Alberto Alemán Zubieta, CEO, Panama Canal Authority

Panel discussions explored global commerce,  trade and transportation, as well as the Panamanian government’s plans to meet its future energy demands. The business forum was sponsored and chaired by The Economist.

The conference concluded with the president of Panama,  Ricardo Martinelli, discussed his vision and economic priorities  in a “Keynote Conversation” with Justin Thody, Regional Director for Latin America, Economist Intelligence Unit. Panama is in the midst of a booming economy and infrastructure development.

Foreign corporations were the primary audience,  some with U.S. representation – Global agribusiness giant, Syngenta, has a U.S. NAFTA office, while Hamburg Sud is a port tenant at Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT). Domestic corporations included  Procter and Gamble, Caterpillar, Ernst & Young, and Merrill Lynch.

Alberto Alemán Zubieto, the CEO of the Panama Canal Authority underscored that the canal is positioning itself to become the transportation and logistics hub of the Americas.

There are many opportunities to capture the value of our location, particularly by investing in logistics and infrastructure. Panama offers something very unique to world commerce. It is a port with terminals in two oceans.

(L-R): Mayor John Peyton (Jacksonville, FL), Alberto Alemán Zubieta, Rick Ferrin and JAXPORT Board of Directors Chairman, David Kulik

INTERNATIONAL TRADE AGREEMENT PANDEMONIUM  ~~~

The ACP has signed 18 Memorandums Of Understanding (MOU) with U.S. Eastern seaboard and Gulf of Mexico  port authorities as of April 22, 2010. For competitive reasons Flipside Florida is really only interested in Jacksonville – America’s Logistics Center.

PANAMA CITY, Panama, April 20, 2010 –   The Panama Canal Authority and Jacksonville Port Authority launched a strategic partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

In essence, the parties agree to undertake a joint marketing effort to generate new shipping business. These joint marketing efforts may include, but are not limited to:  advertising activities aimed at promoting all-water routes;  joint exhibitor booths at maritime events;  joint press conferences; and editorial. An ACP press release was helpful for this particular article.

This partnership is especially important as both the ACP and JAXPORT undertake landmark expansion projects to spur trade and increase economic opportunities. Further, it is emblematic of the Canal’s goals to constantly look for creative ways to serve the  needs of the international maritime community and provide safe, reliable and efficient service to our customers. — Mr. Alberto Alemán Zubieta.

JAXPORT is already strongly connected to the Panama Canal by 13 ocean carriers and more than 600 annual calls in Jacksonville. We regard the opening of the new locks as the beginning of a profound transformation in global cargo patterns, specifically for cargo flowing from and into the United States. We’ll be ready for the completion of the new locks and the dramatic increase of our Canal cargo volume. —   Rick Ferrin, CEO, Jacksonville Port Authority.

JACKSONVILLE, Florida — Meanwhile, JAXPORT needs to dredge the St. Johns River another 10 or so feet. Its current depth is 40 feet. The Army Corps of Engineers – Jacksonville District will release a cost and benefits analysis next year to see if deepening the St. Johns River up to 50 feet is worth $500 million. At the same time, the St. Johns River Water Management District is studying how Orlando’s use of the   St. Johns for drinking water is affecting salinity levels and/or the river’s basic ecosystem.

SAVANNAH, Georgia —  The Georgia Port Authority is light years ahead of the State of Florida in terms of  coordinating its port authorities.  Florida has 14 ports each operating as separate entities with inadequate State funding  to develop its very lucrative trade potential.

In fact, published in the ground-breaking and quite popular magazine, Dredging Today, is Georgia Port Authority explains Savannah River Dredging Impact . The State of Georgia would like to remind  the Jacksonville Port Authority that:

Let us also not forget that Savannah is the only East Coast harbor that is tide regulated.

Panama Canal May 2010 courtesy of ACP

Flipside Florida assumes  the ACE – Jacksonville District will have “learned from past mistakes” to find a $500 million dredging expenditure to be cost effective in a year’s time.

The Florida Times-Union has an interesting overview of Ports 2010, a conference organized by the American Society of Civil Engineers, where this study was announced.

Update REBUTTAL:

I take issue with the Georgia Port Authority (portion).  Florida has 14 ports operating as separate entities and we have inadequate funding. However, you leave out the reasons Georgia might is able to be “light years” ahead. There are only TWO ports there AND they are state owned and operated. JAXPORT is quite content as an independent agency acting as a landlord not an operator. Our tenants prefer to be allowed to run their facilities as they see fit. It is an attractive part of our situation here and does attract business to JAXPORT!

~Nancy Rubin,  Director of Communications, JAXPORT

Lowe is a Public Affairs Officer for joint forces U.S. Transportation Command [USTRANCOM] at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. It directs logistical movement of equipment and supplies for earthquake recovery. Usually, USTRANSCOM reports to the Sec. of Defense;  in this crisis  it supported FEMA and State Dept.’s USAID [United States for International Development].

Currently, the U.S. military presence in Haiti is drawing down, Lowe said, as commercial, humanitarian and Haitian response capabilities improve. As mentioned in the previous Haitian earthquake recovery post, Crowley is commercial contractor for USTRANSCOM, and has and will continue to play an integral role in rebuilding Haiti’s infrastructure.

Crowley has been AMAZINGLY responsive and adaptive in meeting USTRANSCOM’s needs in this crisis ~ Maj. Lowe.

Which, in a  roundabout  way, brings us back to JAXPORT.  Crowley is based in Jacksonville, operating out of Jaxport’s Talleyrand terminals, just north of downtown.

JAXPORT (Blount Island and Dames Point) Terminals Director Victoria Robas described  the port’s role following the earthquake:

JAXPORT is designated as member of the National Port Readiness Network: one of thirteen strategic ports (under the Dept. of Transportation) which support the initial surge of military deployments to foreign theaters of conflict (i.e. Afghanistan, Iraq). The day following the earthquake, relief cargo began arriving to be loaded into barges. Within the week, the port was notified it was to be the strategic port of operation for Operation Unified Response. Robas began the immediate coordination with port tenants to accommodate OUR crisis response at its Blount Island terminal ( just east of the Dames Point Bridge at Interstate 9A).

JAXPORT - Haitian-bound cargo awaits transfer from Blount Island to barge in the first day following the earthquake.

JAXPORT has a long-term relationship with the military, and in partnership with our tenant properties, we work together to meet the challenges of strategic port designation. Somebody always steps up to the plate to help ~ Victoria Robas

One significant challenge was coordinating available space for the FEMA semi-trucks arriving daily – their large containers had to be off-loaded and then reloaded into smaller containers because the Port-au-Prince harbor piers were demolished. …

Meanwhile,  in support of U.S. Southern Command’s Joint Task Force – Haiti, the U.S. Army 832nd Transportation Battalion (long-term tenant of Jaxport at Blount Island),  mobilized for duty.

Maj. Frank Ras, the battalion’s executive officer, recounted the 832nd’s mission:

The day following the earthquake, the 832nd recieved a “warning order” from the Army’s Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) to prepare for movement. Four days later, the battalion, along with its Cape Canaveral detachment, was notified of  a “standing order” – it was to be the Army’s “center of gravity” for supply-chain management for the duration of the U.S. military’s involvement in Haiti. Personnel were dispatched to Haiti for on-site coordination and distribution. Over the coming weeks the 832nd processed over 600 vehicles and millions of gallons bottled water and packaged ready-meals.

832nd loaded this barge at JAXPORT and offloaded in Haiti for USAID

The Army’s 82nd Airborne Division also received its deployment orders within 24-hours of the disaster –  approximately 1,000 troops flew into Haiti from Ft. Bragg, N.C. –  its equipment and supply movement was also coordinated through the 832nd at Jaxport and Cape Canaveral.  The 82^nd Airborne Division  was deployed in Haiti for over a month, returning today, Feb. 25th, to the United States. Initially, the division provided security at the Port au Prince Airport and the U.S. Embassy. Other tasks included medical treatment, aid distribution and security for relief organizations.  The distributed or supported distribution of water,  medical supplies, shelters, and more than 20 million pounds of food.  The unit also treated or evacuated 10,310 patients and facilitated the removal of rubble from 25 city blocks.

With its standing mission to Haiti, the 832nd continues supply-chain management for Operation Unified Response. Ras said a limited group of 832nd personnel are on the ground  in Haiti as support.

Note: Further updates possible …

Additional links:

First U.S. paratroopers to return from Haiti [U.S. Southern Command Public Affairs, Feb.24]

Operation Unified Response Joint Task Force  - Haiti [Facebook]

U.S. Southern Command -SOUTHCOM [Facebook]

The severely damaged Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s port  is only one of the logistical nightmares hindering relief and reconstruction of  the nation.

The pier is now handling about 30 percent of its pre-quake capacity. If pushed, it could unload 200 to 250 containers a day, but debris is limiting the size of the ships that can enter the port, U.S. Navy Admiral Sam Perez told Thomas Reuters news service. [Haiti port recovery key to aid ...]

UPDATE:  Haiti port capacity boosted, repairs advancing [Reuters Feb. 25, 2010]

The harbor of Port-au-Prince Photo: AFP/GETTY IMAGES

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command [Mayport] is the Navy’s lead command in Operation Unified Response - the joint forces humanitarian aid mission under U.S. Southern Command in Miami..

Crowley Maritime is working under contract with U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM).  The joint forces  logistics organization relies heavily on its commercial partners to “deliver unrivaled, full-spectrum, deployment and distribution solutions.” In an experimental “lightering” operation, Crowley discharged 12 20-foot containers of relief supplies across a beach  on Fri., Jan. 22nd. Supply containers were lifted from a ship anchored in the harbor to a  landing vessel for transport and discharge over the beach, paving the way for container shipments directly into Port-au-Prince next week.

“Today’s operation was an important milestone in reestablishing direct container shipments into the heavily damaged port,” said John Hourihan, Crowley’s senior vice president and general manager of Latin America services. The port survey conducted Monday by a team from our TITAN Salvage subsidiary was spot on in terms of identifying a suitable location in the port where we could safely discharge the cargo.

Marcajama en route to Port-au-Prince

The Crowley container ship Marcajama, which offloaded the containers today, is scheduled to return to Port Everglades, Fla. over the weekend and load more relief cargo under contract with USTRANSCOM. The ship will then return to Port-au-Prince in the middle of next week and discharge containers via the proven lightering method utilizing two shuttle vessels.

“USTRANSCOM values the innovative solutions that our contractors are implementing to rapidly facilitate humanitarian assistance in support of the Haitian people,” said Army Brig. Gen. Michael Lally, director of operations for the command.

Future cargo operations in the port should improve substantially in the coming weeks. Crowley is mobilizing two 400-foot-long, 100-foot-wide flat deck barges, along with two Manitowoc 230-ton crawler cranes in the United States for USTRANSCOM that will be brought into Port-au-Prince to serve as a makeshift dock for future cargo operations. The first barge and crane in Orange, Texas should arrive in Haiti on or about Feb. 4. The second deck barge is being outfitted in Lake Charles, La. and will arrive by mid-Feb.

“The diverse resources of the Crowley organization are being brought to the table in response to this emergency,” Hourihan said. “We are working closely with USTRANSCOM, USAID, FEMA and other organizations to provide the assets, services and technical expertise they need to accomplish their missions.”

Relief cargoes are being consolidated and stuffed into containers at Crowley’s Miami warehouse and distribution center. Containers delivered by Crowley in Rio Haina, Dominican Republic this week are being trucked over the border into Haiti. And more shipments – 179 20-foot containers and 11 40-foot containers for USTRANSCOM – are due in Rio Haina Sunday morning.

“The combination of direct shipments into Port-au-Prince and shipments into Rio Haina that are then trucked over the border is now resulting in a steady flow of aid,” said Hourihan.

Those wishing to contribute humanitarian supplies to Haiti’s relief effort should do so by contacting non-profit organizations such as Food for the Poor or Catholic Relief Services

Since Jacksonville’s most eastern border is  the Atlantic Ocean, marine biology is a subject of interest to some. In fact, Jacksonville University is building it’s own Marine Science Research Institute. The completion date is scheduled for August 2010, which isn’t that far into the future in the grand scheme of things (about the time of Talk Like A Pirate Day 2010). The MSRI will be JU’s first “green building”  seeking Silver LEED Certification through the U.S. Green Building Council.

So anyway,  over at Southern Fried Science are those two marine biologists. One calls himself southernfriedscientist, but his name is actually Andrew.

Andrew is a graduate student in North Carolina studying deep sea biology. When not in the lab, he spends his time out on the water, usually swearing at his boat while simultaneously sacrificing some important tool to Poseidon in a desperate attempt to make the motor start. That is, assuming he can get his truck running long enough to actually put the boat in the water.

The other calls himself  WhySharksMatter, but his real name is  David.

David is a graduate student in South Carolina studying shark conservation. He is the author of the upcoming book “Why Sharks Matter: Using New Environmentalism to Show The Economic And Ecological Importance of Sharks, The Threats They Face, and How You Can Help”. His time is divided between educating the public about sharks, spending days at a time at sea playing with sharks, and eating horribly unhealthy foods.

Under what Southern Fried Science calls it’s The Best Marine Invertebrate Blog Posts is posted incredibly useful information, such as Malaria, Bedbugs, Sea Lice, and Sunsets: Can’t We All Just Get Along? ; The Other 95%: Man-Sized Sea Scorpion Fossil Found In Germany ;  or Echinoblog: Giant Green Brittle Stars of DEATH!! When they ATTACK–AGAIN! (this one might be useful  for TLAPD 2010).

dolphins are actually jerks?

Still drifting  along on our deep-sea journey, we find that WSM believes “Dolphins are actually jerks”.  This belief might be offensive to JU because its university’s mascot is a dolphin. He did, however, recieve the 2009 3 Quarks Daily science blogging prize, so JU should overlook the transgression. In the post, The ecological disaster that is dolphin-safe tuna, WSM makes the following observation (among many others):

Tuna is one of the world’s most economically important fisheries, directly employing tens of thousands and feeding millions. The main way that tuna is caught is through purse seines in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Basically, after a large group of tuna is located, a miles-across purse seine net is closed around them via a group of small boats associated with a large factory ship.  It’s an effective way to catch large amounts of fish for not a lot of money.

WSM’s post explains [why WSM thinks dolphins are jerks]  some environmentalists  (such as Greenpeace)  mean well, but are not always helpful.  This is indicted by the title of the post, which includes the phrase “ecological disaster”.

Mmmm ... Yellow Fin

Yellow Fin image courtesy of Sustainable Sushi

Many restaurants across the country,  even if they’re not solely dedicated to sushi,  serve  seared, rare Ahi [Yellow Fin] tuna.  I think it makes sense to catch as much tuna as possible. (Maybe Ahi wouldn’t be so pricey).

So WSM may be right – dolphins are actually jerks despite a long maritime tradition of respecting dolphins.

[ AVAST ME HEARTIES !! ]

(Hat Tip to Reuters blogger Felix Salmon, who despite all his blathering about economics, occasionally posts hilarious links, which is where I found  Southern Fried Science and associated blogs.

CORRECTION: Hat tip to commenter Doug for rightly pointing out the pink dolphin’s natural habitat. The dolphin shown is not a jerk.  According to Cryptomundo, which is where this image is courtesy of,  the dolphin is an Amazon River Dolphin (or Boto), Inia geoffrensis.

Although just last week its TITAN Salvage team [was] involved in the dramatic, 12-hour cliff-top rescue of the 25 crewmembers onboard the grounded cargo ship Fedra crew during rough storm conditions at Gibraltar’s Europa Point, so there’s that.

And then just yesterday, Crowley issued a press release about  how  it shipped  196 audio speakers, 12-LED video screens, scaffolding, six sound-mixing consoles, 25 microphones and stands, 30 musical instruments, six electrical generators, four portable power plants, and other elements  to Havana for the Peace Without Borders concert this Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009.

Apparently the Concierto Paz Sin Fronteras is important because more than half-a-million Cubans are expected to gather at Havana’s storied Plaza de la Revolución for the highly-anticipated concert.

Fifteen artists from six different countries will be performing including international music star and noted humanitarian Juanes; Latin Grammy award winning Spanish musician and actor Miguel Bose and Grammy and Latin Grammy award winning Puerto Rican merengue and pop music star Olga Tañon.

Crowley has taken part in several cultural and historical moves to Havana throughout the years, including the transportation and logistics for The Royal Ballet, Great Britain’s largest and most prestigious ballet company.

Also ESPN television production equipment for the historic U.S.-Cuba 2010 World Cup qualifying game.

In less than a month, the company also expects to transport cargo for the New York Philharmonic.

At this point I’ll have to concede Crowley does more than chemical parcel transportation and bulk petroleum transportation throughout the North American coasts, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and to a lesser degree internationally.

Who knew?

Image courtesy of  ”Solo Sabor ~ Your Latin Entertainment Connection“

Anyway, Jeff Price is also my buddy at the Florida Times-Union, which was a surprise to both of us  because we both have mysterious pen names. Jeff is named Scene from Florida. He claims, “I run my own biz when I’m not on the clock at JAXPORT.”

So back to JAXPORT IN THE NEWS:

[one] The following is actually from an invitation to a luncheon commerating:

” A HISTORIC EVENT!!!The Puerto Rico Chamber of Northeast Florida and the Jacksonville Sister Cities Association [announced Monday, August 24th]

Cordially invite you to attend and be a sponsor at the luncheon commemorating the signing of an international Sisters Cities agreement between San Juan, Puerto Rico and Jacksonville, Fla.

The Honorable Mayor Jorge Santini and The Honorable Mayor John Peyton October 2, 2009 – From 11:30am – 1:30pm OMNI HOTEL – 245 Water St., Jacksonville, FL 32202

Via PRCNF:

Puerto Rico is Jacksonville’s largest trading partner.  The Port of Jacksonville handles over 75% of the U.S. marine traffic to Puerto Rico.  The economic impact on our community delivers revenues to Jacksonville of over $1 billion dollars annually. The twinning of these two cities will serve to further increase Jacksonville’s economy, increase tourism and open DIRECT FLIGHTS from Jacksonville to San Juan.

Flag of Puerto Rico

[Jacksonville Sister Cities:  Bahia Blanca, Argentina; Curitiba, Brazil; Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Nantes, France; Murmansk, Russia; Yingkao, China; Mason, South Korea]

[two] Via Cargonews Asia: The ka-ching of Cash for Clunkers is being heard at the Southeast Toyota Distributors processing centre at the Port of Jacksonville, the Florida Times-Union reported. The sound is still more of a rustle than a roar. But Southeast Toyota, which shrunk its workforce to deal with a brutal downturn in business, expects the second half of 2009 will be busier than the first six months.

[three] Any word on Carnival? @jaxport Isn’t the port having a FASCINATION networking party soon – sometime in Sept., I thought. @flipsideflorida While JAXPORT isn’t organizing any events, two groups have reserved the terminal for meetings: CSCMP on 9/8, IVC on 9/17 .

[four] JAXPORT CEO Rick Ferrin accepts a certificate of appreciation from Capt. Tuohy/Jax Council-Navy League/ after port speech. >>>twitpic<<<

[last] Via JAXPORT news & notes:  UNF’s Small Business Development Center is offering a six-part International Trade Certificate Program for small businesses interested in international exporting. In 2008, this program was quite helpful for Heavy Equipment Resources of Florida Co., who began exporting agricultural equipment in containers through JAXPORT after completing the program.

The End

TWITTER UPDATE:    via @milleratcrowley

Crowley delivers for the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) New Electrical transformers to benefit island residents

(SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico.; Aug. 28, 2009) Crowley has safely and successfully transported one of seven new electrical transformers slated for the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA). The transformer arrived on the island Tuesday, following its journey from Mumbai, India to the U.S. mainland. The transformer will be installed at the Buen Pastor electric sub-station to provide improved electric service to island residents.

Read on!

]]> http://www.flipsideflorida.com/san-juan-es-la-ciudad-hermana-de-nuevos/feed/ 4 http://www.flipsideflorida.com/jaxport-begins-hanjin-terminal-bidding-process/ http://www.flipsideflorida.com/jaxport-begins-hanjin-terminal-bidding-process/#comments Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:27:22 +0000 k. a. gardner http://www.flipsideflorida.com/?p=1095 [Aug. 3, 2009] Via Nancy Rubin, Communications Director, Jacksonville Port Authority

Hanjin Terminal Dames Point courtesy JAXPORT

We have begun the process of building the Hanjin Terminal by putting out the first bidding opportunity to businesses today.

It is a request for design firms to send us their qualifications to design the $300 million terminal.

Once this design contract is awarded, the project will start benefitting businesses and individuals (jobs and dollars) long before the terminal actually opens in late 2012 or early 2013.

You can find info on all of this here.

In December 2008, JAXPORT executives and representatives of the Hanjin Shipping Company of Seoul, Korea signed a 30-year lease agreement calling for construction of a 90-acre container facility at the Dames Point Marine Terminal in north Jacksonville. The $300 million Hanjin Container Terminal at Dames Point is expected to open for business by summer 2013 and will be a key hub operation for Hanjin’s east coast port activity.

If you have a question about contracts for the design or construction of the terminal, email Louis Naranjo, JAXPORT’s Manager of Procurement, and the answer will be posted on jaxport.com within the Hanjin contracts frequently asked questions (FAQ).

See here for more from the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

From the Florida Times-Union

FILE - This a photo of Michael Scott Speicher made aboard the carrier USS Saratoga in June 18, 1990 when he was promoted to Lt. Commander. Speicher, whose jet fighter went down Jan. 17, 1991 over Iraq, has been missing ever since. Officials said Sunday Aug. 2, 2009, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology has positively identified the remains of Captain Michael "Scott" Speicher, whose disappearance has bedeviled investigators since his jet was shot down over the Iraq desert on the first night of the war (AP Photo/Barry Hull, File)

After an 18-year saga, the remains of downed F/A-18 pilot Michael Scott Speicher have been found in Iraq, the Pentagon announced Sunday, buried in a grave near where his plane crashed on the first day of Operation Desert Storm.

“We thank the active duty men and women whose diligence has made this happen,” the family said in a statement about the search released by their lawyer, Cindy Laquidara.

The family, which declined to comment, is digesting the news but still has questions, Laquidara said, particularly relating to exactly when Speicher died.

“We’re discrediting the rumor that he died in the crash,” Laquidara said in an interview. “That’s just not accurate.”

That information does not fit with data the family has collected over the years, she said, an issue it will bring up during an expected meeting with the Defense Department.

Questions aside, the announcement moves Speicher’s family a step closer to ending the trial it has endured for almost two decades. …

Working hand in hand

I’d  like to hear  from  Maj. Rinaman about his Afghanistan rotation in further detail. I’d also like to know more about his service with the Florida National Guard, as he is a Major.  However, he seems to be completely OCCUPIED with the old library project, which Ajmal previously mentioned.

AS WE’LL RECALL …

“I was doing engineering, planning and environmental services consulting as well as acquiring and developing real estate projects. I got wind in November 2004 that I was likely going to get called up – I was alerted February 2005 and went on orders 28 March 2005 for 15 months.

“The impact here is that you’re in limbo -  whether to wind down your business operations, or not, beginning months before you actually mobilize. Then there is a three to six month reset and recovery period to get the business pipeline going again.  And that’s when times are good!

I put a group  together to respond to and RFP [Request for Proposal] to redevelop the Old [Haydon Burns] Library seven years ago during the [Mayor John] Delaney administration, which was not acted upon due to the impending change in the administration.

“The city of Jacksonville then started another RFP process in March of 2005.  I put together another group [Main Branch LLC] – we worked up a RFP response while I was at Camp Shelby [Miss.] spinning up for the deployment.  We had a presentation while I was on block leave two weeks before deploying in July 2005. We came  in third.

Off in the distance ...

I tracked it from Afghanistan as the whole process was covered EXHAUSTIVELY in the media:

… From Urban Jacksonville: The fate of the historic Hayden Burns Library could be decided today [June 17, 2005]. The city will choose from five different proposals, here is a rundown of a few of those.

1. Main Branch LLC plans to convert the library to condos, office space, a restaurant and a grocery store. Most important, Main branch will preserve the architecture, which is a defining element of Ocean Street. This would be the most advantageous for Downtown Jacksonville!

2. Peterbrooke Chocolate plans to convert the library to a chocolate factory. Sure this would be a PR success, “The entire city smells like chocolates!” However this brings no value to the residents/workforce of Downtown Jacksonville.

3. Atkins Group plans to convert the library to condos, retail space and a movie theatre. This would be more acceptable than the Peterbrooke plan, however a quality grocery store is sorely needed in downtown. Especially with the number of residential units increasing.

LONG STORY SHORT – I had one project I was still working from Afghanistan [unknown to the client] which I could expect to support me for a few months after redeployment, but my practice was pretty much dead after being out of the game for the better part of two years.

Then, we [Meet Main Branch LLC - Financial News and Daily Record, Sept. 16, 2006] won the right to negotiate for the Library after the OTHER TWO WENT AWAY.

Haydon Burns ~ Daytime rendering

“This took another year and we closed April 2007. I ‘ve been working on the development of the Library primarily. I am only recently beginning to spin my consulting practice back up.

“I also got married (Lisa) and had two boys (Mark Jr., two and a half years; and August  seven months)”

( The End?)

THE LAST KNOWN  DEVELOPMENT: Building occupancy commitments are  at 43 percent after FOLIO WEEKLY dropped plans as a key tenant because of the downturn in the economy. Banks are not lending because of a 50 percent requirement for leased spaced.  Financing Options … Applied Community Grants? New Markets Tax Credit Financing?

• Fantastic graphic presentation of the “The Library”  from Metro Jacksonville.

• Main Branch LLC‘s Web site.

STAY TUNED:  Possible update?

- k. a. gardner

]]> http://www.flipsideflorida.com/brothers-in-arms-mark-rinaman/feed/ 7 http://www.flipsideflorida.com/brazil-jacksonville-alliance-june-2009/ http://www.flipsideflorida.com/brazil-jacksonville-alliance-june-2009/#comments Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:33:54 +0000 k. a. gardner http://www.flipsideflorida.com/?p=939 Under discussion at the June 26, 2009 general meeting of the Brazil-Jacksonville Alliance were the status of Workforce Florida training grant and upcoming trade mission to Jacksonville’s most recent sister city designation – Curitiba, Brazil.

The $50,000 $55,000 Workforce Florida grant was awarded to the Alliance in February. JAXPORT’s manager of community outreach and environmental advocacy, Joanne Kazmierski, updated current status:

Curitiba~

We will train 100 people representing corporations, small businesses and entrepreneurs in preparation for business and cultural relations with Curitaba. The classes will be held at University of North Florida.   The Alliance will hire  ISD [Instructional Systems Design] curriculum writers, keeping the cost between $10,000-$20,000. Lake City Community College will assist in the process. This will be a 20-hour course. There will be focus-group meetings with local corporations to determine educational needs  for classes.  Small-business classes  start this fall – dates are to be determined. Once classes are over,  Brazil-Jacksonville Alliance members will network with the class participants. Questions about training to be addressed to Joshua Rodriggs, manager of Latin American and Intermodal sales, or Joanne Kazmierski.

A job-posting forum will be developed on the Brazil-Jacksonville Alliance Web site  for members-only to post  resumes and/or job descriptions to promote business between members and non-members in need of qualified a Brazilian workforce.

Rodriggs reported status of the first Brazilian trade mission meeting with Lad Daniels, president of First Coast Manufacturers Association. The power- point presentation for the trade mission has  been presented to Mayor Peyton, which he approved. Daniels is working with Mayor Peyton’s office and the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce to coordinate  dates  for the trip -  possibly October.

In closing, the Alliance currently has  a $3,000  bank account. Over $800  will be used to finalize donations to Brazil.

Rodriggs and  Kasmierski will speak to Mayo Clinic about sending one of  Mayo Clinic’s physicians to Brazil with this donation money for pro bono surgeries on children in need.

JULY 16TH — MARK SZAKONYI HAS AN UPDATE :

The head of a trade group devoted to stimulating trade between Jacksonville and Brazil has left the Jacksonville Port Authority to focus on the organization.

Joshua Rodriggs said he will now be able to devote more time developing business and trade opportunities through Jacksonville and the booming South American country through the Brazil-Jacksonville Alliance of Northeast Florida.

The alliance has ramped up its efforts in recent months. The alliance helped host the signing of a sister cities agreement with Jacksonville and Curitiba, Brazil. The group was also recently awarded a $55,000 grant from Workforce Florida.

The alliance has partnered with the Florida Banner Center for Logistics and Distribution, University of North Florida and Florida State College to develop curriculum and train 100 businesses in 2010. The group has also gained financial support from major companies, including Holland & Knight LLC, CSX Corp., Mayo Clinic and ICS Logistics Inc.

To find out more about the alliance’s entrepreneurship. business training and networking events, and trade missions, contact Rodriggs at (904) 703-2200 or at jrbrjax@gmail.com

The alliance’s annual meeting will be held 11:30 to 1 p.m. Aug 14 at Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce Cornerstone Division office, 3rd Floor Hadlow Board Room. RSVP your attendance to info@braziljacksonville.org

Categories: Education

Companies: Holland & Knight, University of North Florida, Florida Banner Center, Brazil-Jacksonville Alliance, Jacksonville Port Authority, CSX Corp., Mayo Clinic and ICS Logistics Inc., Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce