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  Recently Assisted Expansions/Relocations 
  Text Box: MadahCom, Inc. (www.madah.com) MadahCom, Inc., 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.”
 
Text Box: Jupiter Marine International, Inc. (www.jupitermarine.com) 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.
 
Text Box: Invisa (www.invisa.com) 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.
 
Text Box: Haemacure Corporation (www.haemacurecorp.com) 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.
 
Text Box: GE Security (www.gesecurity.com) 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.
 
Text Box: GAMMERLER (www.gammerler.com) In May 2005, a Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund (QTI) award of $280,000 helped seal the deal for Gammerler Corporation’s relocation. The German company, a leading manufacturer of material handling and inline finishing equipment for the commercial and newspaper print markets, will construct an 80,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Palmetto’s Gulf Coast Corporate Park in North Manatee County. The new facility will include 70,000 square feet of production space, 10,000 square feet of office space, and will also serve as the company’s North American headquarters, which are currently located in Hanover Park, Illinois. Eventually, 70 new high-wage jobs will be created, and an initial capital investment of $4.25 million will be made in a building, machinery and other equipment. Company CEO, Gunter Gammerler, states, “We began working with the EDC to find a site in July of 2003, but put the project on hold while we looked at ways to offset the enormous expense of relocating our operation and employees. The decision to build the new plant was based on an increase in demand for our products in North America and a desire for a more flexible and efficient, international manufacturing platform.” He continued, “Receiving the QTI incentive from the state is the key factor in our decision to move our facility and our employees to Florida”. In addition to the QTI, Gammerler qualified for the Rapid Response Permitting process, a county program that assists value-added companies in meeting their critical timelines. The Economic Development Council and Enterprise Florida (EFI), the public-private partnership responsible for leading Florida’s statewide economic development efforts, worked with the company principals, Gunter Gammerler and Bernie Strache, to secure the QTI. Gammerler US Corporation is the U.S. subsidiary of Gammerler AG, based in Bayern, Germany. The company was founded in 1977, and its U.S. subsidiary began operations in 1985. Gammerler Corporation maintains a global customer base that includes the largest commercial and newspaper printers in the world. In addition to North America, Gammerler has business operations throughout Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
 
Text Box: 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.
 
Text Box: 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.
 
Text Box: 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.
 
Text Box: 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. Edwards Systems currently employs 170 in Manatee County.
 
Text Box: 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.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL * MANATEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
P.O. BOX 321 * 222 10th Street West * Bradenton, FL 34206-0321 * Phone: +1 (1-941) 748-3411 * E-mail: Info@manateeEDC.com