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Quarterly Economic Development Magazine | Fall 2021
BDB
Another Year of Success!
EXCITING HQ PROFILES OF WORKPLACES TWO WOMEN LEADERS
LIVE, LOVE, LEAD LAKE PARK
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CONTENTS Fall 2021
D E PA R T M E N T S In the Know From the CEO page 2
F E AT U R E S A Peek Inside Three of Palm Beach County’s HQs page 8
Corporate Relocations and Expansions page 4
BDB Fiscal Year Accomplishments page 6
Meet Two Successful Women Leaders page 12
Town of Lake Park page 14
County Corner: “Manufacturing” Alive & Well in Palm Beach County
Thank You To Our Gala Sponsors page 18
page 21
News & Events page 22
South Florida Science Center Celebrates 60th Anniversary page 22
CareerSource Helps Professionals Find New Positions page 23
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CEO
from the
InTheKnow
Wrapping Up A Record-Breaking Year of Success As September 30 wraps up the BDB’s 20-21 fiscal year, our team at the Business Development Board is pleased to report another year of remarkable success in strengthening Palm Beach County’s diverse economy. The BDB team – supported by our public, private and educational partners – has assisted 31 corporate relocations and expansions, resulting in 3,028 jobs. These projects resulted in absorption of 1,017,302 square feet of commercial and industrial real estate space and a total of $152.3 million in capital investments. What does this mean for our county’s future? The impact goes well beyond the timely creation of new jobs. Growing our workforce with well-paying executives, professionals, and entrepreneurs increases demand for goods and services throughout our community. That means more shoppers for our retail establishments, more diners for our restaurants, and more patrons for our vibrant arts and culture sector. Corporate relocations and expansions also create new opportunities for suppliers of business and professional services, such as architects, contractors, bankers, attorneys, and accountants. Commercial real estate professionals can serve new property owners and tenants, while their residential counterparts find new homes for individuals, couples and families. Speaking of families, the children of new residents will be attending the great public and private schools in our community, graduating from our colleges, universities and vocational schools, and joining our workforce. In that regard, the BDB’s well-planned economic development program has a lasting and sustainable impact on our county. As we close out this fiscal year, we deeply appreciate the support we receive from our many public and private sector partners. A special salute to the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, our BDB Board of Directors, the Academic Leaders Council and our dedicated members who volunteer their time and talent to building a bright future for Palm Beach County. Thanks again for an outstanding team effort!
Palm Beach County, Florida is Home to 39 Cities and Towns, Including: Town of Hypoluxo Town of Juno Beach Town of Jupiter Town of Jupiter Inlet Colony Town of Lake Clarke Shores Town of Lake Park City of Lake Worth Beach Town of Lantana Town of Loxahatchee Groves Town of Manalapan Town of Mangonia Park Village of North Palm Beach Town of Ocean Ridge
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Kelly Smallridge President & CEO 561.835.1008 Ext. 4121 ksmallridge@bdb.org Gary Hines Senior Vice President – Administration 561.835.1008 Ext. 4111 ghines@bdb.org Lisa Anderson Vice President – Private Funding 561.835.1008 Ext. 4110 landerson@bdb.org Kristen (Boyd) Liberman Vice President – Marketing & Media Relations 561.835.1008 Ext. 4106 kliberman@bdb.org Shereena Coleman Vice President, Business Facilitation & The Glades Region 561.835.1008 Ext. 4125 scoleman@bdb.org Tim Dougher Vice President – Business Recruitment, Retention and Expansion 561.835.1008 Ext. 4131 tdougher@bdb.org Shawn Rowan Vice President – Business Recruitment, Retention and Expansion 561.835.1008 Ext. 4108 srowan@bdb.org Whitney West Vice President – Strategic Initiatives and Events 561.835.1008 Ext. 4101 wwest@bdb.org
Kelly Smallridge President and CEO
City of Atlantis City of Belle Glade City of Boca Raton City of Boynton Beach Town of Briny Breezes Town of Cloud Lake City of Delray Beach Town of Glen Ridge Village of Golf City of Greenacres Town of Gulf Stream Town of Haverhill Town of Highland Beach
Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, Inc. 310 Evernia Street West Palm Beach, FL 33401 561.835.1008 | www.bdb.org
City of Pahokee Town of Palm Beach City of Palm Beach Gardens Town of Palm Beach Shores Village of Palm Springs City of Riviera Beach Village of Royal Palm Beach City of South Bay Town of South Palm Beach Village of Tequesta Village of Wellington City of Westlake City of West Palm Beach
ON THE COVER
SBA Communications Corporation Lobby PUBLISHED BY
Passport Publications | passport media group 1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., Suite 1550 West Palm Beach, FL 33401 561.472.8778 | www.PassportPublications.com Palm Beach County Business Quarterly is published by Passport Publications & Media Corporation, on behalf of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, and the publisher. © 2021 Passport Publications & Media Corporation
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CORPORATE RELOCATIONS AND EXPANSIONS
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AeroClean Technologies a company focused on designing, developing and marketing a full line of autonomous air purification devices. Relocation · Corporate
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Headquarters · 100 jobs · Palm Beach Gardens · 20,000 sq. ft. · $7M capital investment
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Palm Coast Sales a distributor of outdoor lifestyle products. Expansion · Distribution/Logistics · 30 jobs · Unincorporated Jupiter · 58,000 sq. ft.
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Exuma Biotech a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T cell products and delivery solutions for liquid and solid tumors. Relocation ·
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FINFROCK South Florida – a Central Florida designbuilder and manufacturer. Relocation · Manufacturing · 200 new jobs · Belle Glade · 140,000 sq. ft. · $45.5M capital investment
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Corporate Headquarters · 100 new jobs · Boca Raton · 21,000 sq. ft · $500,000 capital investment
Life Sciences · 100 jobs · West Palm Beach · 6,500 sq. ft.
SIW Windows & Doors a leading manufacturer of impact-resistant windows and doors serving the high-end residential and commercial construction markets. Expansion · Manufacturing ·
Thomson Broadcast a leader in broadcast technology and an infrastructure company that manufactures broadcasting infrastructure and solutions for radio and television industries.
250 jobs · Unincorporated West
Relocation · Manufacturing · 50
Palm Beach · 168,000 sq. ft. ·
new jobs · Unincorporated West
$14M capital investment
Palm Beach · 12,000 sq. ft.
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FlexShopper a leading national online lease-to-own (“LTO”) eCommerce marketplace and LTO payment solution. Expansion ·
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UOVO the leading art storage and logistics provider headquartered in New York. Expansion · Art Storage Logistics · 23,000 sq. ft. · $750,000 capital investment
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The Business Development Board of Palm Beach County posted another successful year in facilitating the relocation and expansion of corporate employers. For the fiscal year 2020-21, the BDB team, supported by its public, private and educational partners . . . These projects resulted in absorption of
31projects resulting in 3,028 jobs assisted
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GlobalListings.com the world’s largest online international real estate listings search platform.
1,017,302
and a total of
$152.3 million
square feet
in capital investments.
of commercial real estate space
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V2Techs a maritime technology company competing on the electric ships market.
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Moving Minds an award-winning on demand marketing and technology agency.
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NewDay USA one of the nation’s leading veteran mortgage lenders Relocation · Financial Services ·
Relocation · Infotech · 12 new
Relocation · CleanTech ·
Relocation · Corporate
600 new jobs · West Palm Beach ·
jobs · West Palm Beach
30 new jobs · Boca Raton
Headquarters ·
50,000 sq. ft. · $10M capital
70 jobs · West Palm Beach
investment
Additional companies that made the move:
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Vetio Animal Health the largest contract development and manufacturing organization dedicated to animal health in North America Expansion · Life Sciences · 140 jobs · Unincorporated Jupiter · 35,000 sq. ft.
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V i rtu F i n a n c i a l a leading provider of financial services and products that leverages cutting-edge technology to deliver innovative, transparent trading solutions to its clients and liquidity to the global market. Reloca tion · Fina ncia l Services · 55 new jobs · P a lm Bea ch Ga rdens · 10,019 sq. ft. · $550,000 ca pita l investment
15. AltaRock Partners 16. Amazon 17. Conglom 18. Drawbridge Partners 19. JENOPTIK Optical Systems 20. Just Ryt Foods 21. Meridian Contract Glazing 22. Mtech MDM 23. National Financial Partners 24. Niagara Water 25. Project Marquette (Confidential) 26. Project Silver (Confidential) 27. River North Capital 28. Siris Capital 29. Stone Point Capital 30. Tremblant Capital 31. Vibra Healthcare
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BY THE NUMBERS: n n n n n n n n n
101 meetings through the BDB’s business visitation program 31 local, regional or statewide forums to educate, inform and promote PBC 59 points of technical assistance services provided to local companies 28 forums as keynote speaker or panelist to present economic development 7 domestic and international outreach missions 12 million digital impressions 5 publications marketing Palm Beach County as a business destination 500 media mentions 104 points of assistance in the Glades Region
PALM BEAC H
COUNT Y P R O F I L E
DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH EFFORTS: n n
Quarterly Economic Development Magazine | Summer 2021
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BDB
Growth & Infrastructure ACADEMIC LEADERS TASK FORCE
THE BUSINESS OF SHOW
WELCOME STUDENTS BUSINESS AT THE KRAVIS CENTER
ADDRESSING THE
OPIOID EPIDEMIC
2021- 2022
BUSIN ESS
ANNUAL
n
BDB TASK FORCES THAT MEET SEVERAL TIMES PER YEAR: n n n n n n n n n n
Academic Leaders Council Aviation, Aerospace & Engineering Business Financial Services Distribution & Logistics Economic Stakeholders Round Table Entrepreneurship Life Science Advisory Council Private School Headmasters Real Estate Roundtable Workforce, Housing & Infrastructure
n n
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS & INITIATIVES: n
n n n
n
n
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Kingdom of Bahrain – Inbound Mission, December 9, 2020 International Outreach Partnership with Enterprise Florida – connections with Europe, year-round Consul of Mexico – Inbound Mission, January 29, 2021 Florida-Israel Business Accelerator (FIBA) – West Palm Beach, June 11, 2021 and June 23, 2021 Area Site Selection Conference – Richmond, VA, June 21 – 23, 2021 Kingdom of Bahrain – Inbound Mission, June 24, 2021 Southern Economic Development Conference – Tampa, FL, August 16 - 17, 2021
Behind the Gates – a multiyear initiative to attract executives with second homes in Palm beach County to move their businesses here. More than 1,000 jobs created. Expedited Permitting – a program to speed up the permitting process for relocating or expanding companies. Shovel Ready and Mega Site Program – promoting large sites and land that are construction-ready for prospects. BDB Business Visitation Program – Growing companies in our backyard matter most; therefore, we visit the facilities of 100 companies each year. BDB Site Consultant Familiarization Tour – Annually, the BDB brings site location experts to Palm Beach County for a tour of the area’s assets. BDB Non-Profit Foundation – the Foundation supports educational and programmatic activities that enhance and improve Palm Beach County’s competitiveness.
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WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS: n n n n n n
n
Claim Your Future Showcase – Annual event that shows high school students the possible career paths that they can take by meeting and learning from local employers. BDB Education Intern Series – Invites summer interns to learn about why Palm Beach County is a great place to return for their career, with the ultimate goal of retaining top talent. Countywide Internship Expo – The only countywide platform that convenes all colleges and universities in Palm Beach County to secure internships with the county’s top employers. Academic Leaders Council – All of the presidents of each college and university and the superintendent of the local school district meet to discuss industry and education alignment. Annual Distinguished Alumni Award Education Luncheon – Partnership with the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County to recognize successes in the workforce in front of a business audience. School District Bus Tour or specific to schools on as needed basis – Executives at local education institutes need to stay current with what’s in high-demand for targeted sectors. Therefore, the BDB takes them on a bus directly to companies for tours to show them. Private School Headmaster Task Force – The only platform in the County where private schools meet to discuss expansion plans and how to deal with the influx of inquiries in Palm Beach County.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE Oxbridge Academy
n n n n n n
National Outreach Missions in New York City Increased projects, jobs, and capital investment for the County New Marketing Collateral More education and workforce initiatives Additional companies recruited to the Glades Region Spearhead infrastructure and housing issues for Palm Beach County
NEW INITIATIVES LAUNCHED THROUGH THE BDB PALM BEACH COUNTY FOUNDATION: n n n
Project Opioid Palm Beach, in partnership with Florida Blue Workforce, Housing and Infrastructure Task Force “Ready or Not Here They Come” multi-part meeting series
THANK YOU to our 2019-2021 BDB Chair, Carey O’Donnell, for her leadership and support. fall 2021 pbc business
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Leading Companies 3Cinteractive ADT AeroClean Technologies American Household American Sugar Refining Bluegreen Corp. Biomet 3i, a Zimmer Biomet Company Bugatchi BURGERFI Cancer Treatment Centers of America Carrier Corporation DePuy Synthes Power Tools, a Johnson & Johnson company Dycom Industries Epoca International Equestrian Sport Productions FlexShopper Florida Crystals FP&L G4S Secure Solutions Gift of Life GlobalListings.com Image Skincare LRP Media Group Misfits Gaming Merchant Lynx Services Modernizing Medicine MPLT Healthcare NewDay USA NCCI NextEra Energy, Inc. Oasis Outsourcing Ocwen Financial Office Depot Open Peak Orangetheory Fitness SBA Communications Shoes for Crews TBC Corporation The North West Company TouchSuite Tyco Integrated Security United Franchise Group USPA Global Licensing Inc. Yachtico
SBA Communications SBA Communications Corporation (SBA) builds the wireless communications infrastructure that keeps the world connected. A leading independent owner and operator of wireless towers, buildings, rooftops, distributed antenna systems (DAS) and small cells, SBA Communications has approximately 1,500 employees in its 170,000-square-foot Boca Raton headquarters.
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A Peek Inside Three
Palm Beach County CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS Companies of all sizes choose Palm Beach County for their corporate headquarters. Here is a peek inside the offices of three of the largest county-based companies.
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Rybovich With unobstructed deep-water access from the Atlantic Ocean, Rybovich’s West Palm Beach and Riviera Beach marinas offer full services and accommodations for work and leisure. In fact, the company’s resort-style facility hosts crews from around the world right here in Palm Beach County. With approximately 250 employees, Rybovich has 85 wet slips for yachts up to approximately 100 meters, 10 dry space locations for yachts up to approximately 59 meters, and a dry storage area for hardware and soft goods. The West Palm Beach marina has a 38,909-square-foot building on an 11.3 acre site, and the Riviera Beach marina has a 24,594-square-foot building on a 21.2 acre site.
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CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
Modernizing Medicine Located at the historic Boca Raton Innovation Campus (BRiC), Modernizing Medicine has more than 127,000 square feet of space and a long list of amenities for its more than 1,200 employees. Its headquarters is in the same building where IBM created the world’s first personal computer—a legendary event in the history of technology.
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MEET TWO SUCCESSFUL
WOMEN LEADERS Two of Palm Beach County’s women leaders discuss their successful careers.
Professional ballerinaturned-civil-engineer Andrea Virgin is a serial entrepreneur with many talents. She started her own firm, Virgin Design, and eventually cofounded the Boca Raton Center for Arts & Innovation. Spearheading the project for a new $100 million center in Mizner Park, she has recruited the world’s best consultants and raised millions of dollars for the project, expected to be completed in 2026. What inspired you to create the new Boca Raton Center for Arts & Innovation? First and foremost, I wanted to make sure that local cultural organizations, of which I am a product of, were provided a world-class venue that would mirror their world-class programming. Secondly, this has been a desire of the community for decades. Mizner Park was master-planned more than 30 years ago for a performing arts center at the north end, but it never fully materialized. I am grateful to be able to combine my two passions to complete a chapter for Boca’s residents. And my third inspiration was my late husband. He was a commercial developer who chose Boca Raton and the whole South Florida landscape as the one he wanted to positively impact. He tragically passed at the young age of 31, and so I vowed to do all I could to help him live out that dream. Why did you choose Boca Raton for this project? For a city as well capitalized as Boca Raton is, seeing how it was one of the most popular cities along the Gold Coast yet still lacked a proper world-class venue, it was obvious this was the city to bring this project to. What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs? For anyone setting out on a launch of a product, idea, company or nonprofit, have PASSION . Passion will do many things: It will come across in your pitches to backers, it will excite people to advocate to others on your behalf, it will help you take on the mundane tasks you don’t necessarily want to do but have to as a startup, and it will fuel your emotional stamina to carry your launch from an idea to fruition. A good idea is the starting point, but with passion, there is no stopping a good idea from turning into the next greatest launch.
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Deana Pizzo Founder/CEO Deana Pizzo is the cofounder of I.T. Solutions of South Florida, a Certified Women Owned Business. As the hands-on CEO of the award-winning managed service provider, Deana is responsible for the company’s management, marketing, and business development. She’s been featured on a magazine cover, won numerous prestigious awards, and continues to lead one of “The Best Places” to work in South Florida. What inspired you to start I.T. Solutions of South Florida? Even at a young age, I knew I wanted to be my own boss. And when a corporate relocation was going to force us to leave South Florida, my husband Jason and I embraced the inherent risks and became entrepreneurs. We founded I.T. Solutions of South Florida in 2004 in our living room with a strong desire to help others by combining my business acumen with Jason’s technology expertise. Since then, I.T. Solutions of South Florida has grown into an award-winning managed service provider, serving small and medium-sized businesses both locally and nationally. Why did you choose to be located in Palm Beach County? I was born and raised in Palm Beach County, and I can’t imagine a more idyllic place to create a business and to raise my own family. I also enjoy giving back to my local community by volunteering with several area nonprofits and working to position our region as a technology hub. I believe bringing more technology opportunities to our community will further encourage economic growth, diversity and prosperity locally. What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs? If you believe you can achieve an objective or goal, never take no for an answer. It is also critical to understand a good leader is not an island. She needs the assistance, input, respect and trust of the people she leads. More importantly, she needs to reciprocate all those same attributes for her team.
I.T. Solutions of South Florida
Boca Raton Center for Arts & Innovation
Andrea Virgin President
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Nautilus 220, Lake Shore Drive - South
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LIVE, LOVE, LEAD, LAKE PARK Town of Lake Park Welcomes Business Investment With historic homes, a lively downtown, a waterfront and an easily accessible location that has already caught the eye of many new homeowners, businesses and developers, the Town of Lake Park offers an appealing work-from-anywhere lifestyle and attractive opportunities for new business investment. As the town’s new slogan says: “Live, Love, Lead – Lake Park.”
Located to the north of West Palm Beach and stretching from the Intracoastal Waterway to the Congress Avenue corridor, Lake Park is one of Florida’s earliest planned communities, with a rich history dating back to the 1920s. A century later, the town of about 8,600 residents retains its historic charm, while moving into the future with a focus on smart growth, green infrastructure, and mobility options. For instance, Lake Park is building a natural stormwater cleansing system that includes underground chambers and an extensively landscaped bioswale system. Today, new residential and commercial developments are springing up along U.S. 1 (Federal Highway), while the Park Avenue Downtown District is seeing new retail and office activity. Light industrial users have options along the Congress Avenue, Watertower Road and Old Dixie Highway corridors, with convenient access to I-95.
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With all that Lake Park has to offer, it’s not surprising that a wide variety of local and national businesses have discovered the advantages of relocating to this quiet and secure Palm Beach County community. As John D’Agostino, town manager, said, “Lake Park welcomes business investment from near and far.”
A HISTORIC COMMUNITY Founded in 1917 by Harry Kelsey, Lake Park was one of the state’s first planned communities, with a grid layout designed by the Olmstead brothers and Dr. John Nolan. Incorporated in 1923, the 2.4-square-mile town was also one of the first with streetlights for residents. Unlike most municipalities, each of the roughly 1,200 single-family homes in Lake Park is unique, including buildings from the 1920s through the 1950s. About 5 million cars a month pass through the town, primarily along U.S. 1, yet there is virtually no neighborhood traffic congestion. “Our town is developing a mobility plan with alternatives to motor vehicles,” said D’Agostino. “We also envision a commuter rail stop in our downtown district that would replace the railroad station that was in existence in the 1920s.”
Northlake Promenade Apartments
IDEAL FOR MILLENNIALS Thanks to its historic ambiance and modern thinking and infrastructure, Lake Park is ideal for Millennials, as well as entrepreneurs and creative professionals, said D’Agostino. “We are a minority-majority community with a high quality of life, and our residents celebrate that vibrant diversity,” he said. Other aspects of the Lake Park lifestyle include an A-rated elementary school and proximity to good secondary schools, colleges and universities. The town is also investing significantly in technology infrastructure, including fiber optic and wireless services. “We support the work-from-home trend, and want the new multifamily developments to incorporate those features as well,” D’Agostino said, adding that Lake Park’s municipal buildings are already “smart,” including the 1927-built town hall, which is on the National Historic Register. Lake Park has also deployed an integrated licenseplate camera system that accelerates a patrol car’s response to an incident. “We are both a smart and a safe community,” said D’Agostino.
NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES For commercial investors, Lake Park’s new business opportunities begin on the east side, which includes a working marina and Kelsey and Lake Shore parks. “We have a private-public partnership agreement in the works to expand the marina to add amenities and services and to accommodate possibly 100-150 boats with additional dry storage options,” said Nadia Di Tommaso, community development director. “That dockage space is badly needed to serve South Florida’s marine community. It would also allow passing boaters to stop, enjoy a meal and spend the day in the park with their families in conjunction with the private property development currently underway.” The town’s vision for the marina-area development currently consisting of publiclyowned and privately-owned parcels includes an upscale hotel, a mini convention center, national chain restaurants, and Nautilus 220. Forest Development is developing this luxury residential project with 332 upscale condominium residences, retail shops and professional office space, immediately to the west of the town’s marina. “We recently changed the land development regulations along U.S. 1 to increase densities and allow the Nautilus 220 project to move forward,” said Di Tommaso. “The developer was able to go from initial site plan application submittal to approval of the project in just five months, saving the developer time and money.” High-density and intensity mixed-use zoning is in place along the entire stretch of US-1 in Lake Park (east and west sides with a height transitional design approach) to support additional multifamily residential and commercial development with an easy drive to employment centers in Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Riviera Beach and West Palm Beach. The two waterfront parks, Kelsey and Lake Shore, having a central location to the corridor and historic significance, are a green, open-space amenity for new projects and an area that the Town is also currently working on master planning to adequately integrate additional needed features and amenities, added Di Tommaso. On Lake Park’s northern boundary, the town is working closely with the Village of North Palm Beach on a proposed redevelopment of the Promenade Shoppes on U.S. 1 and N orthlake Boulevard. The goal is to create a new mixed-use project with a residential component, and the town has already received a site plan application for a project called Northlake Promenade Apartments from a developer who has both identified a need and a desire to work with Lake Park.
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Northlake Promenade Apartments
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LIVE, LOVE, LEAD, LAKE PARK
Town of Lake Park Welcomes Business Investment
THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT Exciting new office, retail and entertainment projects are underway in Lake Park’s historic Downtown District, creating attractive opportunities for new business investment. One example just outside the downtown district is Oceana Coffee, which plans to redevelop a property on 10th Street into a roasting house with retail and food kitchen operations. “Oceana Coffee became interested in Lake Park because of our growth and forward-thinking mentality,” said Di Tommaso. Based in New York, Brooklyn Cupcakes is opening its first (expanded service) retail location in Florida on 10th Street, near the Coastal Karma microbrewery (a business that is already adding to the economic vitality of the area). A few blocks away, N OBO Brewery is planning a microbrewery with a rooftop open-air patio and tasting room, as well as a corporate IT business office. One of Lake Park’s original buildings, 918 Park Avenue, will provide an excellent example of historical redevelopment, said Di Tommaso. The building will be restored to its original splendor, adding flavor to the Park Avenue Downtown District. These new projects complement the Lake Park Black Box @ the Kelsey Theatre Center for the Arts, which opened on Park Avenue last December, bringing live plays, concerts and comedy shows to the community, and the Brewhouse Gallery, a downtown staple offering craft microbrews as well as entertainment in an artsy, unique, share-ofideas type environment.
918 Park Avenue
TO THE WEST A variety of technology, office and industrial businesses are investing in Lake Park’s western sector along Congress Avenue and Old Dixie Highway, with easy access to I-95’s Blue Heron and Northlake exits. For instance, Clean Sweep, a national refuse company, is planning an office, maintenance and service facility for its trucking fleet. One of the town’s attractive new planned developments is Lake Park Innovation, a modern startup business hub on Congress Avenue in a build-to-suit, warehouse environment. Three one-story office/warehouse structures are planned with a total area of approximately 23,940 square feet. Several blocks away is another project in the planning stage—Watertower Industrial, a two-story office/warehouse structure with about 8,383 square feet of space. In addition, construction is also underway on a new building for Coston Marine that will include office and maintenance space as well as possible outdoor storage along Water Tower Road. On a larger scale, a developer recently purchased a site that will house Silver Beach Industrial, a 371,928-square-foot project on 24 acres east of Congress Avenue (approved in 5 months even through the unanticipated interruptions caused by COVID). The $17.5 million land acquisition will include four one-story buildings ranging from 86,352 to 95,192 square feet each. “The developer recognized the growing potential in Lake Park and light industrial uniqueness based on location, and purchased the property sight unseen,” said Di Tommaso. Other commercial developments in the town’s western corridors include the Congress Business Park, as well as retail, office and storage facilities. The town is also looking at increasing current densities to support high-value business uses, including corporate headquarters.
227 Foresteria Drive
PAST MEETS THE FUTURE For business investors, the Town of Lake Park offers accelerated permitting, as well as potential incentives, supported by the economic development team of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County (BDB). “Our town is committed to supporting the needs of today’s workforce and employers,” said D’Agostino. “Lake Park offers an ideal blend of residential and commercial options in a community where a historic past meets a bright future.”
Coston Marine
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For more information on the Town of Lake Park, contact Nadia Di Tommaso, Community Development Director, at 561-881-3319 or nditommaso@lakeparkflorida.gov
A RCH I T ECT
A
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Gala
THANK YOU TO OUR
BDB
SPONSORS
2021
TITLE SPONSOR
WELLINGTON EQUESTRIAN PARTNERS: Wellington Equestrian Partners, LLP (WEP) are owners and operators of some of the world’s finest equestrian venues and properties located in Palm Beach County. GL HOMES: For more than 40 years, GL HOMES has specialized in building new luxury homes, 55+ communities, and family-oriented communities in the most sought-after locations on Florida’s east and west coasts. WEXFORD CAPITAL: Wexford Real Estate Investors (“WREI”) is a private market real estate investing firm whose mission is to deliver above-market, risk-adjusted returns. PRATT & WHITNEY: Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft and helicopter engines, and auxiliary power units. FLORIDA CRYSTALS: Florida Crystals Corporation is a fully integrated sugar producer headquartered in Palm Beach County. Its subsidiary, ASR Group, is the world’s largest cane sugar refiner and marketer. Florida Crystals’ renewable energy facility is the largest in North America and powers the sugar operations and Florida grid. VERDEX CONSTRUCTION: Verdex Construction is known for its unwavering commitment to Building Something Better through integrity, responsiveness, and passion. N EWDAY USA: N ewDay USA is a nationwide VA mortgage lender focused on helping active military personnel, veterans, and their families achieve their financial and housing goals.
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HARDRIVES, INC.
HARDRIVES, INC.: George Elmore founded Hardrives, Inc. in 1953 as a driveway paving company dedicated to hard work and top-quality customer service. Now, more than 60 years later, the multimillion-dollar paving, excavating and construction site preparation company, with an unequaled record of municipal, state and private development projects, still stands on its rock-solid core values of customer service. WELLS FARGO: Wells Fargo Middle Market Banking delivers a comprehensive suite of products and industry expertise to serve the diverse financial needs of companies with annual sales typically ranging from $5 million to $2 billion. As a leader in serving commercial customers, Wells Fargo offers financial services including credit and treasury management solutions as well as specialized expertise across industries including agribusiness, health care, investor real estate, government, and technology. HCA FLORIDA HEALTHCARE: HCA Florida Palm Beach County hospitals consist of JFK Medical Center, JFK Medical Center North Campus and Palms West Hospital. Their superior physicians and staff, innovative techniques and advanced technology enable their facilities to provide a comprehensive range of health care services. SHUTTS & BOWEN: Shutts & Bowen is a full-service law firm that has provided leadership and high-quality legal services to businesses and individuals for over a century. With approximately 300 attorneys located in eight offices throughout Florida, Shutts offers a full range of legal services to its clients locally, nationally and internationally. FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT: As the largest energy company in the U.S., Florida Power & Light Company serves more than 5.6 million customer accounts supporting more than 11 million residents from Miami to Pensacola with clean, reliable and affordable electricity. SKANSKA USA BUILDING INC: Skanska is one of the world’s leading project development and construction groups, serving Florida from regional offices in Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa and Fort Myers.
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SOUTH FLORIDA SCIENCE CENTER PLANS TO DOUBLE IN SIZE
WEST PALM BEACH INSTITUTION CELEBRATES 60TH ANNIVERSARY
Circa 1960s
SINCE OPENING ITS DOORS IN 1961, South Florida Science Center and Aquarium has been highly successful in its mission to “Open Every Mind to Science.” N ow, the West Palm Beach educational center is planning a major expansion program that includes showcasing leading Palm Beach County science, technology and engineering companies. “We have just started a capital campaign for a new 100,000square-foot three-story building that will double our size,” said Kate Arrizza, president and CEO. “Our current facility will be refurbished to include an interactive exhibit hall, restaurant and artwork.” Along with a new 57,000-square-foot aquarium and a traveling exhibit gallery, the new building will include “Future Florida,” an exhibit highlighting STEM companies in Palm Beach County, such as Florida Crystals, Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky. “Our partners in the business community recognize the importance of educating young minds, and building a 21st century workforce,” Arrizza said. Construction on the Science Center’s new building is planned to begin in 2023, with opening scheduled for mid 2025. It will be visible from I-95 and connected to the current building with a
20 | pbc business fall 2021
courtyard that is ideal for outdoor exhibits, experiments and gatherings, added Arrizza. “Our market studies indicate visitors will drive up to 60 miles to see our exhibits and stay for the weekend, supporting our tourism industry.” The Science Center now serves more than 300,000 students, teachers and visitors annually. Along with 100-plus hands-on educational exhibits, the center has a large-scale 3D-printing laboratory, as well as coding and application design programs to interest young students in STEM careers. Other Science Center highlights include a freshwater and saltwater aquarium, digital planetarium, pre-K Discovery Center, 18-hole conservation-themed mini golf course and the “Journey Through the Human Brain” exhibit in partnership with the FAU Brain Institute. In 2020, the center added an open-air amphitheater to its outdoor Science Trail, which features daily live science shows, trivia sessions and concerts. Another offering is the monthly off-site ‘Science on Tap’ lecture series on topics like rockets, robotics and the life sciences. “We invite Palm Beach County’s business community to help us celebrate our 60th anniversary,” Arrizza said. “We look forward to working together as we take a giant step into the future.”
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“Manufacturing” Alive & Well in Palm Beach County
O
By Sherry Howard, Deputy Director Palm Beach County Department of Housing and Economic Sustainability ne of the State’s top priority industries includes
The Glades Region remains one of the top priority
manufacturing. And according to Enterprise Florida, our
areas for job creation, and the County has provided
State is one of the top 10 states in the nation for
incentives to two manufacturers in Belle Glade. This
manufacturing. Benefits this industry brings to the County include
includes Tellus Products, LLC, a newly established business
large job production, high wages (with manufacturing jobs
unit of Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida in 2017.
averaging $75,993 annually versus an average of $54,044 for overall Palm Beach County jobs), and job positions that do not require a college degree. Depending on the product produced and the machinery and equipment utilized, manufacturers require a wide range of skill sets, from computer scientists, electricians and engineers to welders and management and operations supervisors. Although the manufacturing sector experienced a more pronounced
slowdown
than
other
industries due to mandatory shutdowns caused by the pandemic, manufacturing is alive and well in Palm Beach County.
The company invested $40M for the construction of a facility that produces biodegradable, molded packaging products out of recycled materials. This facility runs partially on renewable biomass power provided from the sugar mill and solar energy, creating an extremely efficient and environmentally sustainable operation. The company committed to create 71 new jobs over a five-year period, and to date has created more than 90 jobs. In 2021, a County incentive was provided to FINFROCK SOUTH FLORIDA, LLC, a design-build general contractor
Even during the pandemic, the
and precast concrete manufacturer based in Orlando and
County continued efforts to encourage
expanding its growing business in Belle Glade. The
manufacturing companies to expand or
company is making a capital investment of $36M for the
bring their operations to Palm Beach
purchase of 94 acres of land and the construction of a
County
economic
140,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. The company
development programs approved by the
will create 200 new jobs with a five-year economic impact
Board of County Commissioners, and
estimated to be at least $242 million. The expansion of
implemented by the Department of Housing & Economic
FINFROCK to this area supports the increasing demand for
Development. Just this year, the County’s Section 108 Business
construction activities in South Florida, even during the
through
various
Loan Program assisted in financing $5M for the expansion of Oxygen Development, LLC, a manufacturing company in Palm Springs that will lead to the creation of 300 new full-time jobs. The company manufactures color cosmetics, skin care, hair care and over-the-counter drug-type products. The company is expanding its business to produce gelatin-based products with vitamins and antioxidants. The estimated five-year economic impact for this project is $826 million. In 2010, the County initially provided
pandemic. In Palm Beach County alone, the value of construction year over year grew from $143M in May of 2020 to $225M in May of 2021, and permits increased from 4,597 to 7,447 during the same period. The continued industry diversity in Palm Beach County has
contributed
to
our
economic
resiliency,
and
manufacturing continues to play an important role in
$5,947,740 in funding for its then-new facility. The company had
offering residents a vast array of job opportunities while
committed to the creation of 400 new jobs, but has far exceeded
furthering efforts to maintain a stable workforce. To learn
that, and to date has created more than 1,200 new full-time jobs.
more about the Department of Housing & Economic
The County has also assisted in providing loan financing to other
Development,
manufacturers, including Prestige Commercial Kitchen, Scientific
development and business investment programs, please
Organica and Shellco Construction, just to name a few.
contact me at 561-233-3600 or showard@pbcgov.org
or
any
of
the
County’s
economic
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NEWS
Mayors Announce Exploratory Conversations with UF around Innovative Academic Opportunities in WPB Building on the continued increase in companies relocating to West Palm Beach and calling the region home, county and city leaders have begun conversations on how to amplify this success by accelerating the region’s academic offerings for graduate students, professionals, and executives. To help inform these conversations, officials have turned to Florida’s flagship public university – the University of Florida – whose breadth and depth of expertise in academic programming and statewide impact make it an ideal choice for a potential partner.
TBC Corp’s Tire Kingdom Partners with the American Heart Association to Reimagine a Staff Lounge for a Local High School Tire Kingdom® Service Centers, a leader in the automotive aftermarket space with 200+ stores throughout Florida and headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, worked alongside the American Heart Association (AHA) to reimagine and reinvent a staff lounge at Royal Palm Beach High School. For nearly 100 years, the AHA has been fighting heart disease and stroke and helping families and communities thrive. On August 4, 2021, Tire Kingdom and the AHA unveiled a staff lounge that was transformed into a wellness area in an effort to improve mental and physical health for teachers, faculty, and staff, enabling them to continue to provide the best support for students. The Royal Palm Beach High School wellness lounge includes an accent wall, comfy furniture, meditation tools, and wellness items, such as blood pressure cuffs, logs, and instruction manuals.
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13 BDB Economic Development Events and Strategies Completed in Under Two Months n n n n n n n n n n n n n
BDB Education Intern Series - August 3, 2021 Private School Headmasters Meeting - August 3, 2021 BDB Hosted PNC’s Economic Forecast - August 11, 2021 BDB Coffee Talk - August 18, 2021 BDB Life Science Advisory Council - August 26, 2021 BDB Academic Leaders Council - September 8, 2021 BDB Growth & Infrastructure Reception - September 8, 2021 BDB 2021 Annual Gala - September 18. 2021 BDB Realtor’s Roundtable - September 21, 2021 BDB Annual Site Consultant Familiarization Tour - September 22, 2021 Enterprise Florida Outreach Mission in New York - September 22, 2021 BDB Economic Development Stakeholders Roundtable - September 23, 2021 BDB End of Year Luncheon - September 30, 2021
BDB Foundation Teams with Florida Blue to Launch Coalition to Address Regional Opioid Epidemic The BDB Foundation of Palm Beach County launched an effort to address the growing opioid epidemic in Palm Beach County with a large investment from the Florida Blue Foundation. The initiative, called Project Opioid Palm Beach, is building a coalition of business, nonprofit and faithbased leaders to research the regional impact of opioid abuse, identify the types of treatment and resources available within the community, and develop an actionable strategy to reduce opioid deaths in Palm Beach County. The leaders will convene on a virtual platform on N ovember 2. You can register at www.bdb.org.
SAVE THE DATE: Claim Your Future Showcase, February 10, 2022 Showcase your company to local high school students inperson at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. To sign up, visit www.bdb.org/cyf or contact kliberman@bdb.org.
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BUSINESS SOLUTIONS
CareerSource Helps Professionals Find New Positions Nicole Kustara was feeling frustrated in making a change in her professional career. But after completing CareerSource Palm Beach County’s Professional Placement Network (PPN) program, she was hired for a senior-level position at Modernizing Medicine, a fast-growing Boca Raton company. Kustara had spent 10 years with IBM working in IT sales before moving from New York to Boca Raton. “I wanted to find a smaller company here and help it grow,” she said. Kustara applied at Modernizing Medicine without success, before her husband encouraged her to sign up for the CareerSource program. She attended workshops on résumé writing, interviews and other job-hunting skills. “I hadn’t interviewed in 10 years, so the interactive sessions were really helpful,” she said. Drawing on the information and tactics she learned in the program, Kustara reapplied, and was hired in June 2019. Today, Kustara is national sales director for Modernizing Medicine’s EN T (ear-nose-throat) line, leading a 10-person team. “We have a product that medical practices really need,” she said. Kustara credits CareerSource’s PPN for helping her take the next step in her professional career. “At first, I didn’t think I needed any help, but there are always things you can learn, and brush up your skills,” she said. “It absolutely worked for me, and I strongly recommend the program to other professionals.”
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BUSINESS SOLUTIONS
About the Professional Placement Network If you are a professional looking for a new position, the CareerSource Palm Beach County Professional Placement Network (PPN) can help. The program is designed for professionals with a four-year degree and a minimum of three years’ experience in a professional position who are looking for their next career opportunity. The Professional Placement N etwork consists of three half-day workshops to move you closer to your next career goal. The sessions focus on job readiness skills, like personal branding, social media tips and developing your personal infomercial; sharpening your tools with résumé basics and interviewing tactics; and landing the job, with mock interviews and industry trends. The PPN program also gives job-seekers access to employers through CareerSource’s established network of contacts. To learn more, go to careersourcepbc.com.
Central Career Center 3400 Belvedere Road West Palm Beach, FL 33406 561.340.1060
West Career Center 1085 S. Main St. Belle Glade, FL 33430 561.829.2040
Connecting business with talent | www.careersourcepbc.com
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