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Excellere Partners Sells Portfolio Company U.S. Water Services, Inc., to …

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DENVER, Feb. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Excellere Partners, a Denver-based private equity firm focused on partnering with middle-market entrepreneurs and management teams, announced today that it completed the sale of its portfolio company U.S. Water Services, Inc. (U.S. Water), to Allete (NYSE: ALE) on February 10, 2015. Headquartered in St. Michael, Minnesota, U.S. Water is an innovative provider of integrated industrial solutions for water treatment.

Excellere’s investment success in U.S. Water continues to demonstrate the Firm’s hands-on, disciplined value creation process that focuses on foundation building, process improvement and strategic growth initiatives to build best-in-class companies in attractive industry segments.  The execution of these strategic initiatives provided U.S. Water with the support to grow from an upper-Midwest regionally-focused provider of industrial water treatment services, to an industry leader with production facilities and representation nationwide. Following Excellere’s four year investment period the Company now serves a growing and diverse mix of over 3,600 customers, including a significant number of Fortune 500 companies. U.S. Water is known for  providing integrated water management solutions  combining chemicals, equipment and engineering services that  offer clients customized solutions to optimize system efficiency and reliability.  

Excellere’s exit of U.S. Water is a continuation of the tremendous momentum the Firm is currently experiencing.  According to Managing Partner David Kessenich, “The momentum started in July with an investment in DentMall, a Miami-based dental practice management company, and continued with three highly-successful exits, two additional platform investments, and one strategic add-on. The pace of activity continues into 2015 with a strong pipeline of new investment opportunities.”

In the midst of what many private equity insiders consider to be a challenging market, driven by excessive competition for quality companies and valuations at historical highs, Excellere has been able to achieve its most active period in the Firm’s history.  Kessenich went on to say, “It may seem like an over-simplification, but it’s a combination of a lot of hard work, a sound long-term investment strategy, a proprietary value creation model that is highly attractive to entrepreneurs and some good fortune.   In looking back over the last half of 2014, it really is a culmination of all the efforts we’ve put into our industry-focused investment thesis and the value creation programs that we implement with our management teams.”

In addition to the July DentMall investment that started this run for Excellere, in December the firm made investments in TrialCard Inc., a Raleigh, NC-based provider of patient access and medication adherence support services to the pharmaceutical industry, and completed the acquisition of a geospatial information software and services provider for Systems Integrity Management Solutions (SIMS), a Houston-based provider of asset integrity solutions to midstream and downstream energy companies. Excellere’s most recent investment occurred in January, with the recapitalization of a neuro-rehabilitation company that provides high-level, post-acute rehabilitation to persons who have sustained an acquired brain injury.

Exits have equally been active for Excellere.  In August, the Firm sold Personable Insurance, a San-Diego-based provider of specialty auto insurance programs; and in November, PhyMed Healthcare Group, a Nashville, Tennessee based anesthesia and pain management provider, was sold to Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.    

About Excellere Partners

Excellere is a Denver-based middle market private equity firm that has raised $737 million of committed capital across its two funds, Excellere Capital Fund I, L.P., and Excellere Capital Fund II, L.P.  The Firm specializes in partnering with entrepreneurs and management teams through majority recapitalizations and management buyouts.  Excellere deploys a buy-and-build strategy that provides its portfolio companies with capital as well as a proprietary value creation system designed to accelerate growth while enhancing corporate infrastructure.  Investments are focused on companies within the following industries: energy products and services; healthcare; industrial technology and services; business services; and agri-business.  For more information about Excellere, please visit http://www.excellerepartners.com

 

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Biden in NC: America must rebuild its infrastructure

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Adventure of the week: NC Cyclo-Cross at Biltmore – Asheville Citizen

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Even though it’s a year away, this weekend brings the final tune-up to the course for the USA Cycling 2016 Cyclo-Cross National Championships, which will take place on the Biltmore Estate in Asheville.

The first time the event will take place in the Southeast, the course and the event planning have been years in the making. This weekend the estate’s Antler Village plays host to the two-day North Carolina Cyclo-Cross Series Finale, but it’s basically a dress rehearsal for the 2016 National Championships.

Cyclo-cross is one of the fastest growing biking disciplines in the country. The 2015 National Championships took place last week in Austin, Texas.

The estate also hosted a cyclo-cross race last year, but race director Tim Hopkin said the course this Saturday and Sunday will look very different, in large part to the current construction taking place on a new hotel in Antler Village.

Cyclo-cross is known as the “steeplechase of bike racing,” said Hopkin, who is also director of Hendersonville Parks and Recreation and is himself a cyclo-cross racer.

The discipline is similar to mountain biking in that it takes place off-road, but traverses many different types of terrain. It takes place on a short course, with riders taking multiple laps based on their racing category. There are plenty of places for spectators to watch the racing. Terrain features will force bikers to dismount and run with their bikes. If the weather is cold, rainy or snowy, the race still goes on, adding to the growing appeal of the sport, Hopkin said.

Riders are timed on the 2.5K to 3.5K (1.5-mile to 2-mile) closed course. They ride multiple laps based on category, from juniors riding 30 minutes, elite women for 45 minutes and elite men for 60 minutes. Spectators at cyclo-cross, which originated in Europe, are known to get very close to the riders, and very into the spirit of the race, ringing cattle bells and cheering as well as heckling the riders.

Hopkin said he expects about 300 racers each day from across the region, including Kerry Werner, of Banner Elk, who races for Optum pro Cycling, and was the overall winner of the men’s elite category at the UCI N.C. Cyclo-cross Grand Prix sponsored by Hunter Subaru last month in Hendersonville.

Hopkin encourages people to either join the race — there is also a category for juniors — or to check it out. Even if you don’t watch the races, he said, the $11 ticket is a bargain to see the Biltmore Estate grounds. But he bets you’ll be sucked into the muddy, sliding, speeding, crashing action on the cyclo-cross course.

“The event is a great partnership between the Biltmore Estate, the Asheville Buncombe Sports Commission, N.C. Cyclo-cross and the Hunter Automotive Group,” he said. “Spectators are very much into cheering and heckling. It’s very much an interactive spectator experience. Bring your cowbells.”

What: North Carolina Cyclo-Cross Series Finale Weekend at Biltmore Estate.

When: Races vary based on category. They start each day start at 10 a.m. with the master’s men’s class on Saturday and Sunday. The elite women race at 2:30 and the elite men at 3:30 p.m. each day.

Where: Biltmore Estate.

Fee: In addition to a race entry fee per rider, there is an $11 weekend pass for all racers and spectators to enter the Biltmore Estate. The pass, which does not allow entry to the Biltmore House, can be upgraded for $26.75 to include a house tour.

Registration: Riders should preregister online at www.pre-reg.com. There is a $10 online preregistration discount. Riders may also register day of the event.

Directions: Enter the estate on Biltmore Estate Drive. The race will be held at Antler Village. Follow signs to collect passes and access the race site.

Information: Visit www.nccyclocross.com or contact Hopkin at Timothyhopkin@yahoo.com or 828-674-9782.

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BRAHM Announces Latest Exhibition: ‘Jerry Burns – Through the Lens’

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Feb. 12, 2015. The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM) is proud to present an exhibition on “Mr. Blowing Rock” himself, Jerry Burns. The exhibit, Jerry Burns: Through the Lens, is happening in collaboration with the Blowing Rock Historical Society. Nearly two-hundred photographs of the town and community will be on display, many of which were taken by Jerry during his time as editor of the Blowing Rocket. A reception for this exhibition and others on view will be held during an all out Winter Exhibition Celebration at the Museum on Friday, Feb. 13 from 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

“The winter season is a time when the Museum really places a focus on our local history and community,” says BRAHM’s Interim Executive Director, Bob McCammon. “We’re proud to be partnering with the Blowing Rock Historical Society to tell Jerry’s story, both as a photographer and an honored citizen of our beloved town.”

JB_Photos_Jerry_19Jerry Burns was rarely seen without a camera. He was known for his modesty, and as such, he preferred to be behind the scenes, taking in the action and capturing in every photograph the town that he so loved. And with nicknames like “Mr. Blowing Rock” and “Mr. Sunshine,” it’s easy to see that the community appreciated Jerry just as much in return. His work and dedication to the town became a symbol to the community for what it means to be a Blowing Rock citizen.

Jerry was born on June 18, 1940 as a resident of Watauga County, and he spent most of his life here in Blowing Rock. After serving in the United States Navy and graduating from the Appalachian Teacher’s College (now Appalachian State University), Jerry continued living in Blowing Rock and stayed involved with the town he grew to love. His most memorable accomplishment was being editor of Blowing Rock’s local newspaper, the Blowing Rocket, a title he held for forty-four years.

Along with his own photographs, Jerry was frequently presented with historical images of the town from various people, thinking he might be able to use them. Jerry’s collection grew over the years, as he had a deep appreciation for not only photography, but history, especially when it came to his hometown. Upon his retirement in 2009, Jerry gave the tremendous collection he had amassed to the Blowing Rock Historical Society, in hopes that they would be able to continue to tell the story of our beloved town.

This exhibition highlights the Historical Society’s vast collection. Through these photographs, we can see Jerry’s lasting imprint all around, from Main Street to the Blue Ridge Parkway. These photographs show Jerry exactly as he was: a citizen who gave rhythm to the heartbeat of a small mountain town, with a lot of big things to say.

General admission to the Blowing Rock Art History Museum is $7 for adults and $6 for students, seniors, active military, and children ages 5 and up. Donations are accepted for admission to the Museum on Thursdays. Located at 159 Chestnut Street on the corner of Chestnut and Main in Blowing Rock, NC, the Museum is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday (closed on Sunday and Monday). For more information, please call (828) 295-9099 or visit www.blowingrockmuseum.org.

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Our View: Long march to offshore drilling begins

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Posted: Thursday, February 19, 2015 12:00 am

Our View: Long march to offshore drilling begins

A month after the Obama administration said it would consider opening some of the country’s south Atlantic coastline to oil exploration, the process has begun.

There won’t be drilling for years to come. But there will be plenty of public hearings. The first in North Carolina was held Tuesday in Wrightsville Beach. About 400 people signed in for a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management session held to take public comments on the drilling plan. That was nearly double the total attendance at previous hearings in Washington, D.C., and Norfolk, Virginia.

Just down the hall from the meeting, about 150 drilling opponents held a “Just Say No” rally. Jonathan Barfield, chairman of the New Hanover Board of Commissioners, warned protesters about what oil spills could do to the region’s bread-and-butter industries: tourism and fisheries. “If we have offshore drilling here in our community, it will have a long-term effect,” he said.

It may, but no danger will materialize anytime soon. Even before the oil industry can begin prospecting off our coast, figuring out whether there’s oil or gas there and whether there’s enough to make drilling worthwhile, there will be environmental studies. And if those studies give a green flag to exploration, specific sites will be identified where drilling will be allowed. And that point is still years removed from full production.

Some of the people at the federal hearing brought up important questions. Drilling proponents say oil exploration will create thousands of new jobs. But how many of them will be filled by people living in North Carolina before the exploration begins? Won’t many of them be experienced oil workers and support teams that are based elsewhere? And what guarantee do we have that the oil or gas will even be brought ashore and processed in North Carolina?

We appreciate David McGowan’s optimism, though, even as we’re a bit skeptical. The executive director of the North Carolina Petroleum Council says he’s a native of our coastline and wants to make sure our shore is protected. “I want to see this done right,” he said. “I want to see it done safely and responsibly.”

So do we. And if oil or gas are found off our coastline, we hope North Carolina will be a national model for developing it safely.

But before that, we have a long hike ahead – starting with finding out what’s out there. This could be much ado about very little.

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Business news in brief

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Landscaper plans to open NLR nursery

Landscape designer Chris Olsen, owner of Botanica Gardens in Little Rock, is planning a North Little Rock nursery, Plantopia Home Garden Center Inc., at 3101 N. Hills Blvd., once occupied by Lakewood Nursery.

A zoning change requesting special use of the residential property is expected to go to the North Little Rock City Council on Monday. Lakewood Nursery had the same special-use permit when it operated there more than a year ago, but because the property has been vacant for so long, a new permit is needed, Assistant Planning Director Shawn Spencer said.

The parcel is 7 acres, with 4 acres taken by the nursery.

Olsen said he plans to debut the nursery and its offerings at this weekend’s Arkansas Flower and Garden Show at the Statehouse Convention Center.

— Cyd King

Builder names complex after daughter

Developer Brandon Huffman has named his new Little Rock apartment complex on Kanis Road after one of his daughters, McKenzie. Permits were recently obtained for the last four of seven 27,000-square-foot apartment buildings plus a 4,000-square-foot clubhouse and swimming pool. The latest additions are valued at $4.75 million, the permits said.

The complex at 14201 Kanis Road will be called McKenzie Park Apartments, Huffman said.

“We struggled with what to call them, we really did,” he said of the 168-unit complex. The apartments should be ready for lease this summer. It’s one of four projects Huffman is working on.

Huffman and a partner are also widening their side of Kanis Road in accordance with the city’s master street plan, which calls for Kanis to eventually expand to four lanes to accommodate an influx of apartments in the area near McKenzie Park Apartments.

— Cyd King

Fed minutes suggest lid tight on rates

WASHINGTON — Federal Reserve policymakers don’t appear ready to start raising interest rates anytime soon, with officials expressing concerns about inflation and lingering weakness in the labor market.

Minutes of the Fed’s Jan. 27-28 meeting released Wednesday show that officials struggled to determine the appropriate timing for a rate increase. The Fed’s benchmark interest rate has been at a record-low near zero since December 2008.

The minutes indicate that officials were concerned about dropping the word “patient” to describe how long they were willing to wait, fearing that could cause an financial markets to overreact. Some officials noted that wage growth has remained weak even as the unemployment rate has declined. Others noted that inflation remains below the Fed’s 2 percent target.

The minutes were released after the customary three-week delay.

Many economists believe that the Fed will not start raising rates until June, and recent developments that have pushed inflation even further below its 2 percent target have some analysts moving the start of rate increases even further into the future, possibly September.

— The Associated Press

Actavis plans name change to Allergan

Drugmaker Actavis is planning to change its name as it draws closer to finishing another big deal, the $66 billion purchase of Botox maker Allergan that it announced last fall.

Actavis said Wednesday that it will adopt the Allergan corporate name after securing Actavis shareholders’ approval for the switch at its annual meeting later this year.

Ireland-based Actavis outbid Canadian drugmaker Valeant Pharmaceuticals for Allergan with an offer of about $219 in cash and stock for each share. Both Actavis and Allergan shareholders are to vote on the deal March 10. Allergan is based in Irvine, Calif.

Actavis plans to use its new corporate name for its global portfolio of branded drugs, but it will keep Actavis for certain regions and products.

Actavis CEO Brent Saunders said in a statement from the company that the change will help ensure “that our corporate identity reflects the dramatic evolution of our company within the pharmaceutical industry.”

— The Associated Press

Atlantic City to add nongambling draws

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Making good on its vow to seek new, nongambling attractions, Atlantic City has announced redevelopment plans that include a giant Ferris wheel and zip line next to the Steel Pier, along with restaurants, a rebuilt Boardwalk and an elevated walkway in its inlet neighborhood.

The plans come as Atlantic City has lost four of its 12 casinos and is trying to make its tourism-centered economy less dependent on gambling.

The City Council is expected Wednesday night to approve an expansion of the iconic Steel Pier to make way for an already-approved observation wheel with enclosed, climate-controlled cars, and a zip-line ride.

It is also to approve a plan for the Northeast Inlet neighborhood that would add restaurants, rebuild the Boardwalk and install the walkway to draw new business there.

— The Associated Press

Duke: Near to U.S. ash-spill settlement

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Duke Energy said it expects to pay $100 million to settle an ongoing federal criminal investigation that began after a big coal ash spill at a North Carolina plant.

The details are contained in an earnings report filed Wednesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Raleigh began the investigation after a spill a year ago at Duke’s Eden plant coated more than 70 miles of the Dan River in toxic sludge.

U.S. Attorney Thomas Walker has declined to comment. But the extent of records sought by subpoenas in the case suggests that prosecutors are looking not only at the spill but also at the relationship between Duke and state regulators going back for many years.

— The Associated Press

N.Y. suit claims UPS ran untaxed smokes

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York authorities have accused United Parcel Service in a federal lawsuit of shipping 700,000 cartons of untaxed cigarettes in the state between 2010 and 2014 despite an earlier agreement to stop.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and New York City Corp. Counsel Zachary Carter are seeking $180 million from Atlanta-based UPS, saying the cheap cigarettes increased smoking by New Yorkers while also costing $29.7 million in lost tax revenue.

The lawsuit claims UPS shipped unstamped cigarettes from at least six unlicensed vendors on Indian reservations.

UPS denies it knowingly shipped cigarettes, saying it agreed in 2005 to stop delivering cigarettes to consumers nationwide.

The civil suit filed Wednesday in Manhattan seeks an injunction to halt the shipping along with damages and penalties for contraband cigarette trafficking and treble damages for enterprise corruption.

— The Associated Press

Cuba cuts price of Net access for a while

HAVANA — Cuba has temporarily reduced the hourly charge for using state-run Internet cafes in the country’s first small but substantive public move to increase online access since the declaration of detente with the U.S.

Virtually all home Internet connections remain illegal and getting online at government centers remains prohibitively expensive, with the cheapest hour now costing roughly 10 percent of the average monthly salary of $20.

Users nonetheless hailed the decision to cut the rate by 50 percent until April 10 in state centers that previously charged $4.50 an hour. The promotion gives Cubans two hours and 16 minutes for $5.

President Barack Obama said late last year that Cuba had promised to increase Internet access, although U.S. and Cuban officials have since provided few specifics about what that could mean.

— The Associated Press

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From the Gulf to New England, cold grips the US

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DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — A powerful winter storm dumped snow from Nashville to Nantucket, and arctic-like temperatures gripped much of the U.S. and hundreds of thousands of people lost power in the South.

While some shivered, others bundled up and tried to make the best of a frustrating situation. Here’s a look at how people were handling the land of ice, snow and subzero temperatures.

COLD CARNIVAL

If there was a theme for this year’s Mardi Gras costumes in New Orleans, it was ‘Brrrrr.’

Despite the chilly temperatures, the crowds were thick. Tutus were worn over jeans and many costumes, such as clowns or animals, were baggy enough to cover sweat shirts.

Erin Buran, of New Orleans, wore a white jacket and feathery angel wings.

“My angel wings have tequila in them,” she said, showing the mouthpiece of a hydration backpack covered by the wings.

ROOF WORRIES

Massachusetts officials stepped up warnings about the potential for roofs to collapse under the weight of snow that has built up in recent weeks.

Numerous partial roof collapses have been reported in the state but no serious injuries to date.

Two New Hampshire school districts remain closed a day after schools were evacuated over concerns of snow buildup on roofs.

ICE BABY

Some things just won’t wait, as Jerry Nuesell can attest.

With his wife 33 weeks pregnant, the couple was headed to the doctor’s office when Lisa’s contractions led them to UNC Hospitals for the arrival of their first born, a boy.

“Turned out the little fellow was ready to make an appearance much sooner than we planned,” Nuesell said Tuesday.

He watched his son be born, then drove 30 miles back to Cary, North Carolina, to take care of their dachshund, Schnitzel. Ice covered most of his windshield and the drive wasn’t easy.

“I had probably a good 6-inch-by-6-inch square that I had to peer through to get the best vision,” he said. “On multiple occasions, I thought this might not be the best idea.”

SURRENDER TO THE SNOW

The tourism office of Ithaca, New York, is waving the white flag, advising visitors on its website to check out the Florida Keys instead.

VisitIthaca.com’s home page displays sunny photos from Florida and provides links to Florida Keys information.

The top of the page reads: “That’s it. We surrender. Winter, you win. Key West anyone?”

Ithaca and the rest of upstate New York have been in the grips of a snowy and brutally cold winter.

ICY ROADS

Roads were icy and slushy, making driving difficult in many places and causing at least seven traffic deaths. There were three deaths in Tennessee, including a mother and son in Williamson County who stopped to help people in a sport utility vehicle that overturned in front of them when they were struck by a tractor-trailer. Two people were killed in Virginia as nearly a foot of snow fell in some places. In North Carolina, a woman died in a two-car crash in the northeastern part of the state. Two people were also killed in separate crashes in Maryland.

SPORTS CAR IN THE SNOW?

“I’ll just back up and fly out,” is the strategy Brent Seney had for freeing his black convertible Mazda Miata from the snow in the nation’s capital Tuesday.

Despite the thick blanket of snow along his street, Seney, 60, was confident his sporty ride could handle the roads. In fact, he planned to drive to his boat harbored at James Creek Marina in southwest Washington.

“I’ll shovel the snow off, make sure it’s not frozen too much because the harbor is all frozen in,” Seney said.

TRYING TO FLY

Trudging along a snowy sidewalk, Robin Winter and her daughter, Melissa, made their way to a Metro station in Washington so Mom could catch her flight home to St. Louis.

Robin Winter, carrying multiple bags and sporting a sock monkey hat, said she’d gotten into town Thursday, and had been watching the forecasts as the snow made its way across the country.

“If I would have decided to fly out Sunday night instead, you never know for sure if it’s gonna really happen until it really happens,” she said.

The Winters were optimistic the flight would not be canceled, though they were prepared for a delay. It appeared her flight left on time, but others weren’t so lucky. More than 1,800 flights were canceled at many airports, from Nashville, Tennessee, to the nation’s capital.

More than 2,000 travelers spent the night at Charlotte Douglas International Airport as a winter storm roared through North Carolina dropping snow, sleet and freezing rain on the region.

SNOWBALL FIGHT

Even though the snow in D.C. wasn’t ideal for a fight, people showed up anyway, some in costumes and battle gear. One wore a ski helmet and goggles, another had on a giraffe costume, and one wore a Captain America shirt and carried a shield.

“It’s not really snowball material. You can kind of get one, but it’s a lot of squeezing,” said Reco Thomas, of Alexandria, Virginia, as she tried to compact fluffy snow.

Rob Grell, a George Washington University medical student dressed as Batman, carried fellow student Shaunak Mulani on his shoulders as people pelted the two of them.

“This is overall just a fine time,” Mulani said as he shook off snow.

FIRST SHOVELER OUT

The sound of 61-year-old Joe Peldunas shoveling his driveway echoed across the otherwise quiet Marywood neighborhood in north Durham, North Carolina, around 8 a.m. Tuesday. No one else on his cul-de-sac was out, and there were few tracks in the layer of snow and ice more than a half inch thick on the road.

“This snow is probably going to stick around for a few days,” he said, adding that he wanted to clear his driveway as soon as possible.

Indeed, forecasters warned that temperatures over the next few days wouldn’t provide much relief.

TAKING IT IN STRIDE

After two hours of shoveling his steep driveway in the Cabe’s Mill subdivision of north Durham, North Carolina, 68-year-old Clay Shepherd was only halfway done. Still, he didn’t seem anywhere close to running out of energy. He was considering an afternoon hike along the nearby Eno River.

“It happens to be my 68th birthday. I didn’t imagine I’d be doing this,” he said, wearing a green sweater, dark jeans and a knit cap.

___

Somers reporter from Washington. Associated Press writers Amanda Lee Myers in Washington; Jessica Gresko in Arlington, Virginia; Matthew Barakat in McLean, Virginia, Lucas Johnson in Memphis, Tennessee, contributed.

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Feds Want Your Thoughts on Offshore Drilling In NC

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A Suncor Energy oil rig in the North Sea's Buzzard field, between England and Norway.

Federal authorities will welcome the public to an open house tonight in Wilmington on a plan to open the North Carolina coast to offshore oil exploration.

The Obama Administration’s five-year plan for oil exploration in the Atlantic Ocean, released last month, was derided by environmental groups for going too far and criticized by Republicans for not going far enough.

“If you want to continue to create jobs, we’d better – in the United States, North Carolina included – participate in our energy independence,” said Governor Pat McCrory.

McCrory is the co-chair of the Outer Continental Shelf Governors Coalition, which has lobbied the Obama Administration to open up the coast to drilling.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is hosting the event in Wilmington. As of now, it’s the only meeting scheduled in North Carolina.  

“Today is the first opportunity for North Carolinians to see the plan, but also to voice their opinion,” said Zachary Keith, lead organizer with the North Carolina Sierra Club.

Environmental groups are planning to hand out literature and offer additional information to attendees. It’s one of the first steps in what promises to be a long fight over offshore oil exploration.

“You go out to the coastal towns in North Carolina, and most of them are based on tourism,” says Keith. “They have economies that are based on a clean and healthy environment and offshore and onshore development and infrastructure could drastically change that.”

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Ferris wheel, zip line, inlet eateries OK’d in Atlantic City

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Ferris wheel, zip line, inlet eateries eyed in Atlantic City

Wayne Parry

Ferris wheel, zip line, inlet eateries eyed in Atlantic City

In this June 27, 2013 photo beach goers sunbathe near the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, N.J. Making good on its vow to seek new, non-gambling attractions, Atlantic City has redevelopment plans that include a giant Ferris wheel and zip line on the beachfront next to the Steel Pier, and restaurants, a rebuilt Boardwalk and an elevated walkway in its Inlet neighborhood. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)

Ferris wheel, zip line, inlet eateries eyed in Atlantic City

Wayne Parry

Ferris wheel, zip line, inlet eateries eyed in Atlantic City

In this July 20, 2013 photo, a helicopter lands on the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, N.J. Making good on its vow to seek new, non-gambling attractions, Atlantic City has redevelopment plans that include a giant Ferris wheel and zip line on the beachfront next to the Steel Pier, and restaurants, a rebuilt Boardwalk and an elevated walkway in its Inlet neighborhood. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)



Posted: Wednesday, February 18, 2015 8:37 pm
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Updated: 9:15 pm, Wed Feb 18, 2015.

Ferris wheel, zip line, inlet eateries OK’d in Atlantic City

Associated Press |

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — The City Council in Atlantic City, New Jersey, has approved an expansion of the iconic Steel Pier to make way for a giant Ferris wheel and a zip line ride.

The city is making good on its vow to seek new non-gambling attractions. Those are along with restaurants, a rebuilt Boardwalk and an elevated walkway in its inlet neighborhood.

The plans come as Atlantic City has lost four of its 12 casinos and is trying to make its tourism-centered economy less dependent on gambling.

The executive director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority says, “It’s a good step forward.”

© 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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