Recently Assisted Expansions/Relocations 
Overview
While the headlines have been full of gloom and doom scenarios about the economy, a host of diverse businesses providing higher-than-average-wage jobs has been quietly expanding in Manatee County. Most serve global markets and either create or use technology, thus demanding the knowledge workers who tend to command a higher wage. Their diversity of industries and markets bodes well for Manatee County’s long-term economic future. See sampling of companies below.
Companies on the Move - 2010
Trinity Graphic USA
American Finishing Inc.
June 28, 2010    Trinity Graphics USA and American Finishing Inc., two companies approved for incentive grants by the Manatee County Commission on June 22, plan to add nearly 50 employees in the next five years. 
Trinity Graphics USA, which has been in the news for its relationship with the Hillstrand brothers of the vessel Time Bandit from the Deadliest Catch television show, recently began producing graphic inserts for Tervis Tumbler Company, the Venice-based firm that makes insulated drinkware. Trinity specializes in creating product labels and other specialty design and printed products.  “We’re printing 5,000 units a day for Tervis, and they want us to ramp up to 8,000 as soon as possible,” said Trinity owner Robert Smithson. “That means we need to buy more equipment and increase staffing. We are planning to have a 24/7 shift system.”  Trinity is expanding into an additional 6,500 square feet of a building that the company already owns and is purchasing additional equipment for an estimated capital investment of nearly $2 million, Smithson said. The company plans to add 23 new jobs over the next five years. Commissioners approved up to $1,000 per job over five years for a maximum of $23,000 in performance-based incentives for the company.
American Finishing Inc., a metal fabricating and powder coating business, is purchasing two vacant buildings totaling 50,000 square feet to increase production capacity and create 25 new jobs over the next five years. The company will occupy one building immediately and lease the other until needed for future expansion. The capital investment for the two buildings and the required renovation is $1.5 million. Commissioners approved up to $1,000 per job over five years for a maximum of $25,000 in performance-based incentives for the company.
“The incentive grants provided by Manatee County Government, which the companies only receive if they hire and retain employees at wages that exceed the county average, were vital in helping these growing businesses expand and hire in our community,” Basinger said.  “Expediting expansions by American Finishing and Trinity Graphics in cooperation with the EDC exemplifies the ‘business friendly’ climate we want to promote in Manatee County,” said Ed Hunzeker, Manatee County administrator. “The Manatee Board of County Commissioners has made retaining and growing good jobs one of its top priorities.”  “The Manatee Economic Development Council was wonderful in helping us with the grant application,” Smithson said. “EDC staff explained all of the details about the county’s incentive program.”
IMG Academies
May 11, 2010     Manatee County’s economy continues to score new jobs as IMG Academies plans to add 65 employees over the next three years with the help of local incentives approved today by the Manatee Board of County Commissioners.  IMG Academies – the world’s largest and most advanced multi-sport training facility for athletic, academic and personal development – will need the additional employees to staff new programs, including the IMG Madden Football Academy, IMG Lacrosse Academy and additional upcoming programs. IMG also plans to construct a 50,000 sq. ft. dormitory in 2012, with a total of $25 million in capital investments on the campus in the next five years, according to Chip McCarthy, director of finance, planning and development at IMG Academies.
“To continue serving as a world leader in athletic, academic and personal development, we needed to strategically expand and enhance our facilities and programs, while providing employees to staff new initiatives,” McCarthy said. “This grant not only helps our growth and assists our efforts to provide a significant economic impact, but confirms that Manatee County fully supports its valued businesses and wants to ensure a bright future for the county’s economy and workforce.”  Sports performance is a targeted industry in the EDC’s five-year strategy to bring more jobs to Manatee County residents and create more wealth in the community, Basinger said. The EDC helped facilitate IMG’s application for county incentives.  “IMG Academies is a world-renowned sports performance destination for professional and amateur athletes,” Basinger said. “In addition to the jobs IMG provides, the academy’s students fuel the local economy through rental accommodations, retail purchases and restaurant visits.” 
IMG Academies has played a significant role in the area’s economy since opening as a tennis-only establishment with a handful of students more than 30 years ago. Since then, the Academy has expanded to seven sports, while attracting more than 12,000 youth, adult, collegiate and professional athletes from more than 80 countries annually. Additional events like this summer’s 2010 High School National Championships and yearly Eddie Herr International Junior Tennis Championships will bring thousands more to the area.  “Bringing good jobs to Manatee County residents is vital to our community’s sustainability,” said Ed Hunzeker, Manatee County administrator.  “Performance-based incentives for adding good jobs help us attract and retain employers that our community wants and needs.”  The county incentives included up to $65,000 over five years, and IMG only receives funds as jobs are provided. Jobs provided by the company must meet or exceed an annual average wage of $38,619, which is 115 percent of the average wage in Manatee County.
Oliphant Financial LLC
Star2Star Communications LLC
February 9, 2010   Two companies that received incentive grants from Manatee County Government today plan to add up to 210 employees in 2010, according to Eric Basinger, executive director of the Economic Development Council (EDC), a division of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce. Oliphant Financial LLC, a debt buyer and software provider to that industry, plans to add 100 to 150 jobs in 2010 at the company’s new financial services headquarters location in Manatee County. Star2Star Communications LLC, which develops and provides business grade communications solutions via the Internet, plans to add up to 60 new employees to support the company’s sales growth.  “The incentive grants provided by Manatee County Government, which the companies only receive if they hire and retain employees at wages that exceed the county average, were vital in helping these growing businesses locate, expand and hire in our community,” Basinger said.
“Expediting Oliphant Financial’s relocation and Star2Star’s expansion in cooperation with the EDC exemplifies the ‘business friendly’ climate we want to promote in Manatee County,” said Ed Hunzeker, Manatee County administrator. “Retaining and growing good jobs now is a high priority in Manatee County.”
The grant for Oliphant is $133,000 that will be paid out over five years as the company adds and retains employees. According to the grant agreement, the company will add 133 new employees over five years for a total of 160 employees. The county also approved an $80,000 incentive grant for Star2Star Communications, which plans to create 80 communications technology jobs over the next five years. To qualify for the grants, the companies must provide an average annual wage higher than the county average wage of $33,582. 
Oliphant Financial moved 30 employees into a 20,000 sf building in Lakewood Ranch in December 2009. Economic development organizations in Manatee and Sarasota counties worked together to keep the company in the region when Oliphant outgrew its downtown Sarasota location. The company needed more space and wanted to be close to I-75 for access to the Tampa Bay region’s labor pool, said Tom Noble, Oliphant’s Chief Operating Officer. The company buys debt from various lenders and then seeks to collect from the borrowers. Oliphant also has developed a debt buying and collection software application that the company sells to other firms.
“The Manatee Economic Development Council worked closely with our counterparts in Sarasota County and with Manatee County Government to make sure that Oliphant and its new jobs remain in the region,” Basinger said. “Oliphant is in a growth industry and provides higher wage jobs our community desperately needs.”
“Our new location will allow us to accommodate our growth plans,” Noble said. “We expect to add 100 to 150 employees in the next year as we bring more of the previously out-sourced debt-collection functions in house.” Employment candidates should visit the company’s web site at www.oliphantfinancial.com for information.
Star2Star moved to Manatee County in 2008 from a smaller location in downtown Sarasota. A garage-based startup in 2004, the company developed its own software and technology to provide high quality telephone solutions to businesses using Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP). With its product and service proven, the company in 2009 set up a national dealer organization to serve clients nationwide, said Norm Worthington, Star2Star CEO.
“Our South Manatee County location allows us to draw employees from Port Charlotte to Tampa Bay,” Worthington said. The company added 25 employees in the past two years and has a total of 36 employees in Manatee County. Information about the company is available at www.star2star.com.
Ameritex Fabric Systems
January 6, 2010  The marriage of once fierce competitors in the marine industry is spinning off a welcome benefit in Manatee County: new manufacturing jobs with a green twist. Bradenton-based Ameritex Fabric Systems, which became a division of the Taylor Made Group in 2009, will supply canvas doors for Chrysler Group Global Electric Motorcars LLC, according to Don Zirkelbach, Ameritex president.  “Our relationship with Global Electric Motorcars is part of our plan to diversify at least 25 percent of our business beyond the marine industry,” said Zirkelbach, whose company has 58 employees and plans to add 10 to 20 manufacturing jobs in the next year. “The combination of Taylor Made and Ameritex with our numerous patents opens up tremendous opportunities.”  
The global recession hit the marine industry hard, leading to job losses and plant closures across the industry, including in Manatee County. The entire industry “had to hit the reset button” and create new business models and ways of doing business, Zirkelbach said. In the case of Ameritex and Taylor Made, Ameritex moved into part of a Taylor Made facility and is focusing on fabric-related products while Taylor Made will concentrate on windshield design and manufacturing, he said. Taylor Made recently closed a fabric plant in Georgia and integrated the operation into Ameritex in Bradenton, bringing additional jobs to Manatee County.  The electric car industry is one diversity target for Ameritex. Global Electric Motorcars makes six different models of battery-powered GEM cars primarily suited for intra-city use. GEM cars are used by local, state and national government agencies, resorts, master-planned communities, universities, medical and corporate campuses, as well as by sports teams, taxi-shuttle services and individual consumers. Ameritex is also looking at the resort, consumer, recreational vehicle and golf cart industries.
“The Ameritex story exemplifies how companies in the marine industry are restructuring to survive and thrive,” said Eric Basinger, executive director of the Economic Development Council (EDC), a division of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce. The EDC has assisted Ameritex over the years with employee recruitment and facilities permitting. “The focus on diversifying into other industries, in addition to marine products, is generating new jobs for local residents.”
Companies on the Move -  2009
Trod Medical
December 14, 2009       Trod Medical S.A, a medical equipment manufacturer based in Paris, France, opened its U.S. headquarters in the Lakewood Ranch area of Manatee County in September. The Florida location will spearhead the company’s launch of its FDA-approved surgical device in early summer 2010 focusing in areas of urology, radiation oncology and interventional radiology according to Manfred Sablowski, vice president and COO of Trod Medical US LLC.  “The U.S. market is the largest market in the world for our Encage™ surgical device,” said Sablowski, who is originally from Frankfurt, Germany and now lives in Manatee County. “This area of Florida has the infrastructure we need.” Dr. Andre Faure, who is the world wide president and CEO of Trod Medical as well as a medical doctor and inventor of the Encage™ device, founded the company in Europe in 2006. He convinced Sablowski and Brook Peterson of Orlando, president and CEO of Trod Medical US LLC, to join him in the Trod Medical venture. Sablowski and Peterson each have more than 20 years of experience in the medical technology field. They met while working at a Pfizer unit in the United States.  
Sablowski said that Trod is planning to hire distribution and office staff for the Manatee County office and distribution facility by mid 2010 and will also assemble a team of regional sales directors around the country. Trod expects to hire several employees initially for the Manatee location, he said.  “Manatee County is cultivating a cluster of medical equipment designers and manufacturers, and Trod’s entry from its European base is an exciting chapter in that story,” said Eric Basinger, executive director of the Economic Development Council (EDC), a division of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce. The EDC is assisting Trod with various business resources to help the company ramp up quickly. “Trod’s arrival is further evidence of Manatee County’s appeal to European businesses wanting to expand into the U.S. market. We look forward to the day when Trod Medical’s manufacturing operation also is located in our community.”

Trod’s patented Encage™ device gained FDA approval in October 2008, Sablowski said. The device is used to treat soft tissues involving the prostate, liver and kidney. It uses radio frequency technology to heat diseased tissue and halt its growth. The FDA approval was a key factor allowing the company to enter the U.S. market and open a U.S. facility, he said.  “There are so many medical equipment manufacturers in Europe that would love to enter the US market, but they don’t have the knowledge of how to go about getting FDA approval,” Sablowski said. “It is a difficult process, but we believe it will be well worth the effort because of the potential in the U.S. market.”
Teltronics
December 8, 2009  Teltronics Inc. (OTCBB: TELT), which provides communications products and services, relocated its headquarters to Gulf Coast Corporate Park in north Manatee County.  Teltronics designs, develops and manufactures electronic equipment and applications software systems that enhance the performance of communications networks. The new headquarters facility includes 21,520 sq. ft. of office space and 30,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space. Manufacturing at the new facility is scheduled to begin the first quarter of 2010. The company has 114 employees in Manatee County and 188 worldwide, according to Ewen Cameron, Teltronics CEO.  “Located near the I-75 and I-275 interchange, the new location will vastly improve company visibility and attract personnel in the Tampa Bay, Sarasota/Bradenton and surrounding areas,” Cameron said. “After 27 years at the previous location, we are pleased to find an outstanding, new facility to proudly showcase our company and products to worldwide clients, partners, potential business associates and the community. At the same time, we are creating an environment that reflects the future of our business.” 
“Part of having a strong existing industry program is being able to assist companies like Teltronics when they undertake a major effort, such as a corporate move, which triggered the permitting assistance program,” Basinger said. “If we are going to create a more diverse economy in Manatee County, we must concentrate not only on attracting new targeted businesses, but also on retention and expansion of our existing businesses, such as Teltronics.”  “The Manatee Economic Development Council helped make the move to Palmetto a smooth transition by serving as the liaison between Teltronics and county personnel,” Cameron said. “The swift decision to relocate would not have come to fruition had it not been for the assistance of staff in the county’s building department and economic development department. We are pleased to continue to call Manatee County home to the Teltronics headquarters.”  
“Expediting Teltronics’ relocation in cooperation with the EDC exemplified the ‘business friendly’ climate we want to promote in Manatee County,” said Ed Hunzeker, Manatee County administrator. “Retaining and growing good jobs in Manatee County is a high priority.”
DemanData Systems
November 17, 2009   DemanData Systems, a leader in supply chain information technology for the healthcare industry, relocated its corporate headquarters into a newly renovated building in the Gulf Coast Corporate Park of Palmetto in Manatee County in October. DemanData employs 100 people in four states; 40 employees are located in Manatee County.  “We appreciated having the opportunity to work with DemanData Systems, a targeted information technology employer, on this expansion,” said Eric Basinger, executive director of the Economic Development Council (EDC), a division of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce. The EDC helped facilitate DemanData’s relocation from their facility in the southern portion of Manatee County to their new location in the Gulf Coast Corporate Park through the county's rapid response permitting program.
“DemanData’s relocation to Palmetto is a prime example of how county government and the private sector can work together to bring more high-wage jobs to Manatee County,” said Manatee County Administrator Ed Hunzeker. “We are focused on delivering the services that businesses need to locate and expand here, while maintaining our community’s high standards for quality of life.”  "The relationship between DemanData Systems and the rapid response permitting team in Manatee County is a great example of how a vision can be turned into reality, quickly and efficiently,” said Maureen Donovan, the company’s vice president of marketing. “We are looking forward to a long and prosperous relationship with the community here in Manatee County.”
Mustang Vacuum Systems LLC
August 31, 2009  Mustang Vacuum Systems LLC will relocate and expand its manufacturing operation in Manatee County where the company plans to add 125 jobs in the next two years at an annual average wage of more than $44,000. “The Economic Development Council, Manatee Chamber of Commerce (EDC) was pleased to help Mustang Vacuum Systems find the right location for the company’s expansion,” said Eric Basinger, EDC executive director. “Mustang was located in Sarasota County for four years, and in partnership with Sarasota County, Manatee County government and the State of Florida, we were able to keep this fine company – and its growing number of higher-wage jobs – in the region.”   “We are excited to be relocating and expanding our manufacturing facility in Manatee County,” said Richard Greenwell, president of Mustang Vacuum Systems LLC. “With the EDC’s assistance, we were able to locate a facility and secure a grant from Manatee County. This will reduce some costs of our technology project, which is geared toward lowering the cost and increasing the efficiency of solar cells so that clean, renewable solar energy can be a viable choice for everyone.”
The 50,000-square-foot facility in Sarasota Commerce Center in South Manatee County will allow Mustang to expand its production of thin-film solar photovoltaic cell equipment, Greenwell said. With the goal of reducing solar energy costs, the company has designed and built three types of machines to meet the needs and specifications of solar cell manufacturers. Customers are now looking for larger, higher volume machines, which will provide greater performance and output, he said. Mustang’s expanded production capacity will drive down the cost of solar energy for consumers by incorporating technologies into solar cell production that will reduce costs as well as increase efficiency of the cells, he added.  
Mustang Vacuum Systems LLC, an affiliate of Mustang Dynamometer, manufactures vacuum coating and metalizing equipment, including sputtering machines, optical coating units, and batch metalizers. The Mustang Group has been in business over 25 years. Mustang Vacuum Systems currently employs 25 people at its Sarasota County location. The company will be operating in its location in the South Manatee County by the end of 2009, Greenwell said, and plans to increase its staff to 150 by the end of 2011. With assistance from the EDC and consultant Ryan Inc., Mustang successfully applied for state and local grants to facilitate the expansion. The grants will be expended based on the company’s performance in creating the new jobs at the anticipated salaries.
Dulond Tool & Engineering Inc.
July 13, 2009  High school and college marching bands across the United States are hustling on and off competition fields more efficiently using specialized carts created by Manatee County’s Dulond Tool & Engineering Inc. The company, which moved into a new 13,000-square-foot facility in June, has sold its patented LoadMaestro carts to schools from Alabama to Texas and from the Carolinas to Michigan.  "We originally designed the LoadMaestro cart to help the Lakewood Ranch High School marching band get its equipment on and off the field more efficiently for competitions,” said Jeff Benson, Dulond Tool & Engineering president and owner. “Now we’re looking at LoadMaestro products to account for up to 20 percent of sales within the next few years.”


Dulond’s business, which is primarily focused in machining and assembly, has traditionally come from the aviation, aerospace, computer chip and marine industries. The company has 13 employees and has signed with a distributor in Chicago to market the band carts. In addition, Benson said the company hopes to be part of a security-related project that could stimulate hiring in 2009-2010. The new building allowed Dulond to move out of leased space and is adjacent to a building the company already owns.  “Dulond Tool & Engineering is an example of the product innovation and market diversification that is helping Manatee County companies grow in today’s marketplace,” said Eric Basinger, executive director of the Economic Development Council, Manatee Chamber of Commerce (EDC), which assisted Dulond’s expansion through the EDC rapid response permitting program. “Benson and his team saw an opportunity and went for it. The EDC is proud to have played a part in helping Dulond expand its footprint in Manatee County.”
Kopco Graphics
May 21, 2009  Kopco Graphics, which specializes in flexographic printing of pressure sensitive labels, stickers and food-grade labels -- has tripled its Manatee County footprint in a 12,000 sq. ft. facility to accommodate more equipment and expanded services for global brands.  The Fairfield, Ohio-based company expanded into Manatee County in 2003 with the purchase of a Bradenton printing business. Kopco Operations Manager Shane Barrett said the company expects to continue growing through stronger Internet marketing and internal sales. He plans to add up to three employees in 2009 in production and customer service.  “Our business is strongly focused in food and nutritional supplements. Despite the slow economy, people are still eating and taking their vitamins,” Barrett said. “Sales revenues were up 25 percent in 2008 over the previous year, and we are achieving a 17-percent growth rate so far this year. We hope to outgrow our new facility within five years. When that happens, we’ll stay in Manatee County.”  
In March 2009, Kopco received the Eugene Singer Award for Management Excellence, which recognizes excellence in business management measured by growth and profitability ratios established by the Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute. Kopco also received the institute’s top award in technical achievement for a hang tag label created for a popular water product.
Healthy Chocolate Florida LLC
April 23, 2009 A company that hopes to revolutionize the chocolate business is gearing up a new, 6,000 sq. ft. research laboratory and manufacturing facility in Manatee County. Healthy Chocolate Florida LLC founder Aharon Friedman, Ph.D., said that pending government inspections, the company’s management team will begin testing the manufacturing line in April and production will ramp up in May.  “We are eager to start production using our patent-pending process to create a high-quality, sugar-free chocolate that includes natural ingredients to help people control blood sugar levels and reduce hunger,” said Friedman, who expects to add seven production employees by the end of May for a total of 12 full-time and two part-time employees. “We have been able to finish out and move into our facility faster than I expected by being part of Manatee County’s Rapid Response permitting program facilitated by the EDC. We completed our permitting in record time. 
“We use all organic materials as we are able to get them, including using Xylitol harvested from organic trees,” Friedman said. “And by the end of 2009, we expect to be using most of the organic cocoa grown in the world. We are talking with people in two South American countries about increasing their organic cocoa production.”
Veethree Electronics and Marine LLC
April 1, 2009  Illinois-based Veethree Electronics and Marine LLC, OEM supplier of mechanical and electronic instrumentation, has located its global engineering headquarters in Manatee County through the combined effort of economic development organizations in Manatee and Sarasota counties and Manatee County Government. Veethree, which acquired the assets of the Gauge Division of Teleflex Inc. that is closing operations in Lakewood Ranch, also hired more than 50 people whose jobs would have been lost when Teleflex closed.  The EDC and the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County collaborated to find the right location for Veethree in the region. The company qualified for Manatee County’s Rapid Response Permitting program to help it get up and running more quickly. In March, Manatee County Commissioners a resolution that would allow Veethree to qualify for up to $60,000 of tax incentives based upon the number and wage of jobs created.  Veethree will manufacture the existing Teleflex product line serving the marine and industrial markets in its 35,000-sq.-ft. Manatee County facility, which will be the company’s global engineering headquarters. 
Founded in 1976, Veethree has a worldwide presence as an OEM, defense and aftermarket supplier of instrumentation, clusters, sensors and switches.  "We are very pleased to have the opportunity to continue the great traditions of superior quality and styling that Teleflex has brought to the instrumentation industry for the last 40 years," said Shekhar Tewatia, vice president of Veethree. "This acquisition gives us a chance to enter the marine industry and consolidate Veethree's position in the industrial segment. We are also very fortunate that many members of the Teleflex team have decided to join us. We are most appreciative of the assistance we received locally from economic development organizations and Manatee County Government."
Trinity Manufacturing
March 31, 2009  Trinity Manufacturing Corporation announced that it has relocated and expanded its manufacturing operations in Bradenton.  Trinity Manufacturing President Jim Fitch stated, “By moving into our new 18,000 square foot facility, Trinity Manufacturing has doubled its manufacturing capacity.  Since we began operations in January 2004, we have realized outstanding growth in customers and sales.  Our new facility supports our plans for continued growth.  We are pleased that our new facility, located in Saunders Industrial Park, is close to our previous operation which has minimized the disruption to our operations, customers and suppliers.”  Trinity Manufacturing employs 26 people and is a contract manufacturer of cable assemblies, wiring harnesses, and electrical panel and box assemblies for original equipment manufacturers (OEM), distributors and contractors serving a wide variety of industries, including defense, aerospace, medical equipment, emergency service vehicles, commercial construction, and others.
Steelgate, Inc.
March 9, 2009  A Manatee County company that provides storage and inventory management of biomedical specimens for medical research, has opened an office in Belgium and relocated two employees to expand business in Europe. Steelgate will replace the two employees in Manatee County and plans to add two more positions by mid-year, said Kate Grayson, Steelgate’s president and CEO. Since late 2008, the company hired a global director of sales and marketing and promoted the company’s facility manager to director of operations and the facility supervisor to facility manager. “Our expansion, hiring and internal promotions are results of the growing demand for our services in storing and managing inventories of biomedical specimens,” Grayson said. “Europe is a significant research market with Belgium being at the crossroads and in a growth mode. Steelgate has provided services in the United States to its European clients, but being in Europe will help reduce the cost of international shipping and open up business development opportunities in Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom.”
“Steelgate’s growth since relocating from New York to Manatee County in 2004 is an encouraging sign for the potential of the biomedical industry in our region,” Engel said. “The company’s European expansion invites new possibilities for focusing the spotlight on Manatee County as a viable home for biomedical businesses.”  The EDC recently facilitated an international trade grant of $1,750 to help Steelgate attend a leading life sciences conference in Europe that unites more than 500 companies from 20 nations, Engel said.
Sleek Audio
March 9, 2009  While many businesses are suffering layoffs and slower sales, Sleek Audio in Manatee County expects to triple sales over 2008 and plans to create an additional 15 positions in the next year.  Sleek Audio makes in-ear earphones that allow music lovers to hear with unprecedented quality, said Jason Krywko, chief operating officer. 
The company performs almost all of its manufacturing at its Palmetto location, he said, and is seeking to move the last of its manufacturing operations to Manatee County from China.  “We’re looking for injection molding partners in the local area to work with us,” he said. “We believe in keeping the product as American-made as possible. We collaborated on the original design of our SA6 ‘in-ear earphone’ with a local firm, ROBRADY design, and wrote our initial business plan with the help of a University of South Florida professor.”  Sleek Audio spun off from Krywko’s parents’ business, Eartech Hearing Aids, which was formed in Manatee County 30 years ago. Sleek Audio’s patent-pending technology started as an experiment combining a custom ear mold with a hearing aid speaker to reduce airplane noise on a flight Krywko’s parents were taking. Last year, Sleek Audio launched the SA6 to rave industry reviews, winning the Popular Science “Best of What’s New” award for 2008. Krywko says he has seen no indication that the global recession is affecting sales. The company sells its products worldwide, and international sales outpace domestic orders.
Companies on the Move -  2008
Quasar Bio-tech Inc.
Quasar Bio-tech Inc., which produces light therapy devices for use by medical professionals and consumers, is planning to move its manufacturing to Manatee County and add up to 24 employees in 2009.  “We anticipate triple-digit growth to continue with the introduction of new technology in the first half of 2009,” said Peter Nesbitt, Quasar Bio-tech president. “To facilitate our market expansion, we plan to bring manufacturing in-house and staff up accordingly.”  Quasar Bio-Tech relocated from Valley Forge, PA in August to 2,500 sq. ft. of leased space in South Manatee County. The cost of doing business and workforce availability were key factors in the company’s decision to locate in Manatee County, Nesbitt said. Quasar Bio-Tech currently has six employees and uses a vendor in Texas for manufacturing.  The company is seeking local suppliers, such as printed circuit board makers, to facilitate its expansion In Manatee.  In 2001, Quasar Bio-tech began marketing red and infrared light therapy devices to professionals for medical and cosmetic use. 
 
In 2007, the company introduced photo rejuvenation devices to the consumer marketplace and continues to be the only brand that uses professional, medical grade technology, Nesbitt said. The company’s two best-selling consumer products are the Baby Quasar for photo rejuvenation and the Baby Blue for treating acne. The products are sold on-line and at retailers like Dillard’s. Nesbitt plans to expand into international markets in 2010.
Exactech
Gainesville, Fla.-based Exactech (Nasdaq: EXAC) is establishing a new facility in south Manatee County to manufacture surgical instruments used to implant the company’s joint replacement devices.  The 13,000-square-foot facility, located at 7455 16th St. E, is scheduled to begin operations in December. Exactech expects to hire 12 employees during the initial start-up phase of its manufacturing and support operations. The company’s Gainesville, Fla., headquarters currently designs and manufactures orthopaedic devices that are used by surgeons in more than 30 countries around the world. According to Exactech Vice President of Operations John Pelc, “The decision to begin producing our own instruments, which have previously been outsourced, will allow Exactech to maintain a high level of customer responsiveness and flexibility. We chose Manatee County for its business-friendly approach to attracting new, high-tech businesses, as well as its proximity to large population bases from which to draw skilled employees.”
   Orbeco-Hellige   
A Long Island manufacturer of instruments for testing water and wastewater is relocating to Manatee County.  The EDC assisted Orbeco-Hellige Inc. with its plans to relocate from New York and hire at least eight employees locally at a 15,000-square-foot facility the company purchased in Parkland Center.  Orbeco-Hellige is relocating to Florida primarily to reduce expenses on facilities and taxes, said President Brad Martell, who already lives in Bradenton. Martell plans to begin operations at the Manatee County facility this fall. 
Companies on the Move -  2007
Gyrocam Systems 
Gyrocam Systems which designs and manufactures precision gyrostabilized camera systems for law enforcement, security and military applications, expanded into a 25,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and has created 20-30 new jobs. The company’s revenues have grown from $5 million to $230 million in the past 18 months, and Gyrocam is on the verge of closing a new defense contract valued at $300 million. The company’s camera systems, originally designed to be deployed on aircraft, are in high demand in Iraq and Afghanistan where they are mounted on masts on top of military vehicles. The cameras can identify up to 70% of roadside bombs (IEDs) and other potential hazards in advance of a vehicle’s progress. Gyrocam has 104 employees at a facility near Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport in Manatee County. 
  Beacon Products Inc.  
Beacon Productions, Inc. which moved into a new 50,000-sq.-ft. facility in Manatee County in late 2007, designs and manufactures environmentally friendly LED lighting, which company President Michael Imparato expects to boost revenues by 50 percent in the next two years. Beacon is working with developers and municipalities to use LED for new installations and retrofit higher wattage, less efficient lights. The environmental benefit of moving to LED lighting sources could be significant. According to Imparato, a recent proposal submitted by the company to the City of Aspen estimates Beacon’s LED product could reduce carbon emissions in the city by 3.5 million pounds. Beacon’s technology innovation: designing special optical components that beam a reflection of the LED’s lamps, rather than the lamps being exposed to the eye. The patented system reduces glare and is better for night vision.
  Pierce Manufacturing  
Pierce Manufacturing, Bradenton Division will continue to expand its production of Medtec ambulances with the addition of the All Duty Type I vehicles.  Pierce, Bradenton currently builds all of the Medtec brand Type II ambulances which are based on the Ford E-350 Van chassis.  The All Duty Type I ambulances are the largest and most complex ambulances and are typically built on a medium duty International, Freightliner or GMC chassis.  The move of this product to Florida opens capacity for the Goshen, IN based Medtec facility to expand its current production rate and support new product offerings. This product line as well as the Type II line and other organic growth will result in a net increase of approximately 140 new jobs in the Bradenton area over the next two years. Medtec Corporation and Pierce Manufacturing are wholly owned subsidiaries of Oshkosh Truck Corporation.  In addition to the approximate 140 new jobs, Pierce will be investing up to $1.2 million in equipment, tooling, and facility retrofitting.   
  The Elite Group (Arrow Fence)   
The Elite Group (Arrow Fence)  expanded into a 106,000 sq. ft.  building, resulting in 50 new jobs.
Companies on the Move -  2006
Eastern Portland Cement    
Eastern Portland Cement, a leader in storage and distribution of cement and aggregate expanded its facility at Port Manatee. The expansion includes a new aggregate terminal, two cement silos, a ship un-loader and a bagging facility. The aggregate portion is350,000 square feet and the cement portion of the new facility is 28,000 square feet. The 378,000 square foot facility has an estimated capital investment of $28,000,000.  Twenty-three new jobs will be created when the facility is complete. This is a Rapid Response Team project.
C & H Baseball
In 1968, C & H Welding & Metals was contracted to manufacture the first aluminum portable batting cage based on a design from the hitting coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates. For 38 years, C & H Baseball has adapted, modified, manufactured and distributed portable batting cages and aluminum field equipment throughout the country. In 1992, C & H Welding became C & H Baseball.  They have become the industry leader in new stadium construction netting and field equipment and are known in the industry for being a one-stop-shop for supplying and installing field wall padding, windscreen, barrier nets, batting tunnels and artificial turf. Due to increased business C& H Baseball is in the process of expanding. They are having a 16,000 square foot facility built in Lakewood Ranch. The estimated capital investment is $1,500,000. This expansion will create three new jobs and is a Rapid Response Program project.
Beall's Inc.
Beall’s, Inc. announced in 2006 the acquisition from Tropicana of the four-story, 149,000 sq. ft. Rossi Office Building.  Due to its expansion over the past several years, Beall’s outgrew its current office facility and had been exploring a number of options. “We are indeed fortunate that a facility of this caliber, within such close proximity to our current headquarters, was available. This acquisition will enable us to meet our office growth needs for many years to come,” said Steve Knopik, CEO, Beall’s, Inc. The office building, which was constructed in 2002, will house the corporate operations for Beall's Outlet Stores, Inc., as well as several divisions of its parent company Beall’s, Inc.  
The Company plans to fully occupy the building by the end of 2007. Beall’s officials have renamed the building the E. R. Beall Center, as a tribute to the founder’s son, who was responsible for the Company’s tremendous success and growth during the 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s.  Beall's, Inc. is the parent company of Beall's Department Stores, Inc., Beall's Outlet Stores, Inc., and Burke's Outlet Stores, Inc.  The corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates over 560 retail stores in states across the “sun belt”, from Florida to California with annual sales of over $1 billion. This expansion will help create 140 new jobs. This is a Rapid Response Team project.
WSI of the Southeast, LLC
Greeen WSI Terminal, LLC, AKA Green Reefers (Refrigeration), a specialist logistics provider for chilled and frozen products, operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They offer door-to-door service of their clients’ products by using ocean transport, terminal handling/storage, as well as inland transport and distribution. They handle almost any type of cargo - from citrus fruit and frozen fish, to oversized equipment and agricultural machinery. Theirspecialized reeferoperation has been developed to handle the smallest parcels, as well as the larger volumes.  Due to increased business, they expanded their facility at Port Manatee. Their  building a 362,000 square foot refrigerated warehouse with an estimated capital investment of $20,000,000.  This expansion is expected to create six new jobs and is a Rapid Response Team project.
Tropicana Products
Tropicana Products, Inc., a division of PepsiCo, Inc., is adding a new 28,000 sq. ft. high-speed production line, which is the centerpiece of operations for the nation’s leading not-from-concentrate chilled orange juice maker. This new manufacturing facility has an estimated capital investment of $38,000,000.  Tropicana is North America’s largest juice manufacturer and has earned more than a 40 percent share of the orange juice market with its leading Tropicana Pure Premium brand.  
The additional production line will increase capability to support Tropicana’s growth and roll out of Tropicana Pure, a new line of 100 percent fruit juice blends, the company launched in August. Tropicana is the first leading brand to enter the super premium juice category, one of the fastest growing categories in the produce section.  “These facility developments will better equip us to meet the growing demand for our premium juices moving forward,” said Mike Haycock, vice president of operations, Tropicana Products, Inc.  “As we get closer to completing the new line, we will be better able to determine if and exactly how many new jobs will be created,” said Haycock. 
The new line will be located on Tropicana’s existing 280-acre plus campus.  “We’re delighted Tropicana remains committed to expanding their presence here in Bradenton and Manatee County,” said Gwen Brown, Manatee County Commissioner. Tropicana Products, Inc. is the community’s second largest private employer with approximately 1,600 employees. This is a Rapid Response Team project.
MadahCom (purchased by Cooper Notification in 2008)
MadahCom, a manufacturer of digital wireless public warning and mass notification systems, held an open house at their new 19,000 sq. ft. Manatee County facility in October 2005.  The company has grown by an average of 100% a year since 2002.  In 2004, the privately held company generated more than $7 million in revenue, up from $3.5 million in 2003, and expects to top $15 million in revenue in 2005.  
The company, which was launched in 1994 with three people in New York and Israel, has more than 150 installations of its WAVES (Wireless Audio Visual Emergency System) systems.  WAVES provides anti-terrorism protection for U.S. troops in the Middle East and other locations around the world.  It is used in war zones to initiate localized warnings to areas within the predicted insurgent attack area.  This warning enables troops in the hazard area to immediately seek shelter, minimizing casualties.  For the U.S. Army, MadahCom specifically created its portable product called TACWAVES (Tactical Wireless Audio Visual Emergency System), which helps save soldiers lives in the Middle East by warning them within seconds prior to insurgent attacks. 
In Iraq, the military uses TACWAVES and WAVES for anti-terrorism force protection.  Reuben Ben-Aire, an Armenian native who served 22 years in the Israeli Air Force, is the President and CEO of MadahCom.  He joined the company in 2001.  In June 2002, MadahCom closed its offices in Israel and New York and consolidated operations in Sarasota, mainly because Ben-Aire had a winter home in the area.  “After 9/11, the understanding of the risk of terrorism had suddenly sunk in.  Add to that the fact that we went to war with Iraq and suddenly it opened new territories that were not there,” says Ben-Aire.  Business continued to grow, and in 2004, the company began the process of looking for a larger facility.  
The Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County worked with the Economic Development Council/Manatee Chamber of Commerce to find a new home for MadahCom in south Manatee County, where they have a staff of approximately 70 people.  The next step for the company is to penetrate more of the non-military market.  Said Ben-Aire, “The need for our system is everywhere.  Everywhere where there are people that need to be managed in case of an emergency.” 
Jupiter Marine International, Inc.
In late 2005, Jupiter Marine International, Inc., a powerboat manufacturing company from Fort Lauderdale, announced their intention to expand operations in Palmetto, Florida.  The company’s initial investment of $1.5 million in a 54,000 s.f. facility in North Manatee County will bring approximately 75 jobs over a period of 12 months.  The Economic Development Council received a marketing reply card, that was placed in targeted tourist magazines, from company president, Carl Herndon requesting information on relocating a business, in May, 2004.  The niche manufacturer of center console models varying in size from 27’ to 38’ with price tags ranging from $98,000 to $210,000 was looking at sites in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.  
Through the cooperative efforts of the Palmetto CRA, the City of Palmetto, and the EDC, the company decision makers chose a site off U.S. 301 near Haben Blvd.  “We had no strong feelings about exactly where we wanted to be, but in doing our research, we found out the City of Palmetto is very growth- and business-oriented,” Herndon said.  “That meant a lot.”  Jupiter commenced operations at the Palmetto facility in April 2006.  
The company is now manufacturing its new 29’ Forward Seating Center Console model and the 31’ Open and Cuddy Cabin models in Palmetto.  Other models will remain in production at the Fort Lauderdale facility.  Mr. Herndon stated, “One of our primary goals over the past three years has been to increase our production capability to accommodate higher volume.  We are currently operating at near-full capacity at our Fort Lauderdale facilities, and we expect that the company’s expansion to Palmetto could potentially double the number of boats we manufacture.  
In addition, Jupiter now has manufacturing facilities strategically placed on both coasts of Florida.  We feel that the Palmetto facility will greatly enhance our position in a highly competitive marketplace, and be instrumental to the Company’s growth in the coming years.”  With over 35 years of boat building experience, the Jupiter team is committed to building the finest, most technologically advanced offshore sport fishing boats available today.  Every Jupiter boat is individually built to the exact specifications of the sportsman who demands the very best in offshore performance, style and reliability.
Invisa
In March, 2005, the Economic Development Council announced that Invisa, Inc., an industry leader in innovative presence sensing solutions for safety and security applications, relocated to Manatee County.  Stephen Michael, Acting President of Invisa stated, “The EDC and the Rapid Response Permitting Team helped us to meet our critical timelines for the move into our new 5500 square foot space at Airport Business Center.”   “In addition to finding a facility suitable for our build-out and timeline, we are especially pleased with the ‘central’ location,” said Edward King, Chief Financial Officer. “Airport Business Center is well located considering that our employees commute from as far north as Palm Harbor in Pinellas County, from the west on Bradenton Beach, Manatee County east of I-75, as well as Sarasota County.”  
Established in 1998, Invisa has ten employees and plans to grow as its patented safety and security solutions gain momentum.  InvisaShield™ enabled devices create an invisible zone of detection at the leading edges of powered closures (such as gates and garage doors), making them safer.  A zone of detection around monitored objects (such as museum exhibits and displays) makes them more secure.  “There are some very exciting applications we’re working on. We’ve really just begun exploring the potential of this technology,” said Carl Parks, Invisa’s VP of Operations.
Haemacure Corporation
The Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund and a strong working relationship with the EDC Sarasota County led to a decision by Haemacure Corporation officials to locate their manufacturing facility, U.S.  offices and R&D labs on Tallevast Road in Manatee County. This location will eventually function as the company’s worldwide headquarters.  Specializing in the development of innovative biological adhesives, biomaterials, and surgical devices, Haemacure’s expansion will create 51 new high-value jobs at an average annual wage of $65,000 and make initial capital investments totaling more than $10.8 million in facility renovation and manufacturing equipment.  Haemacure President and CEO, Marc Paquin, states, “After considering Canada, North Carolina and Virginia, we came to the conclusion that Manatee County offered the infrastructure, and more importantly, support from local and state officials that will play a vital role in our success.” He continues, “Receiving the QTI incentive from the state was another key factor in our decision.” 
 In addition to the QTI, Haemacure qualified for Rapid Response Permitting assistance, a county program that assists value-added companies in meeting their critical timelines.  The facility will be located in a building adjacent to the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.  The building is approximately 50,000 square feet, of which 40,000 square feet will be used for production, including a 7,000 square foot modular clean room, mechanical rooms, storage and shipping, and the balance for offices and laboratories.  Over the next few years, the cost of operating Haemacure is estimated at $25 million. 
Approximately $10 million is related to facility design, construction and the purchase and validation of manufacturing equipment. The cost of producing clinical material, including plasma, supplies and all other consumables, and of commissioning the facility, is projected at $1.4 million.  The cost of clinical trials is projected at $3.2 million.  The remaining $10.4 million will be required for operations. The facility will have a capacity to process 75,000 liters of plasma per year, with a potential of generating up to $200 million in revenues annually.
GE Security (Purchsed by UTC Fire & Security in 2009)
The relocation of GE Security’s world headquarters from Austin, TX to Manatee County was a huge accomplishment for the EDC in 2005.  In March 2005, GE Security purchased Edwards Systems Technology, a fire detection systems business with an operation in Manatee County.  GE’s Security headquarters now occupies the former Edwards Systems Technology building located in Lakewood Ranch. GE Security’s robust product offering is designed to help protect people, assets and communities. The company has operations in more than 35 countries and is represented by some of the best-known brand names for intrusion and fire detection, access and building control, video surveillance, explosives and drug detection, key management and structured wiring.  
A subsidiary of General Electric, with operations in more than 35 countries, GE Security’s new location in Bradenton has resulted in the creation of 70 high-wage jobs in addition to the 150 employees currently at their newly acquired business unit, Edwards Systems Technology.  The initial capital investment is over $6 million in equipment, relocation and worker recruitment.  According to a relocation impact analysis of this project, the gross county product is estimated to be $9.8 million.   In addition to the QTI program (20% of which comes from County funds) and the Closing Fund, Manatee County added a $140,000 QTI Bonus incentive contingent on the approval of the Closing Fund.
Beall's Inc.
Beall’s Inc., founded and headquartered in Manatee County, has been in a growth mode with over 375 retail stores across the Sunbelt from Florida to California.  To improve efficiency and accommodate their continued growth, Beall’s needed to consolidate their distribution centers. Timing was critical for these projects, so the Rapid Response Permitting Team was put into action for the new $25 million, 150,000 square foot automated distribution center.
Lake Erie College of Medicine
Lake Erie College of Medicine has announced that they will build a 15-acre branch campus of their Pennsylvania osteopathic college.  Planned for a September 2004 opening, the 95,000 square foot facility will have at least 80 employees and a capital investment of $20 million. The college is expected to generate a multimillion annual economic impact on the area. This is only the second osteopathic training facility in Florida.
SYSCO Food Services - West Cost Florida
After an extensive site search process for a location for their new West Coast of Florida Operating Center, SYSCO Food Services chose a location in the Gulf Coast Corporate Park in north Manatee County with the understanding that they must be in their 200,000square foot food distribution center in less than nine months.  The Rapid Response Permitting Team went to work and was able to issue approvals for site plans, constructions plans, and construction permits in 47 days. The company moved in on time and has followed up with two more expansions. They also received two Quick Response Training grants, one for the initial expansion in the amount of approximately $500,000 and a second one for nearly $125,000.
Edwards Systems Technology  (Purchased by GE Security in 2005)
Edwards Systems Technology, a world leader in innovative fire alarm and life safety systems solutions for commercial and industrial applications, has announced plans to relocate the corporate offices in Manatee County to a new, two-story 109,000 sq. ft. building in Lakewood Ranch. The Manatee County office is the center for all of their product research and design functions including engineering, testing, technical support, and documentation, as well as being home to their marketing and training centers.  
Chris-Craft
When Chris-Craft decided that they would begin manufacturing high-end classic, yachts for worldwide distribution, they hired a consulting company to help make the decision on where to locate.  After looking at other sites in the southeast, they decided on expanding their facility in Manatee County. To assist with this expansion, the EDC helped Chris-Craft obtain a $600,000 QTI (Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund) through Enterprise Florida to be paid out over four years. This project will result in $13 million in capital investment and 200 total jobs.