The Martin County Community Foundation will launch an initiative this month based on a popular development theory: Empower women to benefit the community.

The Center for Women’s Philanthropy, which will be run through the nonprofit foundation, will look for new entrepreneurial solutions to long-standing social problems.

Women must spend $1,000 a year for a minimum of three years to become a member. The money will be used either to pay for several small projects or for one large project, as determined by the members. (more…)

Detroit may have been rocked this year by the financial woes of American automakers, but evidence of the crisis can be found in almost every American city. In Fort Pierce, it’s seen in the empty lots where car dealerships once stood on U.S. 1.

Many franchise owners, even successful ones, were forced to close in the midst of bankruptcy proceedings for Chrsyler and General Motors earlier this year.

Now, with federal legislation passed this month, owners like Bill Wallace of Wallace Chrysler Jeep in Fort Pierce have recourse. (more…)

Sol, Inc., a Palm City-based manufacturer of outdoor solar lighting, has appointed a new business development manager for its international operations in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

Andy Chaguaceda, who will be based in Miami, has 30 years of electrical sales experience and has worked in Central America, the Caribbean and South Florida.

Sol, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets commercial and industrial-grade solar powered and energy efficient lighting systems. They have installed more than 38,000 systems worldwide.

PORT ST. LUCIE - And it’s a wrap.

The City Council Monday night unanimously gave final approval to a 20-year lease agreement with Wyndcrest DD Florida Inc. that requires the city to provide the company with 15 acres of land and a 150,000 square-foot movie animation and video game production studio within the Tradition development.

The move, finalizing a $51.8 million deal between the city and Wyndcrest, drew applause from local business and community leaders who urged the council to support the project because it would create much needed, high-paying jobs in the community. Nobody at the meeting spoke out against the project. (more…)

Liberator Medical Holdings, Inc., of Stuart, added two well-known members to its board of directors.

They are: Joseph Farish, a West Palm Beach lawyer and former judge, and Robert Cuillo, a former West Palm Beach car dealer and restaurateur.

Farish was involved in several high-profile cases, including the 1982 divorce of Roxanne Pulitzer. Cuillo owned Palm Beach Lincoln Mercury in West Palm Beach and currently owns or co-owns two restaurants in Palm Beach County.

Liberator Medical Supply Inc., a subsidiary of Liberator Medical Holdings, sells more than 5,000 products to Medicare-eligible patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

Support is growing for another of St. Lucie County’s “green” initiatives.

Four banks have committed a combined $20 million to establish a non-profit bank that would provide low-interest loans to homeowners and businesses looking to make environmentally friendly changes, such as installing solar panels. (more…)

The Fort Pierce City Marina, the crown jewel of downtown Fort Pierce before being ravaged by hurricanes five years ago, may finally be rebuilt.

City officials say the $20 million project will be an environmental and economic boon to the city, adding to revitalization efforts downtown.

Already, Marina Square and the river walk have been restored. A new library and county courthouse have gone in. Community events often are held downtown.

The only thing missing, city officials say, is to restore the city-owned marina. (more…)

TRADITION — Imagine waking up Christmas morning, expecting a real-live puppy and instead finding a stuffed animal under the tree.

Or worse: find nothing. (more…)

ST. LUCIE COUNTY – Impact fees will go up by about $3,000 on new homes after County Commissioners opted early Wednesday to follow staff recommendations on adjusting the fees.

The County Commission voted 4-1 with Commissioner Chris Craft voting against.

Impact fees are taxes on new homes and buildings designed to pay for schools, parks, libraries and other things needed for such developments. The county followed the guidelines of consultant James Nicholas, who analyzed the county’s impact fees. Nicholas said he did not see impact fees changing the amount of building and home buying in the county, noting there were impact fees during the boom.
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