Tax Day, one of the most important days of the year for businesses of all sizes, is just a month and a half away. Although some people have been preparing for weeks, others may still be struggling to get everything in order for Uncle Sam. United Way’s VITA Program and tax website are here to...

The National Business Incubation Association has named the Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator as a finalist for the 2013 Incubator of the Year Award in the technology focus category. The winner will be announced April 9 at NBIA’s conference in Boston. The Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator, located in the Progress Corporate Park in Alachua, is operated by the...

Metal dealer claims fines over employee holding sign violate its First Amendment rights. By Chris Eversole A metal dealer is suing Alachua County over its code enforcement policy on handheld signs, claiming it was a violation of the First Amendment. Precious Metals Group, based in Jacksonville, filed a lawsuit in federal court in Gainesville on...

Working professionals now have increasing choices for furthering their business education. By Caitlyn Finnegan When Julian Miller graduated from the University of Florida with a building construction degree in 2007, he knew he’d have to create his own business opportunity during the lull in Florida’s construction industry. He started his own green building consulting firm,...

By: Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce Flagg and Denslow to lead research on alternative governing approaches based on approaches in peer communities. The Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce has created an Energy Study Group to research and gather data on peer communities, their energy processes and the governance structures currently in place. The results of...

A closer look at the historic state preserve reveals centuries of economic influence.   By Caitlyn Finnegan   When you think of rural Florida, it’s often wide-open expanses like Paynes Prairie that come to mind. Its marshy creeks, Spanish moss-covered oak trees and fields of grazing animals—including American bison and wild horses descended from the...

By Jing Jin Like other successful business stories, this story begins with a meeting. In this case, the meeting wasn’t at a coffee shop or in a garage, but in a museum. In October 1970, Jim Brown, Miriam Greenfield and Dick Beardsley got together at the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art to brainstorm the...

    By Caitlyn Finnegan       When your company’s mission is to design one-of-a-kind settings, employees never have to worry about doing the same project twice. At ThemeWorks Inc. in High Springs, the daily to-do list can range from designing the entrance for a new rollercoaster to recreating an ancient Egyptian tomb for...

By: Chris Eversole Candidates differ widely on helping business and being responsive.   While the candidates running for mayor of Gainesville in the March 19 election agree on generalities about moving the city forward economically and being responsive to the public, they have wide-ranging views on specifics. Here is what five of the six candidates...

Some builders say demand is low for new urban development. By: Chris Eversole The outlook for development in the Gainesville area is mixed—with good news and bad news. On one hand, building is picking up. On the other hand, some people involved in development are troubled by two challenges: fear that government is forcing development...