• The Arlington Council of the JAX Chamber announced its monthly program speakers through May, starting with Capt. Doug Cochrane, commanding officer of Naval Station Mayport, on Jan. 25; Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Executive Director Tony Vecchio on Feb. 29; and Gator Bowl Association President and CEO Rick Catlett on March 28. The group meets for breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at Jacksonville University’s Kinne Center. For information, visit www.arlingtoncouncil.org.
• Moody’s Investors Service has affirmed the A2 rating of the Jacksonville Port Authority’s $90 million outstanding revenue bonds. The ratings agency based the affirmation on the port’s strengths, including a track record of sound financial performance, long-term contracts with tenants, excellent intermodal connections and continuing growth in the container and auto sectors. Moody’s also affirmed a stable outlook for Jaxport based on the agency’s expectation that the authority will maintain a favorable operating performance, show improvement in financial liquidity and will remain competitive in the cargo and cruise markets.
• Correction: A photo cutline on Page 2 in the Wednesday Daily Record incorrectly referred to Tiffany Haas, who plays Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, and to Elphaba, who is the Wicked Witch of the West.
• The Jacksonville Economic Development Commission will not meet Thursday as initially scheduled. The next meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Feb. 9.
• CoWork Jax announces its grand opening at 5 W. Forsyth St. in about 6,000 square feet of space in the Woolworth building constructed in 1916. CoWork Jax features co-working options for freelancers, small businesses and entrepreneurs. The grand opening is scheduled 5:30-7:30 p.m. Jan. 26.
• The Cushman & Wakefield real estate company reports that the overall area office vacancy rate ended the year at 21.1 percent. The Downtown rate totaled 22.7 percent, consisting of the 27 percent vacancy rate on the Northbank and the 12 percent vacancy rate on the Southbank. The suburban rate was 20.4 percent, and the largest suburban area, Butler/Baymeadows, posted a vacancy rate of 18.7 percent.
• Cushman & Wakefield found that the industrial vacancy rate ended 2011 at 11 percent overall, with the largest market, West Jacksonville, posting a vacancy rate of 8.1 percent. Southside’s industrial vacancy rate was 10.3 percent and North Jacksonville’s figure was 21.7 percent
• CoreLogic research data show that the rate of Jacksonville area foreclosures among outstanding mortgage loans was 8.79 percent for October, up 1.38 percentage points from 7.41 percent in October 2010. Foreclosure activity in Jacksonville in October was 5.28 percentage points higher than the national rate of 3.51 percent.
• Jersey Mike’s Subs reported Wednesday that the area franchise owners are brothers Matt and Colby Herring, ages 28 and 25, of Dacoma Franchising. The first store at Roosevelt Boulevard and St. Johns Avenue opens in March. Each store employs 15 people, said Jersey Mike’s Subs.
• The Jacksonville Humane Society has opened its new Community Animal Hospital at 8464 Beach Blvd. The 6,500-square-foot hospital is a full-service, low-cost veterinary clinic offering pet health care. It is staffed by veterinarians and offers services such as vaccinations and wellness care, spay/neuter, orthopedics, dental care and more.
• The City issued permits for Dav-Lin Interior Contractors to improve space at 12740 Gran Bay Parkway W., No. 2100, for Paychex at a project cost of $325,036; Urban Partners Construction LLC will build out space for Planet Fitness at 8661 Old Kings Road S., No. 1., at a project cost of $260,000; Coastal Contracting of North Florida will install interior wall glass at Florida Coastal School of Law at 8787 Baypine Road, No. 350, at a project cost of $32,000; Alex’s Renovations & Construction will build a parking lot and handle general site work for Gateway Community Services at 555 Stockton St. at a project cost of $10,000; and a certificate of completion was issued to Robert Binns Roofing Inc. for roofing at McDonald’s at 3552 Blanding Blvd. at a project cost of $19,500.