Business Archive

A local resident and chamber of commerce enthusiast – Kristen Loera – will begin leading the Gulf Breeze Area Chamber of Commerce tomorrow. The chamber’s board of directors announced Loera’s selection Feb. 20. Loera replaces Josie Cotti, who announced her resignation from the chamber in January.

You don’t have to drive very far before you see “now hiring” on business reader boards around the Navarre area. Owners and managers know it won’t be long before spring breakers head south to the beaches and into their restaurants and stores.

Although the new operators of the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier had hoped to open a restaurant on the premises by mid-February, those plans have been delayed.

About a year ago Santa Rosa County Commissioner Jim Melvin and University of West Florida President Judy Bense decided to team up. The duo set out to do what they could to improve the area, thinking of innovative ways to work together. Now they are being credited with spurring a partnership aimed to provide resources to boost business in Santa Rosa.

A report released by a Florida nonprofit research organization showed the state added 192,000 jobs during 2013, 42 percent more than  the previous year. The report was welcome news to those in Santa Rosa County.

Sales of single family homes, as well as condos and townhouses in Santa Rosa and Escambia counties in 2013 outpaced the state’s average, according to a Florida Realtors® report released Feb. 11.

The Gulf Breeze Area Chamber of Commerce is interviewing candidates this week to replace Josie Cotti, as the organization’s president and chief executive. The chamber accepted resumes through Feb. 5.
Cotti said once the resume deadline passed, the chamber’s search committee determined which candidates would be interviewed. We had an overwhelming response to our search,” said Cotti. “About a fourth of the candidates were from out of state, some as far away as TX and MA.”

A report released by a Florida nonprofit research organization showed the state added 192,000 jobs during 2013, 42 percent more than  the previous year. The report was welcome news to those in Santa Rosa County.

Stinky’s Fish Camp on Highway 98 in Navarre closed its doors last week. The restaurant made the announcement Thursday on its Facebook page.

St. Valentine’s Day is tomorrow. And, while not everyone celebrates, those who do typically head to three basic gift-giving categories, cards, candy and flowers. According to a survey conducted for the National Retail Federation (NRF), more than half of Americans will celebrate Valentine’s Day . The survey indicates 51.7 percent will purchase cards, 48.7 percent will purchase candy and 37.3 percent will purchase flowers.