ORLANDO-It's almost a done deal, Orange County government staffers tell GlobeSt.com on condition of anonymity. The Newport Beach, CA-based turbine engine manufacturer is holding out for a $1.4 million tax concession over 10 years from the state and Orange County.

CLERMONT, FL-Tampa, FL-based Westshore Development Group plans to break ground within 120 days on the first 500-home phase of Lost Lake Reserve, an ominous-sounding project that is going to bring 80 acres of commercial development, 600 apartment units, 2,500 new residents and take 10 years to build out in this once-idyllic community of 8,140 permanent residents. Clermont is 25 miles west of Downtown Orlando.

CLINTON, MS--The voice and data services company is eliminating positions across the board and not specifically in its long-distance sector as industry experts had speculated, Reuters reported Wednesday. WorldCom officials could not be reached for comment at GlobeSt.com's publication deadline.

ORLANDO-Travelodge Hotels Inc. of Parsippany, NJ has retained Lake Buena Vista Suites to build a 1,380-room Travelodge World Resort hotel in Lake Buena Vista, FL, minutes from the 30,000-acre Walt Disney World enclave. The estimated $20 million resort is scheduled to open in third quarter 2002.

ORLANDO-GlobeSt.com has learned from area hospitality brokers the Chicago investment family tentatively plans to break ground by yearend on what could become the largest Hyatt Hotel in its chain, a 1,500-room inn directly adjacent to the four million-sf Orange County Convention Center.

ORLANDO-Ajax Construction Co. of Orlando is building the 347,826-sf project for 1,864 students at a hard-and-soft construction cost of $115 per sf, up from a quoted $102 per sf last July. The $40 million high school is going up $16 million over the original planned cost, 25 miles west of Downtown Orlando.

ORLANDO-Michael J. Lipsey tells 150 corporate executives they are missing the train by not emphasizing more 'service' to clients in their daily performance, instead of concentrating wholly on transactions.

ORLANDO-Houston-based Weingarten Realty Investors paid the Atlanta REIT $54 million for the 50-year-old, 480,000-sf, 97% leased property, two miles from Downtown in a vibrant commercial market.