CEO Pays $1 Million to Rename Equestrian Center

Donation announced at news conference trumpeting “momentum” Jacksonville now has in developing a commerce center
Donation announced at news conference trumpeting “momentum” Jacksonville now has in developing a commerce center

RISMEDIA, November 13, 2006?(MCT)?A Jacksonville, Florida businessman involved in setting up the city-owned Equestrian Center at Cecil Field has donated $1 million to the center in exchange for the right to rename it.

The center will be called the “Semanik Equestrian Center at Jacksonville” in honor of John “Sandy” Semanik, whose donation was announced at a Thursday news conference trumpeting the “momentum” the city now has in developing the commerce center.

Although city and economic development officials refused to name particular companies with whom they were discussing the site, they said the decision to keep the land as a commerce center would make attracting such tenants easier. “This really builds momentum for us,” said Ron Barton, executive director of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, which oversees about 8,300 acres at the site.

Semanik’s donation, which will be used to add infrastructure at the site, with possibilities including a second arena or new barns, was the highlight of the news conference in the hangar of aircraft modifier Flightstar.

Semanik, chief executive officer of SEDA Construction Co., had discussed making the donation for several months, he said, but held off until the future of the site was sure.

“The Cecil controversy slowed things down a bit,” Semanik said. “It put us on somewhat of a holding pattern. I feel very confident now.” On Tuesday, voters rejected a referendum that could have paved the way for the Navy to return to Cecil Field, which it turned over to the city in 1999.

Adding buildings to the site will help in attracting equestrian events, said Bruce Stutsman, chairman of the Northeast Florida Equestrian Society, which has 40 weekend events scheduled for 2007.

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