Solar Energy Inititatives Inc.'s President and CFO Greg Bakeman speaks to the media at the Renew the Nation kick off news conference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW67j3odj7g&feature=email

Solar Energy Initiatives Kicks Off Renew the Nation Campaign

City Council Member Dr. Johnny Gaffney addresses the media.

Solar Energy Initiatives, Inc. announced a partnership with three Jacksonville job training and placement agencies to train displaced workers as solar energy installation and maintenance technicians at a Jacksonville news conference Tuesday, Sept. 8.

This new partnership is a first step in Solar Energy’s Renew the Nation campaign intended to promote job growth and economic development nationwide by providing a trained workforce to enter the fast growing renewable energy industry. The program, pending final approval by the Jacksonville City Council, is being funded by $387,000 in federal stimulus dollars provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Joining Solar Energy in this job training collaborative is Community Rehabilitation Center (CRC), Northeast Community Action Agency (NFCAA) and WorkSource. Solar Energy is providing the training curriculum and materials, while CRC will manage the program and NFCAA and WorkSource will supply the trainees.

The training facility, to be called CRC Institute, will be located at Pearl Plaza at the corner of North Pearl and 44th streets. The first class of 40 participants will begin in later this year.

Visit www.solarenergy.com for more information.

August Art Walk

Access PR participated in another great Jacksonville Downtown Art Walk on August 5th. This month we had two outstanding local artists: Atlantic Beach Photographer Ashley Grandstad (http://www.brookeimages.com/) and St. Augustine Painter Kelley Moore. We also had the pleasure of hosting two young volunteer fundraisers - Ana Finotti and Mercer Peek - who sold lemonade and handmade bracelets to raise money for the Jacksonville Humane Society.
We'll be announcing the local artist for September Downtown Art Walk in the coming weeks.

St. Augustine artist Kelley Moore with her Popsicle Girls at the August 5th Downtown Art Walk at Access Public Relations office in The Carling on West Adams Street.

Solar Energy Initiatives Plans West Texas Solar Park

Ponte Vedra Beach-based Solar Energy Initiatives Inc. has signed a contract securing land in west Texas for the design, construction and operation of a 300 megawatt solar park.

Here's the announcement:

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20090729005345/en.

JAA Hires New CEO/Executive Director

The Jacksonville Aviation Authority has hired Steven Grossman as the authority’s next CEO/Executive Director.

Grossman, currently Director of Aviation at Oakland International Airport in Oakland, Calif., is the second CEO and executive director to lead the JAA since it became an independent authority in 2001. He replaces John Clark, who left the post in April to take a similar position at Indianapolis Airport Authority.

“We had tremendous interest in the executive director position and a number of extremely qualified candidates,” said JAA Chairman Ron Weaver, who also served as co-chair of the Search Committee. “But after our due diligence and interviews with the top eight candidates it was the unanimous choice of the Search Committee that Steve was the best candidate to lead the JAA at this time. He has a proven track record at the airports he’s managed, strong management skills and excellent interpersonal skills.”

“I am honored and humbled by this appointment as CEO and Executive Director of the Jacksonville Aviation Authority,” Grossman said. “I have been very impressed with everyone I have met from the Board to the staff. I see numerous opportunities on which the Authority should seek to capitalize, and the real challenge will be to position ourselves to be successful in maximizing these opportunities.”

Grossman added, “I will be reaching out to all elements of the community, first to seek to understand what these very important stakeholders want their Airports to be and second to find ways to work together to meet shared goals. We will also be reaching out to all levels of government to form partnerships as well as to the private sector."

For the past 16 years, Grossman has been Director of Aviation for Oakland International Airport, where passenger traffic was six million upon his arrival in 1992 and reached a peak of 14.7 million in 2007 before the current recession.

Panama City - Bay County Airport Reaches Agreement with Florida DEP

The Panama City – Bay County International Airport and Industrial District (Airport Authority) has reached agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) on a series of steps to address temporary stormwater management issues that occurred during construction at the new Panama City – Bay County International Airport construction site in northwestern Bay County.

The Airport Authority reacted quickly in May 2009 to address the stormwater management issues. Since then, the Airport Authority and FDEP have been working together on a final agreement based on the plan submitted by the Airport Authority to address environmental concerns. Under terms of the agreement, the Airport Authority has agreed to pay a $251,000 fine to FDEP.

The Airport Authority is working with FDEP to reinvest the fine in further environmental improvements at the new airport.

The airport is scheduled to open in May 2010.

To get the lastest construciton updates visit http://newpcairport.com/

Contruction of new Panama City - Bay County

International Airport's air traffic control tower

Aerial view of the new Panama City

Bay County International Airport

Team Access

at the

2009 Vestcor 5K Bridges Run

Vestcor 5K Run

The Vestcor 5K Bridges Run is this Saturday, July 18,  in downtown Jacksonville. The event benefits many local charities. It is not too late to register at any of the four 1st Place Sports shops. Access PR  is hosting a team of 20 runners. Be sure to look for  the Access PR team. They will be wearing new Access PR T-shirts. Check back next week for photos of the run.

Register here to run in the race.