Palm Beach County Business Magazine (Winter 2012-2013)

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Manufacturing Leader | Foreign Trade | Economic Analysis | Renewable Energy

PA L M B E AC H C O U N T Y

A Quarterly Economic Development Publication

Manufacturing is on the

Rise in

Palm Beach County

Winter 2012/2013

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Made in Palm Beach County Manufacturing sector poised for growth

Economic Analysis What does 2013 hold in store?

Palm Beach County is helping foreign businesses with relocation and expansion efforts

News & Events BDB honored with two awards An update on Education Commission Companies announce expansion plans

Community Profile: Wellington and Royal Palm Beach Wellington, Royal Palm Beach attract new commercial investment

Alternative and Renewable Energy ON THE COVER:

Research underway on fuel cells, storage batteries and related technologies

Image provided by Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne

Helping Develop a State ‘Brand’ Business leaders provide input to Enterprise Florida team

6 7 8 10 12 14

CONTENTS

Creating Opportunities for Foreign Trade

4

Welcome from the President TO OUR MEMBERS AND PARTNERS: Upon reading this issue of Palm Beach County Business you’ll learn why the county is a leader in Florida’s manufacturing industry and why the industry is a critical component of our area’s economy.

This issue also continues its look at Palm Beach County as a leader in the alternative and renewable energy sector with part two of its spotlight on cleantech. The emphasis is on batteries, fuel cells and other innovative developments, following a prior article on solar, biomass and ocean currents.

I hope you enjoy this edition of Palm Beach County Business which is made possible with the support of the Palm Beach County Board of Commissioners, Workforce Alliance, NextEra Energy, Inc., Florida Crystals, and Suffolk Construction.

As we continue to further the growth of Palm Beach County’s wide-ranging economy, please continue to follow us on Facebook and Twitter and watch for our e-newsletters to stay well-informed on economic development and business news and events in Palm Beach County.

Kelly Smallridge President and CEO

Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, Inc. 310 Evernia Street | West Palm Beach, FL 33401 561.835.1008 | www.bdb.org Palm Beach County’s Economic Development Resource

Published by » Passport

Publications & Media Corporation

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Made in

Palm Beach County Manufacturers Display Wares at BDB Luncheon

From helicopters and advanced medical devices to cosmetics and foods, a growing number of products are made in Palm Beach County.

“Manufacturing is a critical component of our area’s economy,” said Kelly Smallridge, president and CEO of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County at a Nov. 15 BDB luncheon at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. The presenting sponsor was Alpern Rosenthal.

More than a dozen manufacturers showcased their products at the event, prior to a panel discussion focusing on the opportunities and challenges facing the sector. “We are here to celebrate the impact of manufacturing in Palm Beach County,” said Patricia Lebow, founder and managing partner of Broad and Cassel’s West Palm Beach office and co-chair of the BDB’s new Manufacturing Task Force (see related article).

Thanks in part to its leading business climate, workforce, and trade and transportation infrastructure, Florida ranks among the top ten states in the nation for manufacturing companies.

Palm Beach County contains 1,185 businesses in the manufacturing cluster and supporting industries, according to a recent study. The three largest manufacturing sectors are transportation equipment, computer and electronic products, and food. On average, there are 14,694 people employed by manufacturing businesses, which pay an average annual wage of $58,017.

At the luncheon, Tom Kennedy, president and CEO of the South Florida Manufacturers Association introduced Al Stimac, CEO of Machining Solutions in Altamonte Springs and president of the Manufacturers Association of Florida. “Many people don’t realize that the U.S. is still number one in manufacturing with a 21 percent share of the global market, followed by China at 15 percent,” he said. “The brand, ‘Made in the USA’ still carries tremendous weight, and we are twice as productive as other countries.”

WPTV’s Mike Trim moderated a panel discussion with seven

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manufacturing executives, who commented on their decisions to open their doors in Palm Beach County and the benefits of being located here.

Fenton Baijnath, president and CEO, Radical Cosmetics, a contract manufacturer and product development company. “We have a great location near I-95 with easy access to South Florida airports and seaports,” he said. “In terms of costs, we were able to buy a property here for less than we were leasing a facility in New Jersey.”

David Benjamin, president and CEO, Locus Traxx. which makes portable monitoring systems. “We relocated from Milwaukee in the winter when it was 8 degrees outside,” he said. “Need I say more?”

Chuck Biondo, vice president, PSM, an Alstom Company, which makes gas turbine components. “We have taken advantage of the great engineering and skilled workforce in Palm Beach County,” he said.

Chuck Brunelas, director of operations, SV Microwave, Inc., an electronics manufacturer. "We have a complex high-tech product line, and brought our manufacturing back from China.”

Newman Johnston, managing director, Teas Etc., a global exporter. “We’ve been able to hire some great people through the local colleges and universities,” he said.

Sasson Moulavi, MD, medical director, Smart for Life® Weight Management Centers, which makes healthy food products. “We have hired excellent employees and gotten great support from the county,” he said. “We enjoy being here and hope to continue our success.”

Lauren Spector, chief financial officer, Quantachrome, Inc., a maker of analytical instruments. “Our employees couldn’t wait to move down here when we made the decision to relocate from Long Island many years ago,” she said. “Other advantages for us include a reduced cost structure, much lower utility rates and great access to South America and other international markets.”

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Five Key Reasons Palm Beach County is a leader in Florida’s manufacturing industry.

The top five reasons:

1 2 3 4 5

Broad network of higher education, vocational education, and customized training programs.

Targeted industry incentives including sales and use tax exemptions, and tax credits and refunds for capital investment, R&D, and job creation.

Nationally recognized export assistance programs, robust financial and professional services industry, and strong logistics and distribution network.

Particular expertise in advanced materials, aerospace, biomedical, IT, defense, marine, and green technologies.

Unmatched access to Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Business Development Board of Palm Beach County (BDB) recently formed a Manufacturing Task Force to support and promote this dynamic sector of the economy. Co-chairing the new BDB Manufacturing Task Force are Lauren Spector, CFO, Quantachrome, Inc. and attorney Patricia Lebow, founder and managing partner of Broad and Cassel’s West Palm Beach office.

The task force includes delegates from employers representing different segments of manufacturing, community colleges, universities, high schools, and Workforce Alliance.

“We want to identify and address the challenges the manufacturing sector faces, and connect you with the resources needed to address those challenges,” said Spector during her address to the participants that attended the first task force meeting on October 12.

“Palm Beach County companies are contributing to the comeback of the U.S. manufacturing sector in recent years,” said Kelly Smallridge, president and CEO of the Business Development Board. “Our diverse manufacturing cluster includes sophisticated aviation and marine components, biomedical devices, pharmaceuticals, information technology (IT) hardware and software, printing and construction products.”

Noting that the area’s manufacturers are primarily smaller businesses that operate under the radar, Smallridge added, “One of our key goals is to connect them with the right resources, such as workforce training, to help them grow. We also want to showcase the wide variety of products that are made in Palm Beach County, building awareness of the contributions of our manufacturing sector.”

LOCAL EMPLOYEES 40 241 2,000 50 145 363 36 4 1,000 304 1,105 45 150 10 15 115

LOCATION Riviera Beach Boca Raton West Palm Beach West Palm Beach Jupiter Riviera Beach Loxahatchee Palm Beach Gardens West Palm Beach Jupiter West Palm Beach Boca Raton West Palm Beach Palm Beach Gardens West Palm Beach Boynton Beach

MAJOR MAUFACTURERS

COMPANY Baron Sign Manufacturing Biotest Pharmaceuticals Corporation Florida Crystals Corporation GeoGlobal Partners/GMJ Holdings JENOPTIK Optical Systems, Inc. Lockheed Martin Corporation Palm Beach Aggregates, LLC Pivotal Therapeutics Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne PSM, An Alstom Company Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Smart For Life SV Microwave Transdermal Delivery Solutions Corp.

Wafer World, Inc. Quantachrome Corp.

BDB FORMS MANUFACTURING TASK FORCE

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Uncertainties cloud state’s economic outlook As Florida looks ahead to 2013, uncertainties cloud the state’s economic outlook, according to Sean Snaith, Ph.D., director of the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Economic Competitiveness.

Speaking at a Business Development Board quarterly meeting on Sept. 27, Snaith said Florida’s prospects for growth depend largely on the state’s housing and labor markets. “These are the conjoined twins of our state’s economy,” he told BDB members at the breakfast event at the Cohen Pavilion. “When one of these markets shows improvement, that will help pull the other along.”

Snaith noted that Florida’s economic recovery began in 2010, but that real growth this year will only be in the neighborhood of 1.4 percent. “We expect things to pick up in 2013, but it will be 2014-2015 before growth starts to soar in Florida. We have been in a deep hole, and you don’t climb out overnight.”

In his talk, Snaith focused on the uncertainties affecting the national economy, including the so-called “fiscal cliff ” in January, the European debt crisis and the impact of healthcare reform on U.S. businesses.

“These uncertainties are continuing to slow the pace of the nation’s economic growth,” Snaith said. “Many businesses are taking a conservative approach, delaying their investing and hiring plans until there is more clarity about the U.S. economic and regulatory environment.”

However, Snaith added that Florida has been a bright spot in the national economic picture for much of 2012. “In August, one of four jobs created nationally was in Florida,” he said. “However, our state’s biggest issue right now is construction employment. It’s starting to show some growth, but hiring remains slow. It will take a long time, if ever, for construction to get back to where it was before the financial crisis.”

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Palm Beach County Creating Opportunities for Foreign Trade The Department of Economic Sustainability (DES) is working with an increasing number of manufacturing businesses, both domestic and foreign that are relocating or expanding in Palm Beach County.

Situated in the Miami Customs District, the county has continuously supported efforts to establish new channels of commerce. Studies conducted by DES and Orbis Strategy Group indicate that this year, more than $15 billion in international trade revenue has been generated in the county.

Efforts are underway to increase opportunities for businesses to obtain benefits under a foreign trade zone (FTZ) designation. An FTZ is a site that is considered outside the U.S. Customs territory, but is physically located in the U.S. Companies operating in an FTZ can defer, reduce, or eliminate Customs duties on foreign products admitted into zones for storage, exhibition, assembly, manufacture, and processing.

By Sherry Howard, Deputy Director Palm Beach County Department of Economic Sustainability

The public benefits of an FTZ include the following: Help facilitate and expedite international trade.

Provide special customs procedures as a public service to help firms conduct international trade related operations in competition with foreign plants.

Encourage and facilitate exports.

Help attract offshore activity and encourage retention of domestic activity.

Assist state and local economic development efforts.

Help create employment opportunities.

The Port of Palm Beach administers Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) 135. FTZ 135 currently covers 623 acres on specific sites in Palm Beach and Martin counties. In order to provide a broad range of companies with access to FTZ benefits, the Port is applying to the federal ForeignTrade Zones Board for an Alternate Site Framework (ASF) that would allow companies throughout the county to apply for FTZ approval.

The ASF also would shorten the process for activation from 18 months to as little as 30 days. DES has been approached by companies interested in gaining access to the FTZ and is working with the Port of Palm Beach to support their efforts in applying for the ASF. The county is encouraged that with an ASF approval, companies will be served based on their trade-related needs rather than by their geographical location.

Officials are hopeful that as Palm Beach County experiences continued growth in emerging industry clusters including bioscience, financial services, logistics/distribution, manufacturing, and is established as a center of international trade, it will become a model for sustainable economic growth.

For further information, please contact Sherry Howard at DES, (561) 233-3653.

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&

News Events Relocations and Expansions In the past two months, the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County (BDB) has facilitated the growth plans of several local and new-to-market companies. Recently, the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved incentives packages for three companies: Digital Risk, ADT, LLC and Pratt & Whitney - Florida Engine Delivery Center (FEDC). Combined, the three companies will create approximately 800 new jobs with an economic impact of $1.07 billion, and occupy 370,000 square feet of space.

Pratt & Whitney

Digital Risk Digital Risk, a business and financial services firm that specializes in providing mortgage underwriting services to mortgage originators, lenders, insurers, conduits, investors and services, plans to add up to 450 new jobs in addition to the 150 new jobs announced last June. The company will occupy up to 75,000 square feet of space in Boca Raton and is projected to have a five-year economic sustainability impact of $509 million.

ADT ADT, a leading provider of electronic security services, will create 120 new jobs and retain 260 jobs in a 175,000 square foot office building on Yamato Road in Boca Raton. ADT’s expansion will result in an economic impact of $138 million.

Pratt & Whitney Pratt & Whitney, a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, industrial gas turbines and space propulsion

systems, will add an additional 230 new jobs to its current workforce here. The company will renovate 90,000 square feet of existing space and construct approximately 80,000 square feet of new space with an economic impact of $422.5 million.

“Over the past six months, the BDB has diligently worked with these companies to present the best business case for why Palm Beach County is a prime location for their expansion,” said Kelly Smallridge, president and CEO of the Business Development Board. “These relocation and expansion leads came to the BDB through three site consultants that visited our county in previous years through the BDB’s Familiarization Program. As a result of the annual familiarization tour, we are receiving a significant number of leads from consultants representing medium to large projects.”

Smallridge added that the BDB works with existing employers to assist them in competing more effectively and expand more easily. This year, the BDB assisted 17 local companies by helping them expand their operations in Palm Beach County creating and retaining 1,619 jobs.

One recent example is JFK Medical Center.

JFK Medical Center Governor visited PBC twice in November delivering kudos to the BDB Governor Rick Scott visited Palm Beach County on November 18 and again on November 28 to announce the BDB’s and the county’s success in helping with the expansion projects of Pratt & Whitney and ADT. Combined, the companies will create 450 new high-wage jobs.

Scott singled out Kelly Smallridge, president and CEO of the Business Development Board, for her aggressive efforts to enlist the governor to help bring more headquarter jobs to Palm Beach County. He said she has done more “than any other person” in the state’s counties to seek out his help with job growth.

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JFK Medical Center, located in Atlantis, announced in September it will open an emergency treatment and diagnostic center, named “Emergency Care Services at JFK Medical Center” in western Boynton Beach. The 12,600-square-foot center will have 40 employees with an average annual wage of $59,342. The facility will be open 24/7 for both emergency and non-emergency patients. The BDB assisted JFK with its initial building search and worked closely with JFK staff, its general contractor and Palm Beach County Planning, Zoning, and Building departments to facilitate expedited review and processing of their building permit application.

Shawn Rowan, the BDB’s VP of Retention and Expansion added, “There are a number of programs and resources available to existing companies that are growing ranging from training assistance programs to sales and use tax exemptions. Since existing companies are the source for sustainable growth in the local economy, we are always seeking local companies from our targeted industries to assist with their growth.”

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BDB received two awards from IEDC For the first time in 30 years, the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County (BDB) received two Silver Excellence in Economic Development Awards from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The BDB was recognized for its RightHere.

RightNow. campaign in the category of General Purpose Promotion for communities with populations of greater than 500,000 and for its Economic Development Website in the category of General Purpose Website for communities with populations of greater than 500,000.

“Being recognized by IEDC with these prestigious awards is a meaningful accomplishment for the BDB and the county,” said Kelly Smallridge, President and CEO of the Business Development Board.

“We were able to develop top notch marketing pieces and compete in the award process due to the support of the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners and private sector support.”

The honors were presented at an Oct. 2 awards ceremony during The Tax Foundation, a non-partisan tax research group based in Washington, D.C., recently ranked Florida #5 for the best State Business Tax Climate. The Tax Foundation’s 2013 edition of the State Business Tax Climate Index enables business leaders, government policymakers, and taxpayers to gauge how their states’ tax systems compare.

The Cato Institute recognized Florida Governor, Rick Scott with an “A” grading on its Fiscal Policy Report Card.

Governor Scott was one of only four Governors in the U.S. to receive this recognition.

the IEDC Annual Conference in Houston, Texas. BDB Senior Vice President Gary Hines was present to accept the awards.

Right Here. Right Now. is the tagline of the BDB’s marketing campaign to attract corporate headquarters to Palm Beach County.

The campaign features prominent Palm Beach County CEOs and headquarters that help exemplify the county’s attractive business climate. The campaign is designed to entice CEOs and site selectors to consider Palm Beach County as an ideal location in which to conduct business. An innovative component of the campaign includes a micro-website (microsite) found at HQpbc.com. The site serves to enhance the basic elements of the campaign by providing supplementary information.

The BDB’s new website was launched last February in conjunction with a new branding initiative. In addition to a fresh look and more efficient navigation, the new site incorporates social media elements and a new GIS solution called ZoomProspector. The website, a critical component of the BDB’s marketing effort, serves as the primary information resource to assist site selectors, developers, stakeholders and the inquiring public with economic development facts and data. The new look is consistent with the BDB’s commitment to promoting the area in the most innovative and competitive format. The site provides robust economic development information and a comprehensive list of free and confidential services the BDB provides. In addition, it provides readers with current business news and county highlights.

“The BDB has clearly created innovative and successful strategies to promote economic development in this period of global recovery,” said Jay Moon, IEDC chair. “The BDB is at the forefront of the economic development profession, using cutting-edge, effective practices that can be replicated in other communities.”

Education Commission: Creating Career Pathways For more than a decade, the Palm Beach County Education Commission has been creating career pathways for students that contribute to the region’s skilled workforce. “We have focused on building a seamless system of education from pre-K through college,” said Jody Gleason, outgoing executive director. “We provide our community leaders with a neutral setting to meet, talk, and think outside the box to find solutions to educational problems.“ Gleason, who has led the commission for 11 years, is being succeeded by Glenn Thomas, a former physics teacher and assistant dean of pre-K through 12th-grade schools and programs at Florida Atlantic University with more than 40 years experience in education.

Created in the late 1990s, the commission consists of business leaders, education professionals, and interested citizens who share the goal of raising student achievement and strengthening the system from pre-school programs through post-secondary education and job preparation activities.

It serves as a springboard for education reform, improved social

and successful job preparation in Palm Beach County. “We recognize the importance of a strong educational system to workforce preparation and business success,” Gleason said. “Ultimately, it’s all about building better communities.”

For example, the Business Development Board (BDB) participates in the Education Commission, helping to ensure that Palm Beach County Public School programs like the high school career academies align with the current needs of area employers. The commission also works with the BDB in providing information on local schools and colleges to prospective employers.

Other Education Commission projects include connecting 25,000 underserved citizens with free access to the Internet through county and school district services, strengthening vocational and adult education programs. “We also strive to ensure a cross alignment of high school and college programs, so students can gain college credits and accelerate their education,” she said. “These types of collaboration benefit our entire county.”

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COMMUNITY PROFILE:

Wellington and New Investment Diversifies Area Economy

Section 24, Wellington

Wellington Aquatic Complex

With strong clusters of equestrian, healthcare and engineering companies, Wellington, Royal Palm Beach and the other western communities have a thriving and diverse business climate.

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“We recognize we are a bedroom community,” said Bill Nemser, principal planner, Wellington, with a population of about 56,000. “We want to be sure that we keep the things that make Wellington a great hometown, while being proactive with existing businesses and recruiting new ones.”

One example is the retail “Shop Wellington” program, which provides an online vehicle for local businesses to advertise their products and services.

In conjunction with the Business Development Board (BDB), Wellington has an expedited permitting program, as well as a singlepoint-of-contact approach for new projects. “We also have a business ambassador in our lobby who can help people find the right person in planning, engineering or building,” said Paul Schofield, manager.

One of Wellington’s unique characteristics is its long-standing equestrian industry. “We have the nation’s longest running equestrian festival, running from November to April,” said Schofield. “We also are at the center of the polo world, including months of activities at the International Polo Center.”

Last year, a business survey, conducted with Florida Atlantic University identified a growing cluster of home-based businesses. “We want to see how we can facilitate those businesses within a residential context,” said Schofield. “After all, having jobs nearby reduces commuting time for our residents.

Larger companies located in Wellington include SourceOne and B/E Aerospace, along with professional firms like Anidea (see related article). In addition, Wellington has a vibrant commercial district along the S.R. 7 corridor, and a fast-growing cluster of medical and healthcare businesses.

A key step in the area’s economic development is the Wellington Medical Arts District at Forest Hill Boulevard and State Road 7. When completed, this 210-acre campus will have more than 2 million square feet for hospital, education, office, medical-related, and support retail activities.

Wellington Medical Regional Medical Center, the region’s largest employer, as well as nearby Palms West Hospital, will be keys to the success of the district, which could potentially create 5,000 to 6,000 jobs new jobs in the western communities.

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Royal Palm Beach Wellington Municipal Complex

Equestrian Trails

In the past decade, Anidea Engineering has built a nationwide client base from its headquarters in Wellington. “Everything starts with an idea, and we’re making the world a better place by helping inventors and companies achieve their dreams,” said Gabriel Goldstein, CEO and chief product designer for Anidea, which designs new products and re-engineers existing ones in the lighting, wireless communication, entertainment, security, and medical industries.

“As a private development firm, we offer a turnkey solution from idea to production,” said Goldstein. “Our clients range from startups with innovative concepts to well-established companies that want to expand their product lines.”

For example, Anidea helped a Hialeah company redesign an alarm panel to add voice communications for individual condominium units, and assisted a special effects company in Alabama with a new product concept. The company has two employees and a network of local contractors.

“We have found that Wellington is an excellent place for a business, as well a great place to raise a family,” Goldstein said. “We use a lot of skilled labor and have found an excellent talent pool in Palm Beach County.”

ENGINEERING FIRM FLOURISHES IN WELLINGTON

Recently, Wellington Regional Medical Center opened the Alan B. Miller Pavilion, a 103,000-square-foot three-story addition that expands the hospital into a 233-bed medical complex. The new pavilion incorporates the latest breakthroughs in medical design and technology and includes 80 new, all-private rooms, an expanded pharmacy and two eight-bed ICU step-down units to provide support for existing medicalsurgical services. Additional space is reserved for the expansion of specialty programs, including orthopedics, cardiology, neurosurgery and oncology.

To the north, Royal Palm Beach, a residential community with a population of 31,000, is also attracting new business investment. “We are a safe, family-oriented community with a low tax rate and a full range of administrative services,” said Raymond C. Liggins, manager. “Our goal is to build out our remaining commercial land over the next five to ten years.”

Royal Palm Beach also has an expedited permitting system in place, simplifying the process for new and existing businesses. “We have a solid infrastructure in place, as well as land for development,” Liggins said. noting that 50-plus acres are available at S.R. 7 and Okeechobee Boulevard.

In fact, Germany’s discount supermarket chain ALDI is planning to build an 821,000-square-foot distribution center and regional headquarters on State Road 7. The $50 million project is expected to open late in 2013 on a 72-acre site, creating about 100 permanent jobs in the western communities.

“This is the largest economic development deal from a physical standpoint for the county in the last two or three years,” said Kelly Smallridge, president and CEO of the BDB. “This facility will be the largest taxpayer for the village of Royal Palm Beach.”

Liggins pointed to the countywide team approach to economic development as a key factor in attracting ALDI to Royal Palm Beach, and is hopeful that other companies will follow. “A number of commercial real estate brokers were pleased with the way this transaction was handled,” he said. “They have already referred another company that has property for a 150,000-square-foot warehouse in the area.”

Village of Royal Palm Beach

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Spotlight on Cleantech - Part 2

Palm Beach County

a Leader in Alternative and Renewable Energy Sector

EDITOR’S NOTE: Palm Beach County is a national leader in researching, developing and commercializing new forms of alternative and renewable energy. This article looks at batteries, fuel cells and other innovative developments, following a prior article on solar, biomass and ocean currents.

When it comes to renewable portable power, Palm Beach County researchers are on the frontlines of development.

“We are trying to eliminate some of the barriers facing electric vehicles,” says Daniel Betts, PhD, director of business affairs, at EnerFuel in West Palm Beach. “Current batteries have a limited energy content, so most electric vehicles are used in cities or as part of a fleet.

Our objective is to develop a highly efficient fuel cell that is not bound to a single fuel source.”

A wholly owned subsidiary of Ener1, Inc., EnerFuel currently has 18 employees. “We have an excellent pool of engineering talent in Palm Beach County, along with local vendors and suppliers who have provided us with amazing technology and resources,” Betts said.

EnerFuel is focusing on the science and design of hightemperature proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells – a different technology than current low-temperature models.

“The advantages of this approach is that it simplifies the design and uses gases that burn very cleanly without emitting carbon atoms or heat,” Betts said. “It opens this field to using fuels other than hydrogen to create energy. While hydrogen is the most bountiful element in the universe, it’s always bound to other elements and must be extracted by using energy.”

The EnerFuel team is also studying new approaches to highefficiency, low-emission power generation, such as generators using propane or natural gas to produce electricity through a fuel cell system. “That is much more efficient than an internal combustion engine,” he said. “It would be ideal for providing reliable backup power for telecom towers, for instance, allowing them to go for a month or longer in the event of a hurricane or other disaster.”

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stage on chemical batteries, looking at issues like increasing the energy ‘density’ and the length of time that power can be stored.”

“Scripps Energy Laboratories is also looking at ways to economically convert natural gas into a liquid fuel that would be competitive with petroleum”, Periana added. “The chemistry needed to solve that problem is related to making a better battery,” he added. “These are world-class challenges, but we believe in putting great minds together in a research setting with an entrepreneurial culture and industry involvement and seeing what happens next.”

To the north, researchers at Scripps Florida are also applying their scientific acumen to the field of portable renewable energy. “Fuels and energy are all chemistry challenges,” said Roy Periana, Ph.D., professor of chemistry and director, Scripps Energy Laboratories. “Since chemistry is our core strength, we want to apply our knowledge to important problems facing the world, including sustainable energy.”

Developing more effective and efficient storage batteries is one of Scripps Energy Laboratories’ areas of focus. “Since wind and solar are intermittent sources of energy, we need to find better storage devices,” Periana said. “We are at an early research

Roy Periana from Scripps

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Palm Beach County Hosts Florida ‘Branding’ Session

A team from Enterprise Florida turned to Palm Beach County business leaders for assistance in rebranding the state’s economic development efforts. “Our goal is to get your input about our state’s culture, value and assets,” said Ed Barlow of North Star Destination Strategies, which is assisting Enterprise Florida with the statewide project.

More than 50 executives attended the session at the Business Development Board’s C-Suite Series, on October 11 at the Max Planck Institute in Jupiter. To encourage a candid discussion, the executives’ comments were confidential except for the Enterprise Florida team.

“We thank Enterprise Florida for being here,” said Kelly Smallridge, president and CEO of the Business Development Board. “We have found that a CEO must first buy into the State of Florida, then into our South Florida region before focusing on Palm Beach County and a local municipality. Your feedback will play an important role in helping to shape those conversations.”

Melissa Medley, chief marketing officer for Enterprise Florida, noted that the session would help the public-private partnership’s

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efforts to diversify the state’s economy. “Tourism has helped to cushion our economy during the economic downturn, but we can’t continue doing business as usual,” she said. “We need to attract scientists, engineers, financial professionals and other skilled workers.”

Medley added that almost everyone in the U.S. knows something about Florida’s beaches and family attraction. “From a branding standpoint, that’s invaluable,” she said. “But business leaders aren’t as clear about Florida, and we want your opinions on how to reach them and help us diversify our state’s economy.”

Before opening the session to comments, moderator Corey Saban thanked the Max Planck Institute for hosting the event, calling the organization’s decision to open its first U.S. facility in Jupiter a “big win” for Palm Beach County.

“We have been able to recruit outstanding scientists and bring them to a collaborative research environment where they can develop the next generation of solutions,” said David Fitzpatrick, scientific director for the institute. “Today’s basic science is tomorrow’s cures.”

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Hanley Center’s age and gender specific addiction treatment utilizes the most advanced research in the disease of addiction.

Hanley Center, The Center of Excellence for 25 years.

Older Adult | Baby Boomer | Women | Men | Families | Outpatient West Palm Beach | Vero Beach | 866.542.6539 | HanleyCenter.org

Hanley Center and Caron Treatment Centers joined forces in 2012.

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FIRST PARK A ARK

South hF Florida l ida lorid

FIRST PARK

South Florida

Flexibility. Value. Multi-Modal. es with First Park arkk South South th FFlorida, l id 537-acr lorida, 537-acres 537 ith 6.5 6 5 million illi square square eal esta te, situated sittuated in Palm Palm feet of planned industrial rreal estate, ounty, is the largest largest remaining remaining fully f en titled Beach CCounty, entitled parcel of o developable developable industrial land in the SSouth outh FFlorida lorida Region. sitee pr provides n. TThe he sit ovides cconvenient onvenient access access to to the region’s region’s major transportation systems highway, o tation syst or ems – including hig hway, rrail, ail, seaports seaports and tss – and plac es you you in a strategic strategic position ttoo rreach each 75 airports places te’s populac e, serving serving as a vital ga teway to to the percentt of the sta state’s populace, gateway Caribbean sizes e and LLatin ean atin AAmerica. merica. BBusinesses usinessees of all siz es ccan an immediately lease,, build-t build-to-suit purchase parcels diately lease o-suit or pur c chase par cels of land. land.

Orlando

Tampa

ST. LUCIE MARTIN

REACH 13.75 MILLION PEOPLE WITHIN A ONE-DAY DRIVE...

THERE AND BACK!

100 MILES

Port of Palm Beach Beach Palm Beach Int’l Airport

PALM BEACH BROWARD

Designed for foor 6.5 MSF of futur elopment Designed futuree dev development Sites ranging ranging from from 3 to to 100 acres acres Sites

Port Everglades/ s s/ Ft. Lauderdale Int’l Airport Port of Miami

MIAMI-DADE

537-acre 537-acre master-planned master-plannned business park

Miami Int’l Airport ot or

Fully entitled, entitled, industrial industrrial and commercial commercial zoned zoned parcels parcels Fully Rail-served industrial Rail-served Infrastructure Infrastructure in plac placee Home ttoo oover ver 30 busin nesses / 1.8 MSF Home businesses

200 MILES

Land sales and build-t to-suit oppor tunities Land build-to-suit opportunities status on select select parcels paarcels FTZ status

CONTACT US TO LEARN MORE

561-394-2100

RRick ick Miller Miller rrick.miller@cbre.com ick.miller@cbre.com

Ro Robert bert SSmith mith robert.c.smith@cbre.com robert.c.smith@cbre.com

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Florida Blue Retail Centers: Empower Consumers and Drive Down Health Care Costs

By Penny Shaffer, PhD, South Florida Market President, Florida Blue

While lawmakers and pundits continue to debate the best ways to improve quality and access to health coverage, Florida Blue )ORULGDÂśV Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan, has been taking action to change the health care dynamic, implementing a series of groundbreaking new initiatives designed to engage consumers in their care, while making health insurance more affordable and more understandable. In 2007, the company launched its first Florida Blue retail center, which provides a better way to obtain, understand and maximize health coverage. Today, there are 11 Florida Blue centers across the state, each helping consumers make health smart and cost-effective decisions about their care.

One of the greatest barriers to quality health care today is the very structure of the health care system itself.

For consumers, the often complicated process of communicating with physicians, hospitals and insurers is not only frustrating, but it can also impact and delay their decisions to seek preventive care, appropriate treatment for chronic conditions and even needed oft required medications. It can drive patients from the most appropriate health care setting to high cost emergency room visits or even prevent them from seeking help at all. Similarly, the frustration that is sometimes involved in obtaining and using health insurance can lead consumers in the wrong direction, impacting both the quality and bottom-line cost of the care they receive. Far too often, whether they have private or government health coverage, people simply do not understand what their insurance pays for, how their copayments work, how to find the right doctors, or even what to do if they have questions. As a result, they may not get the care they need, and when they do, they often pay too much for it.

Our statewide Florida Blue Centers are staffed with care consultants who are registered nurses. They can provide members with up-to-date personal health information and counseling on a wide range of topics like costs of care, treatment options and health conditions. Additionally, there are on-site customer service advocates on hand to help members understand and maximize use their health care plan. With 11 Florida Blue centers located across the state, Florida Blue has expanded its efforts to provide personalized, oneon-one, face-to-face service in a way that no other Florida insurer has done before.

The nationwide focus on how to improve the overall health care system has brought into sharp focus the day-to-day complexities of the health care, and the immense common challenge we face in the form of skyrocketing health care costs. While Florida Blue centers will surely play an important role in bringing health costs down by involving consumers more closely in their care decisions, their most immediate impact will be a more powerful and human one -- they will help Floridians access services, manage health conditions and stay healthy.

To learn more about the Florida Blue retail centers, log onto www.floridablue.com. The Palm Beach County center is at 1501 North Congress Avenue in Boynton Beach, between Gateway and Boynton Beach Boulevard.

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‘‘ integrity Become a person of

’’

first, and success will follow.

At the law offices of Greenspoon Marder, relationships are valued, causes are championed, experience is revered, and respect is earned.

You can quote us on that.

Gerald Greenspoon, Esq. Co-Founding Partner Real Estate, Timeshare and Condominium Law

REAL ESTATE CONDOMINIUM, RESORT & TIMESHARE DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS & CIVIL LITIGATION BANKING & FINANCE LABOR & EMPLOYMENT GOVERNMENT & REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

888-491-1120 www.gmlaw.com

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