Emerson International Negotiates two new lease agreements totaling more than 3,370 square feet of office space at Louisiana Office Park

Altamonte Springs, Fla. --- Emerson International recently closed on two lease agreements totaling 3,372 square feet of office space at Louisiana Office Park, 1133 and 1155 Louisiana Ave. in Winter Park. Zac Starkey, commercial associate at Emerson International, negotiated both lease agreements. Behavioral Associates leased 2,099 square feet of office space while Onward Behavioral Health, Inc. leased 1,273 square feet of space.

Hendricks & Partners Negotiates $8 Million+ Sale of The Park at Ashley Place Apartments in New Port Richey

TAMPA, Fla. --- Hendricks & Partners, which ranks as one of the nation’s largest and most active multi-family investment banking and research companies, recently negotiated the sale The Park at Ashley Place luxury apartments located on Vista Verde Drive in New Port Richey for $8.050 million or $56,293 per unit. The community was 95 percent occupied at the time of closing. Cole Whitaker, partner who heads Hendricks & Partners in the Southeast, negotiated the sale with senior investment advisor Jason Stanton of the firm’s Tampa Bay office representing the seller, Blue Rock Partners, LLC. The 143-unit apartment property was built in 1986 with an average unit size of 784 square feet.

University Club of Orlando to Recognize Scholarship Winners from Local Schools at Annual Foundation Dinner Oct. 4

ORLANDO, Fla. – The University Club of Orlando will honor and recognize more than 20 local student scholarship winners during its annual Foundation Scholarship Dinner Oct. 4. Justin Wright, general manager of the University Club of Orlando, said the scholarships totaling some $50,000 were recently awarded to deserving students at the University of Central Florida, Rollins College, Valencia State College, Seminole State College, and Florida A&M School of Law. Wright said raising money for these local scholarships is one of the principal missions of the University Club members.

AceApplications Earns One-Year Extension to Continuing Services Contract with Florida Agencies

ORLANDO, Fla., --- AceApplications, LLC in Orlando was recently awarded a one-year extension of its continuing services contract to provide state agencies in Florida with Custom Application Development and Integration, Analysis and Design, Operational Support and IT Staffing Services, via State of FL Contract # 973-561-10-1. Courtney Powell, CEO at AceApplications, LLC, said the firm was initially awarded a continuing services contract in September 2009. The extension means AceApplications can continue to serve Florida agencies through August, 2013. Powell said the continuing contract process makes it easier for state agencies to hire highly qualified professional service providers in a timely and efficient manner. “State agencies don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time they let a contract for specified services,” Powell said. With a continuing services contract, a formal bid process is not required by the agency, best practices for agencies are built in to the contract, vendors are pre-qualified and project and practice areas are specified. Hourly rates are classified, capped, and easily accessible to users before the buying process begins. AceApplications, LLC, a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program located in Central Florida Research Park, is a state and county certified minority owned business that offers information technology consulting services, software applications and web development, and technical training for small and large businesses, government agencies and schools. About AceApplications, LLC – AceApplications is a state and county certified minority owned business established in 2001. The firm is a technology solutions provider for businesses, schools, and government agencies, delivering custom software and web development, cloud computing solutions, IT staffing, and technology sales. Their team has over 50 years of combined industry experience, and has built a strong reputation for consistently delivering high quality, reliable solutions and great customer service to clients including Florida Hospital, State of Florida universities (UCF, UF), Florida Department of Transportation, and others. For more information, please visit www.AceApplications.com. About the UCF Business Incubation Program Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 200 emerging companies (including more than 134 current clients) create over $363 million in annual total economic output and more than 3,120 new jobs (taking direct and indirect and induced impact into account) with an average salary of $59,000. With ten facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Business Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development among the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Apopka, the City of Winter Springs, the City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, Volusia County and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information about the Program and its clients and graduates, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu and UCFBIP on Facebook, on www.facebook.com/ucf4bip.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Purchase of Daytona Beach Oceanfront Parcel

MAITLAND, Fla. -- NAI Realvest recently negotiated the acquisition of a vacant oceanfront residential parcel at 1299 S. Atlantic Ave. in Daytona Beach for $775,000. Chris Butera, investment associate at NAI Realvest, negotiated the transaction representing the buyer, a local investor. The $775,000 sale price of the 1.21 acre oceanfront site is among some of the most attractive pricing the area has seen yet for vacant oceanfront property, according to Butera. The seller, Equity Resource Partners IV, LLC of Atlanta was represented by Bill Little of Watson Commercial Realty in Jacksonville. About NAI Realvest NAI Realvest, covering all of Central Florida, is a fully integrated commercial real estate operating company specializing in brokerage, development, investment, leasing and management, consulting and research services in the U.S. and worldwide. NAI Global is an international commercial real estate network with over 350 offices spanning the globe. Since 1978, clients have built businesses on the power of NAI Global’s expanding network. Extensive services include multi-site acquisitions and dispositions, sublease, tenant representation, lease administration and audit, investment services, due diligence and related consulting and advisory services. To learn more, visit www.NAIRealvest.com.

Two Jacksonville Area Del Webb Communities to Host “Cook for the Cure ” Fundraising events Sept. 22 and 28 to Benefit Susan G. Komen Foundation

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- Two Del Webb communities in the Jacksonville area – Sweetwater by Del Webb and Del Webb Ponte Vedra – will host “Cook for the Cure” fundraising events to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

Sean Strickler, vice president of sales for the North Florida Division of Del Webb, said Del Webb communities across the nation have been cooking up events featuring KitchenAid prizes and activities to benefit the Komen breast cancer foundation.

At Sweetwater by Del Webb the fundraising event is scheduled for Saturday Sept. 22 from 10 a.m. to Noon at the Sweetwater Summerland Hall clubhouse, featuring a brunch and guest speaker.

At Del Webb Ponte Vedra the fundraising event on Friday Sept. 28 includes breakfast in the community’s Anastasia Clubhouse starting at 9:30 a.m. and will also feature a guest speaker.

Strickler said both “Cook for the Cure” events will feature raffle prizes.

The public is invited and RSVP is requested. To RSVP for the Sept. 22 event at Sweetwater, go to www.delwebb.com/sweetwater or telephone 877-418-1705.

To RSVP for the Sept. 28 event Del Webb Ponte Vedra, www.delwebb.com/pontevedra or telephone 877-418-1706.

“‘Cook for the Cure’ is one of many events that our Del Webb residents enjoy participating in to give back to a great cause,” Strickler said.

Last year, residents living in Del Webb communities raised more than $50,000 toward the fight against breast cancer, supporting a partnership with KitchenAid and Komen, which has raised more than $8 million in the past decade.

About Del Webb
Del Webb, the pioneer of active adult retirement communities, is America’s leading builder of developments for people ages 55+. Since 1960, Del Webb has redefined retirement and retirement living by meeting the housing and lifestyle needs of the active Baby Boomer. Del Webb’s amenities and program offerings provide residents an engaging environment, which fulfills their creative, social, physical fitness and intellectual needs as they journey into the next chapter in their lives – whether it means retirement or still working. Del Webb has grown to more than 50 communities currently open for new home sales in 20 states. For more information on Del Webb, visit www.delwebb.com. To learn more about how to plan a smart future, check out financial tools at delwebb.com/value.

About PulteGroup
PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM), based in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., is one of America’s largest home building companies with operations in approximately 60 markets throughout the country. Through its brand portfolio that includes Centex, Pulte Homes and Del Webb, the company is one of the industry’s most versatile homebuilders able to meet the needs of multiple buyer groups and respond to changing consumer demand. PulteGroup conducts extensive research to provide home buyers with innovative solutions and new homes designed for the way people actually live today. As the most awarded home builder in customer satisfaction, PulteGroup brands have consistently ranked among top home builders in third-party customer satisfaction studies.

For more information about PulteGroup, Inc. and PulteGroup brands, go to pultegroup.com; www.pulte.com; www.centex.com; www.delwebb.com

ICI Homes Names Seasoned Executive to serve in Sales Operations in Daytona Beach Area

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --- ICI Homes, which ranks as one of the most active luxury home builders and luxury community developers in the U.S., has appointed Alistair Robert Brown to serve in sales operations in the Daytona Beach area.

Rosemary Messina, vice president of sales and marketing for ICI Homes said Brown, a golf professional in Scotland for many years, is an award-winning sales executive who has more than 20 years of experience in the homebuilding industry and community development.

Brown was formerly vice president of sales for WCI Communities in Bonita Springs, Fla., according to Messina. More recently Brown was president of Old Palm Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens.

In the new role Brown will be based at ICI’s community of Plantation Bay Golf and Country Club in Ormond Beach.

“Alistair is a very talented sales executive. With the advantages of his extensive experience he will serve our sales operations team very well,” Messina said.

About ICI Homes
ICI Homes is ranked by Builder magazine as one of the top 100 homebuilders in the nation. The 32+-year-old firm builds new homes and resort facilities in the Volusia-Flagler region as well as in Jacksonville, Orlando, Melbourne and Tampa.

University Club of Orlando to host golf tourney Oct. 13 to benefit scholarships for deserving Central Florida students

ORLANDO, Fla. – The University Club of Orlando will host a golf tournament at Rio Pinar Country Club, Saturday, Oct. 13 to benefit University Club Foundation scholarships for deserving Central Florida students.

Justin Wright, general manager of the University Club of Orlando, said the golf play is open to University Club members and guests.

The four person scramble tourney will tee off at 1 p.m., Wright said.

Rino Pinar Country Club is located at 8600 El Prado Ave. Orlando Fl 32825.

Entry fee for the tourney is $100. For information or to register call 407-425-2514 or visit www.ucluborlando.com

Lennar Offers Zero Down or Zero Closing Costs on 153 Move-In Ready Homes in 14 Communities in the Tampa Bay Area

TAMPA, Fla. --- Lennar is offering potential home buyers their choice of either Zero Closing Costs or a Zero Down Payment on the purchase of 153 ready-to-move-in homes in 14 communities in the Tampa Bay region.

Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said monthly mortgage payments for a new Lennar-built home can be as low as $1,103 with Lennar’s preferred lender Universal American Mortgage Co.

“Nearly 200 home buyers took advantage of our Zero Down offer last month,” Metheny said. “With record low interest rates and the lowest pricing in years, this is the best time ever to buy a new home in a Lennar community in the Tampa Bay region,” Metheny said.

The offer applies to Lennar’s “Everything’s Included” homes, which offer a wide range of appliances, special features and add-ons at one “Everything’s Included” price.

Plan to visit one of Lennar’s Welcome Home Centers in the Tampa Bay area open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday–Saturday and Sundays 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Visit www.lennar.com, for more details, or call 888-317-7489.

Mercantile Capital Corporation reports loan volume for first eight months of 2012 up more than 190 percent

ORLANDO, Fla. — Mercantile Capital Corporation, which specializes in U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 loans for small business owners who want to acquire or develop their own facilities, reported it closed 75 SBA loans to finance projects valued at more than $318 million thus far this year from January through August.

Christopher Hurn, chief executive officer of Mercantile Capital Corporation, said the loan volume represents a 190 percent increase over the firm’s loan volume for the first eight months of 2011.

Hurn said the firm provided loans in 2011 to finance projects valued at $174 million in total project costs.

In August, Mercantile Capital closed seven SBA 504 loans to finance projects worth more than $26.6 million in total project costs.