Business Briefs

New pizza concept heads to Clay County

FLEMING ISLAND – Pizza lovers will soon have a new option on Fleming Island with the March 15 scheduled opening of Your Pie.

Jacksonville native Mike Sims, managing partner of LLTMC, LLC, has bought North and Central Florida franchise rights from the Athens, Ga.-based Your Pie pizza chain. Sims plans to open a second location in the Southside Boulevard and J. Turner Butler Boulevard area in early summer 2013.

Your Pie allows guests to "express your inner pizza" and offers choices. First guests select their dough-white, wheat or gluten-free. Then, they choose from six sauces, nine cheeses and more than 40 toppings to create a custom 10-inch pizza. The pizzas are then placed in a brick oven that bakes them in five minutes. Other menu items include bread bowl salads, Panini and Italian gelato.

Your Pie will also carry Coca Cola Freestyle and domestic and craft beers.

"The franchise may be young, but it’s clearly on target with what consumers’ want – a fast, fresh way to eat. It’s really your choice, you can eat as healthy (or not) as you want at Your Pie," Sims said.

Clay Electric trustees approve $4.5 million Capital Credits refund

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – Clay Electric members will see smaller bills in March.

The cooperative’s board of trustees recently approved a $4.5 million Capital Credits refund to entitled members of the co-op who received service between 1987 and 2011.

General Manager and CEO Ricky Davis said the trustees considered a variety of financial and economic conditions before deciding to make this refund. This will be the cooperative’s 39th consecutive refund of Capital Credits.

Capital Credits are any profits left over at the end of the year after expenses are paid that are assigned to members on a pro-rata basis. These profits, or margins, are refunded at future dates as Capital Credits. These refunds also help lower the cost of power for members of the cooperative.

Current members of the cooperative who are entitled to a refund will receive a credit on their March bills. The refund is determined by the amount of electricity used and by how long a customer has been a member of the co-op. The estimated average credit amount is $16.22. Members entitled to a refund but who are no longer receiving service from the co-op will be mailed a refund check in late March. The estimated average check amount for these former customers is $30.86.

Capital Credits are a source of equity for cooperatives. Capital Credits enable cooperatives to reduce the amount of money they must borrow for a variety of projects and purchases. This means less borrowed money and fewer interest payments.

La Russa joins First Atlantic Bank

JACKSONVILLE – An Orange Park resident has been named vice president and loan operations manager of a Jacksonvillebased bank.

Fred La Russa of Orange Park joined the First Atlantic Bank with more than 17 years of financial operations experience. His most recent banking position was as loan operations manager for First Guaranty Bank and Trust.

"Fred brings leadership and experience to our portfolio administration which will support and build our continued success," said Mitch Hunt, president and CEO of First Atlantic Bank. "We are fortunate to have his banking experience and loan operations knowledge to enhance our capability to provide an even greater level of service to our customers."

Garrison named to FCTC board

ST. AUGUSTINE – A St. Augustine-based technical school has named a Clay County resident to its board of directors.

Bill Garrison was recently given a unanimous vote to join the board of First Coast Technical College, which serves students in St. Johns, Putnam and Clay counties. Garrison currently serves as director of the Clay County Economic Development Council. A Clay County resident since 1985, Garrison has multiple fields of professional expertise in operational strategy which greatly complements the existing board, stated a news release.

More info about FCTC online at www.fctc.edu.