An icon of the South Florida marine industry has decided to expand in Miami rather than move to North Carolina. Bertram Yacht's decision means hundreds of jobs will stay at the company's headquarters and manufacturing plant on the Miami River.
It's a victory for local business boosters, who have been worried about the loss of boat-industry jobs to other states, notably Georgia and the Carolinas.
State and county officials have promised $900,000 in tax refunds plus $100,000 in additional county incentives for Bertram to stay here. Bertram, in turn, agrees to keep its 419 jobs in Miami, add another 150 jobs, and spend almost $9 million on a plant expansion. The new jobs will pay an average of $36,000 plus benefits.