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“We are excited to be moving to Palm Beach County where the population is very much in tune with keeping the environment clean for our generation and many more to come,” said Camilo Raful, president, Ramatex International. The global company will use its new Mangonia Park facility to distribute its environmentally friendly garments, blankets and other textile products throughout the U.S., Canada and Japan. NextEra Energy, a Fortune 200 company whose subsidiaries are Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) and NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, has found that Palm Beach County’s leading-edge research institutes – Scripps Florida and Max Planck Florida Institute – and abundant natural resources are also major business advantages. "Energy independence is critical for the future of our economy, security and environment - for Florida and the nation as a whole,” said Jim Robo, president and COO, NextEra Energy. “We are fortunate to have such a renowned research facility in our backyard, and our synergy is powerful.” “This is a great base to build a national business” says Kenneth Kahn, president of LRP Publications, Inc., who was a practicing employment law attorney when he founded the company in 1977. “We relocated our corporate office here in the 1990s. I wanted to live here and enjoy the sun and the water in south Florida and you can’t beat the lifestyle in Palm Beach County.” Along with a growing, well-educated workforce, Palm Beach County offers excellent public and private schools, high-quality healthcare, low-stress commuting and year-round warm weather – an appealing lifestyle for executives, professionals, employees and their families. Boating, golf, running, biking, fishing, diving, tennis and 26 PALM BEACH COUNTY BUSINESS PROFILE | BDB.ORG
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equestrian activities are among the many outdoor attractions. The county is also known for its dynamic cultural institutions, including 200 theaters, museums, arts centers, and indoor and outdoor performance stages. Adding to the quality of life are fine restaurants and high-end shopping, as well as top entertainment destinations like West Palm Beach’s Clematis Street and CityPlace, and Boca Raton’s Mizner Park and downtown Delray Beach. Other business assets include a strategic location for serving Florida’s largest metropolitan markets, access to deep-water ports and three international airports, and proximity to the markets of South America. Business travelers appreciate the convenience of Palm Beach International Airport, which was voted the third best in the U.S. and sixth best in the world by Conde Nast Traveler readers. “We are thrilled to relocate new companies to the area, and it is extremely rewarding to see existing businesses flourish and expand here,” said Kelly Smallridge, president & CEO, Business Development Board of Palm Beach County. “One of our many services is helping businesses find the right location.” With all these advantages, it’s no surprise that Palm Beach County continues to attract business investment from both new and expanding companies. For instance, Canada-based CEL Aerospace recently opened an office in Palm Beach County for design, manufacturing, installation and maintenance services for gas turbine engines. Another example is RADISE International, a Florida-based small business that provides engineering and IT services. In a recent announcement of its 60-job expansion plan, Kumar Allady, president of the Riviera Beach company, said, “Creating new, high-paying, high-tech jobs is essential to the future economic growth of the state, and we look forward to many more years of success here in Florida.”