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Southeast: Seizing Opportunities
Creative thinkers build on region's strengths to support new sectors and forge a prosperous future.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY
| Educational Opportunities
» Indian River State College opened its new Treasure Coast Public Safety Training Complex in September 2009. The $40-million, 50-acre complex at Ft. Pierce houses trainees in counter-terrorism, homeland security, FEMA and emergency management in custom facilities that include a built-to-scale courtroom and an airplane once owned by boxing promoter Don King. Also opening this fall at IRSC: an $18.5-million Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) building. Elsewhere, Florida Atlantic University’s Port St. Lucie campus has undergone a $12.2-million expansion. |
- In January 2009, Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies moved into its brand new $40-million, 100,000-square-foot research center; employment is already running 50% over projections.
- The Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute division of Oregon Health & Science University has selected Whiting-Turner of Tampa to build its 105,000-square-foot facility on an eight-acre site next door to Torrey Pines. Some 200 scientists and support personnel will eventually work there. V>I and its scientific director Rafick-Pierre Sékaly, Ph.D. (who, in June, announced a major research breakthrough on a possible method for eradicating HIV infection in humans) are temporarily housed in some excess space at Torrey Pines until the new facility is up and running.
- The Alfred Mann Institute has acquired 22 acres for its planned 400,000-square-foot medical and life sciences research facility.
- Martin Memorial Hospital — which does clinical trials for Tampa-based H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute — awaits Certificate of Need approval for a 300-bed hospital.
- Two I-95 interchanges provide easy access to the community of Tradition, where The Landing at Tradition, a 600,000-square-foot shopping center, now boasts 96% occupancy.
Extruding success: Todd Holloway was a wanted man in 2008. Florida, Georgia and his native Indiana were bidding to become the new home of East Coast Plastics, a Florida-based company Holloway had acquired and was looking to grow in a 50,000-square-foot space. Ultimately, Port St. Lucie won over Holloway thanks to its strong workforce and attractive financial incentives. The company began production in late 2008 and in June 2009 completed its new administrative offices. In all, the company brings 50 jobs — with hopes of growing to 70 — and a client base spanning medical, military and commercial sectors. Though he commutes twice-monthly from Indiana, Holloway is pleased with the home he has found. “If it wasn’t for Port St. Lucie, there’s a chance we would have left Florida. They’re very forward thinking here.”
Collaborations drive underwater research: In May, Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute partnered with the University of North Carolina-Wilmington to spearhead NOAA’s Cooperative Institute for Ocean Exploration, Research and Technology. With a $23-million grant, they will jointly pursue deep-water oceanographic research. Also under investigation: breast cancer research with deep-water sponges — in partnership with Burnham Institute for Medical Research; bluegreen algae biofuel work with the Smithsonian Institution; and additional research with submersible turbines for generating electricity.
Worker training: Accounts receivable firm Oxford Management Services received a $257,000 Workforce Florida Quick Response Training (QRT) grant commitment in October 2008 to hire and train 303 new employees at its new Fort Pierce location. Likewise, Port St. Lucie-based medical supplier Liberty Medical worked with the local economic development council, Enterprise Florida, Indian River State College and Workforce Solutions to secure its own QRT grant in January 2009 to train some 2,300 new and incumbent employees on new software.
Mas cerveza, por favor: Jupiter-based J.J. Taylor Companies has acquired from Thies Distributing the beer distribution rights to Martin, Okeechobee, Indian River and St. Lucie counties and is out to bid for a $5-million warehouse and distribution facility. The new 25,000-square-foot plant will be located in Crossroads Park on S.R. 70 between the Turnpike and I-95. “This area has great potential for growth,” says Vice President of Operations Jose E. Rivera. “The highways make it easy for our employees.”
