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On April 13th we will be hosting our next Investors Meeting, where we will provide details on economic development in our community. |
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Rapid Fire Success Stories |
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Neha Gupte, a sixth-grader at Lincoln Middle School, won the 2021 Alachua District Spelling Bee by correctly spelling the name of a legendary Scottish paradise that never changes — "Brigadoon."
“I didn’t know the story of Brigadoon, but I was able to sound it out,” said Neha after the competition. “My mom also used that word during one of our practices, so I’d already heard it.”
Neha was one of 28 fifth- through eighth-graders from public, charter, private and homeschool settings who competed recently for the title of the district’s top speller. Because of COVID-19, the competition was held through Zoom with a very limited audience. Learn more here
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Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV)’s K9 Team, Jason Berger and Beamer, have been selected to participate in the 2021 Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. nationwide fundraising calendar, and are featured in the month of March. Beamer is also featured on the calendar’s cover. Each year, twelve Law Enforcement K9s who are recipients of vests provided by the nonprofit organization are highlighted in the publication, along with a memorial page paying tribute to the four-legged heroes who have passed. Beamer, a yellow Labrador Retriever, who celebrated her fourth birthday Feb. 9, received her bullet- and stab-protective vest in 2019 from the national nonprofit, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. Learn more here.
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On March 1, 2021, GrayRobinson a full-service law and lobbying firm with 14 offices located across Florida and one in Washington, D.C.,will be moving to a new Gainesville office, a 3,620 square-foot office suite in the state-of-the-art Ingenuity building located in the Innovation District. The Innovation District is located between the University of Florida (UF) and Downtown Gainesville.
“We are excited to expand our footprint in Gainesville and continue our crucial presence in the Innovation District,” said GrayRobinson President and CEO Dean Cannon, who holds a J.D. and B.S. from UF; served as a UF Student Senator, Student Body President, and Vice President of Florida Blue Key; and is a part of the UF Hall of Fame. “It’s been an incredible opportunity for our firm and clients to be in the heart of the UF innovative incubator. We look forward to continuing to be a part of the Gainesville fabric, and building upon the strategic partnerships our attorneys have made within the public, private, and non-profit sectors to support the area’s economic development and prosperity.” Learn more here.
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Santa Fe College has been awarded Military Friendly status for the fourth year in a row, officials announced in a press release Thursday.
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With its flagship hospital already ranked the best in Florida, University of Florida Health has earned two more distinctions: It is No. 12 on Forbes’ list of the state’s best places to work and No. 50 in the nation for female workers.
The business magazine and website publisher recently issued its rankings of the 100 best workplaces in each state and the District of Columbia as well as a national list of the top 300 organizations for female workers. Learn more here.
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Researchers say there is an urgent need to develop a novel antibiotic that can be used against high-consequence bacterial pathogens as well as common bacteria. The development of new antibiotics by major pharmaceutical companies has been relatively uncommon even as drug-resistant bacteria have emerged. Among the work that will be done at UF is a technique known as the hollow fiber infection model, which allows scientists to model changes in drug concentrations over time, as they would occur in humans.
“We can actually study how a drug kills the bacterium and also how it prevents or suppresses the emergence of antibiotic resistance. It’s another arrow in the quiver of drug development,” said George L. Drusano, M.D., a professor and director of the Institute for Therapeutic Innovation. Learn more here.
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Only four months into his executive position as the CEO at Exactech, an unprecedented global pandemic–and the economic crisis to follow–temporarily delayed surgeries causing sales to plummet by 93 percent during the worst week.
Whether from a surgical joint replacement or going to a Gator basketball game, people from greater Gainesville know the name Exactech. The rich history of this homegrown company is the brainchild of orthopedic surgeon Bill Petty, MD, biomedical engineer Gary Miller, PhD, and organizational culture advocate Betty Petty, MA. Since its inception in 1985, the company has grown worldwide and continues to lead the industry in surgical technology and innovative implants. Whether suffering from injuries or arthritis, Exactech is passionate about remobilizing their patients.
“It’s what I love about our business, we really help people get back to what they love to do,” says Johnson. “Help mobilize people. It’s really a gratifying aspect of working at Exactech. Helping grandmothers lift up their grandchildren. Helping grandparents walk to the baseball field to watch grandkids play baseball.”Learn more here.
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Now ranked number 4 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, UF Online is also the most affordably ranked online pathway to a university degree in the country. The best part about UF Online is that it provides the same high-quality educational experience that on-campus students receive with courses specifically designed for the online learner. You can Learn more here. |
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Duke Energy’s (NYSE: DUK) commitment to helping customers through the Covid pandemic while also advancing a robust clean energy transformation kept the company among Fortune magazine’s 2021 list of the World’s Most Admired Companies for the fourth year in a row. Duke Energy was ranked 7th among gas and electric utilities.
“We’re grateful to receive this recognition on behalf of our talented team of nearly 30,000 employees who work every day delivering a smarter and cleaner energy future to our customers,” said Lynn Good, Duke Energy’s chair, president and CEO. “To deliver on our vision to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, we’re transforming and reshaping our company, from how we generate power and transform our fleet to the role we play in society. Even in this uncertain time, our teammates have worked tirelessly to ensure customers receive the value and experience they expect.”Learn more here.
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The College of Education at the University of Florida continues its six-year tradition
of being a national leader in online graduate education. Again, this year, UF is the nation’s top online graduate education degree program according to the 2021 Best Online Programs rankings released by U.S. News & World Report. UF earned the No. 1 spot nationally out of 296 other colleges of education for online graduate degree programs. The college has earned the top rank four of the last six years (2016, 2017, 2019 and 2021), dipping only one spot in 2018 and 2020. Learn more here.
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University of Florida neuroscientist Jennifer Bizon, Ph.D., an expert in brain aging, has been named chair of the UF College of Medicine’s department of neuroscience.Bizon, who has served as interim chair of the department since April 2020, succeeds longtime chair Lucia Notterpek, Ph.D., who is now associate dean for biomedical research at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine.
With an annual grant portfolio of over $21 million, UF’s department of neuroscience is ranked No. 5 nationally in funding from the National Institutes of Health. Learn more here.
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In early December, the Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce hosted Let’s Discuss Downtown with Downtown business owners and community partners, focusing on the Future of Downtown Gainesville. The event was held both live at the Cade Museum for Creativity and Innovation and virtually, where attendees could choose to participate via Zoom.
The goal of this meeting was to help regional stakeholders and local government officials hear from the business community and local workforce about potential barriers to the growth of Downtown Gainesville. The discussion included earnest comments about the successes and challenges that hinder the downtown area, including safety, housing, homelessness, walkability and lighting.
“Residents and visitors want a safe, clean environment and this is not always what we find when going downtown,” Becky Hunt said, with regard to what obstacles she sees hindering the development of Downtown Gainesville. Learn more here.
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Gainesville Theatre Alliance has announced two digital offerings to close their 2020-21 season. Due to continued COVID-19 restrictions at both Brenau University and the University of North Georgia, both shows will be filmed and edited through a collaboration with UNG's Film Department and streamed to audiences for free. Learn more here.
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Dave & Buster’s – the ultimate destination to eat, drink, play and watch – will open their ninth location in Florida on Monday, February 8th at the Celebration Pointe Mall in Gainesville, FL with new health and safety precautions in place to provide good clean fun for everyone.
As a token of appreciation for the heroes working on the frontline during this pandemic, along with our armed forces, Dave & Buster’s is offering 20% off Food & Game Play with valid I.D.
“We’re excited to finally open and bring our eat-ertainment center to Gainesville” said General Manager, Kendrick Smith. “As part of our commitment to the wellbeing of our guests and team members, we’ve enhanced our safety and cleaning protocols. We’re dedicated to providing a good, clean and fun experience for people of all ages.” Learn more here.
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Gainesville business owners within the new, single-district Community Reinvestment Area are invited to apply for financial incentives to help improve business storefronts. The Business Improvement Grant Program, offers a 50 percent matching grant, paid as a reimbursement, for eligible improvements to business exteriors. The program replaces the former Façade Improvements Incentive Program for Existing Commercial Buildings and utilizes GCRA funds to encourage private investment within the district. Learn more here.
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