Tallahassee Democrat Business News

By its own labeling, the product is zany, silly, even crazy — packs of colorful rubber bands that are molded into various shapes. But for business partners Annie Mischo and Sherrie Elgar, the business is real.

Online voting has begun in the second season of the weLiveFIT Challenge, the 10-month financial fitness competition by Florida Commerce Credit Union that has a $10,000 cash prize for the winner. Nine area families are working to save more money, reduce debt and improve their credit scores. Unlike the 2009 competition, the public gets to help determine the winner, Florida Commerce said. The public is invited to visit www.weLiveFITChallenge.com through June 25 and vote for their favorites.

David Watson won't soon forget the day Frances Rivers Cox stopped by his metal fabrication shop, Iron Images Inc. on Woodville Highway.

After more than 20 years working in the banking field, Cynthia Douglas changed careers and is pursuing her interest in styles and beauty aids for women, especially their hair.

LOCAL NEWS

Atlantis Club and Grill has been in Tallahassee for nearly 15 years, serving international cuisine and offering nighttime Latin entertainment. Last Friday, the restaurant, at 2717 Mahan Drive, served its last meal and on Saturday it hosted its last event.

The mayor who helped bring Pittsburgh through a transition from blight to beautiful challenged Big Bend leaders Wednesday to pursue their vision for the area, even if it carries with it some risk.

Tough loan approvals are now the norm

It has been Stephen Reid's dream to start his own clothing line ever since he was a freshman at Florida State University.

The mayor who helped bring Pittsburgh through a transition from blight to beautiful challenged Big Bend leaders Wednesday to pursue their vision for the area, even if it carries with it some risk.

So many of the entrepreneurs we help at the Jim Moran Institute are expressing frustration with financial institutions and their new lending processes.

Winning Small Business of the Year, 1-4 Employees on Tuesday made Laurel Blackburn feel like daytime drama actress Susan Lucci.

QUINCY — Local officials, legislators and county residents jammed the lobby of the Gadsden Memorial Campus of Capital Regional Medical Center for speeches and a ribbon-cutting Tuesday morning to celebrate the facility's opening.

The top small businesses in Tallahassee will take center stage today for the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce's 25th annual Small Business Excellence Awards.

The Alaska owners of a brand-new ship with oil spill response capabilities are offering the vessel to assist with Gulf Coast operations as the Deepwater Horizon spill edges closer to Florida beaches.

I was officially invited to join the AARP this week.

States have a unique opportunity to take a significant step forward in health-care delivery by implementing networks that allow the sharing of electronic medical records, the nation's coordinator for health IT told attendees at a Tallahassee meeting Friday.

Chuck Stensland and Bob Bethea hope Chubo's is a name you'll remember, especially after sampling their chili-cheese hotdog that has become the roadside eatery's signature item.

The Tallahassee security company Redwire LLC has formed a business alliance with Capital Security & Surveillance Inc., setting the stage for more services for customers and expansion into new markets, the companies have announced.

More and more businesses are adopting new technologies to save energy and garner applicable tax incentives. While saving energy and natural resources is critical, these decisions must be made within an economic framework.