed for the Airsoft enthusiast from beginners to advanced players in an exciting, blood-pumping arena where safety and professionalism is the standard.” A public hearing is scheduled Oct. 27 at the City Planning Commission in City Council chambers for a rezoning. The property, near Beaver and Stockton streets, is zoned industrial and the zoning exception asks for a commercial use described as an indoor paintball facility.
• The Jax Chamber presents “Where’s the Money?” from 1-4 p.m. Wednesday in the Hadlow Boardroom. The workshop will feature industry professionals talking about “uncovering capital resources for small business.” Cost is $20 and the event is open only to chamber members. For information, visit www.myjaxchamber.com
• The Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida and the Small Business Resource Network will present an Entrepreneurial Growth Summit from 7:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 2 at the UNF University Center. Small business owners are invited to participate. The event will feature a keynote presentation by Paul Mason, a UNF professor in the Department of Economics and Geography. His presentation is titled “Economic Update: Looking Ahead to 2012.” There are also breakout sessions. Cost is $60 before Friday and $75 after. For more information, visit www.sbdc.unf.edu or call 620-2476.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida political expert Mike Hightower will be the target at the 3rd Annual Sheriff’s Roast the evening of Nov. 17 at the Hyatt Downtown. Hightower is vice president of governmental and legislative relations for Blue Cross Blue Shield. Honorary Roast Chair is Sheriff John Rutherford. The event benefits the Police Athletic League.
• Jacksonville-based FIS, the world’s largest provider of banking and payments technology, announced it has received the top ranking in the 2011 FinTech 100. The annual ranking by American Banker, Bank Technology News and IDC Financial Insights includes vendors that derive more than one-third of their revenue from the financial services industry. FIS also was No. 3 on the Barron’s 500 list, No. 426 on the Fortune 500 and No. 967 on the Forbes 2000. Frank Martire is FIS president and CEO.
• White Oak Conservation Center will feature lunch with the birds Saturday. The Lunch & Learn Safari will focus on the avian collection. Information: www.whiteoakconservation.org or 225-3383.
• Data from the CoreLogic analytic firm show that the Jacksonville area foreclosures among outstanding mortgage loans was 8.39 percent for July, up 1.33 percentage points from 7.06 percent a year earlier. The mortgage delinquency rate was higher, too. As of July, 13.47 percent of mortgage loans were 90 days or more delinquent, compared to 12.91 percent the year before, an increase of 0.56 percentage points.
• The UNF Coggin College of Business was named an outstanding business school by The Princeton Review. The education services company features the college in its 2012 edition of “The Best 294 Business Schools.” Its dean is Ajay Samant and it’s the fifth consecutive year for the recognition.
• Florida State College at Jacksonville and the Jax Chamber will host a tour Monday afternoon at the Institute for Food Safety, a lab-oratory shared by the college and the Eurofins food-testing company at the Downtown campus.
• Gov. Rick Scott appointed George Robbins to the St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board. Robbins, of Jacksonville, has been the group chair of Vistage Florida since 2002. As CEO of chemical industry companies for 35 years, Robbins was a founder of the First Coast Manufacturers Association. He succeeds Hans Tanzler III on the board. Tanzler was named executive director of the district. Robbins was appointed for a term that began Wednesday and ends March 1 subject to Florida Senate confirmation.