Southeast: Seizing Opportunities

Creative thinkers build on region's strengths to support new sectors and forge a prosperous future.

Jeff Zbar | 9/24/2009

MARTIN COUNTY

Powering Up

» Construction is under way at Florida Power & Light’s new solar-thermal plant just outside Indiantown. One of three solar facilities FPL is building in Florida, the Martin Next Generation Solar Energy Center will be the second largest solar facility in the world and the first-ever hybrid facility connecting a solar facility to an existing fossil fuel plant. Slated for completion in 2010, the Martin Center is expected to power 11,000 homes with 75 megawatts of electricity.

» The $480-million project is being built by Abilene, Tex.-based Lauren Engineers & Constructors with plenty of local help. Job fairs hosted by Martin County Workforce Solutions in April 2009 drew more than enough applicants for some 1,000 available construction jobs.

Gaining recognition: Three Martin County employers won Governor’s Business Diversification Awards in 2008: Sol Inc. for export excellence; Advanced Technologies Group Inc. for innovation; and Ecosphere Technologies Inc. for “green” leadership (“Green-to-Gold” category).

Expansion pending: In July 2009, Vought Aircraft Industries Inc. — maker of various parts for commercial jet airliners — made tentative plans for a major expansion of its Stuart facility. If pending state incentives are approved, the $12.9-million expansion will create 100 direct jobs over three years.

Focusing on life science: The Business Development Board and the Economic Council have established the Martin County Consortium for Life Science Research Technology Advancement to capitalize on the county’s proximity to world-renowned life science research institutes and to grow the life science sector.

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