Business Briefs

Business Briefs

Gerdau Ameristeel okays expansion

JACKSONVILLE, FL - Gerdau Ameristeel Corp. is moving forward with a previously announced expansion of its steel mill in Jacksonville.

The company released a statement that it has approved the first two phases, and engineering, equipment procurement and subsequent construction will begin immediately.

The expansion is expected to result in a melting and rolling capacity in excess of 1 million tons per year in rebar products.

Gerdau Ameristeel (NYSE: GNA), headquartered in Tampa, is the second largest mini-mill steel producer in North America.

Discount travel packages available

NORTHEAST FLORIDA - Area hotels and tourism leaders are offering discount travel packages to residents within a three-hour drive as a way to revive business after a slow start to 2008.

Average room occupancy rates dropped by nearly six percent among hotels and motels in the Jacksonville metro area this year through April, according to a recent report from Smith Travel Research, a national lodging data provider.

Occupancy rates are expected to either get worse or level off during the summer. So many hoteliers are joining with tourism leaders in promoting packages during summer holidays and weekends and are targeting the leisure traveler within a three-hour drive of Northeast Florida.

FP&L bills to rise by about 8 percent

The Florida Public Service Commission approved an 8 percent increase in fuel costs for Florida Power and Light Co. customers -- half of what the company asked for.

Customers will still pay the full $746 million in additional fuel costs the Juno Beach-utility has incurred due to rising natural gas prices, but the other half will be postponed until 2009. The increases will begin in August.

FP&L said a 1,000 kilowatt-hour monthly residential bill would increase by $8.14, from $102.63 to $110.77, or about 8 percent. Based on current market prices for fuel, FP&L estimated that a 1,000 kilowatt-hour monthly residential bill in 2009 would increase by about 10 percent, to about $122.

FP&L serves customers in all Northeast Florida counties except Duval.

Business briefs reports what’s happening to local and area businesses. Items can include mergers, relocations, office and store openings, honor and awards, promotions, classes, personnel changes, or business events. Send information to news@northfloridanewsdaily.com  Photographs must be clearly labeled and must be jpg format. You can also mail information to Theus Media Group, P.O. Box 1900, Glen St. Mary, FL 32040