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$20,000 Scholarships Available At USF For Students Who Agree To Teach
The University of South Florida will use a federal grant to pay for students enrolled in its science teacher training program. The program will help with Florida’s short sup- ply of middle and high school science teachers.
The state could get 36 new teachers once they complete the university's five-year train- ing program. To get USF's $20,000 scholarships, a stu- dent must teach in the state’s public schools for four years.
USF oversees a $1.5 billion
budget for 48,000 students. The National Science Foun- dation grant will also go to- ward $5,000 for five undergraduate students spending the summer as sci- ence education research in-
terns with university faculty.
Longtime Funeral Home Manager Passes
Ms. Wanda Kay John- son, longtime Manager of Stone’s Memorial Funeral Home, passed away peacefully in her sleep, Tuesday, March 2, 2015.
Ms. Johnson was from Canton, Mississippi, where
most of her family remains. She was very much loved by her family and friends.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time. Con- tact Stone’s Memorial Funeral Home for more information (813) 237-1134.
County Commissioners Approve $2.1M Incentive For Johnson & Johnson
Hillsborough County commissioners approved a $2.1 million incentive package on Wednesday de- signed to persuade Johnson & Johnson to build a op- erations headquarters here. If the deal materializes it would create 700 high-wage jobs in the county.
Local incentive payments would be matched with $7 million in state dollars, Lindsey Kimball, Hills- borough County Economic Development head, told commissioners.
"As with all of our projects, these payments are made post-performance, after there's evidence of the jobs created in the time frame required and at the wages and capital investment required by the agree- ment," she said.
The jobs would pay an average wage of at least $75,000, she said.
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) is the second publicly identified company to bring a job creation proposal before commissioners in less than a month.
Shopping Is Truly A Pleasure: Publix Tops $30B In Sales In 2014
Most people are loyal when it comes to buying groceries. And, here in Florida, Lakeland-based Publix Super Markets Inc. has stuck to its family-based mindset and focused on its clientele. That model has led to Publix remaining one of the top grocery chains in the U. S. With $30.6 billion in sales in 2014, Publix customers like everything about its stores.
The grocer released an annual report on Monday that detailed its profits and plans. The report also reveals the chain’s plans to invest $1.3 billion in new store construction, remodeling and tech- nology in 2015. It also plans to continue investing in real estate, buying up the shopping centers its stores anchor.
Many grocers are struggling to adapt, the Kash n Karry aka Sweet Bay aka Winn Dixie for example, as specialty stores eat up market share, but Publix is thriving. The grocer is one of the largest em- ployers in Tampa Bay, with 33,000 of its 175,000 employees part of the region's workforce.
More Renovations Planned For
Amalie Arena
The Tampa Bay Lightning aka Jeff Vinik are moving forward with $25 million in renovations to Amalie Arena that will up- grade concession areas, add new seats and rebuild the club level.
Hillsborough County Commissioners on Wednesday unanimously approved a $12.5 million reimbursement deal with the Light- ning for the renovations, funded through the hotel bed tax.
"The Amalie Arena is nice, but we are com- peting with newer facilities, notably one 60 miles away — the Amway Center," Com- missioner Ken Hagan said. "Therefore it is in our economic interest to invest in this county-owned asset."
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