Fort Lauderdale Alliance Efforts Bring 1,075 New Jobs, $207M Investment in First Half of Fiscal Year

Kaufman Rossin | Kaufman Rossin featured in South Florida Business Journal | May 15, 2017

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance assisted companies in creating 1,075 new positions and retaining 1,688 jobs in the first half of its fiscal year.

The official public/private economic development partnership on Monday outlined its progress at its Mid-Year Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six to more than 500 attendees. The South Florida Business Journal was a sponsor of the event.

“The Alliance is hard at work year-round telling the story of our community’s premier business location status,” said Bob Swindell, CEO of the Alliance, who provided opening remarks at the event. “Companies continue to see the competitive advantages of locating and expanding high-wage, high-value industries in Broward County.”

Some of the Alliance’s big wins this year include landing a $184 million investment from Canadian company Apotex Pharmaceuticals to add 150 jobs and retain 461 in Miramar by expanding its U.S. headquarters by 380,000 square feet. United Data Technologies will also make a $16.5 million capital investment in Miramar and add 142 jobs.

With the Alliance’s help, Triangle Services will add 300 jobs in Fort Lauderdale with a $4.8 million investment in a facility specializing in airplane baggage and handling as well as office cleaning and other services. The economic development agency also assisted Bayview Financial in adding 200 new jobs and retaining 1,066 jobs in Fort Lauderdale. Cruise line Royal Caribbean will add 180 new jobs.

The Alliance’s wins come as funding for the state’s economic development agency Enterprise Florida is being challenged by lawmakers. The Florida Legislature on May 9 approved a budget that would significantly reduce funding for the agency. The budget is now on the governor’s desk.

Despite the legislative action, Broward business leaders are optimistic about the future of Florida’s economy, according to the Alliance’s 2017 Broward Executive Survey, which was released at the luncheon. The survey showed that 70 percent of respondents’ businesses are doing somewhat or much better now compared to last year.

But that’s less than the 90 percent of respondents two years ago who expected a better outlook, according to the survey conducted by Kaufman Rossin.