Tag Archive for: job creation

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What A Manufacturing ‘Supercycle’ Means For Real Estate Leaders

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The U.S. is at the cusp of a manufacturing supercycle that could reshape the global investment landscape and greatly impact the real estate industry.

This manufacturing resurgence gained momentum with the “America first” emphasis and 2018 tariffs on Chinese goods. The Biden administration continued restricting capital inflows to China, which further encouraged bringing supply chains to the U.S. This drive is bolstered by legislative acts that provide nearly $2 trillion in domestic investment and incentives: the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act for clean energy, the $280 billion CHIPS and Science Act for semiconductor production and the $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for sustainable infrastructure.

Consequently, U.S. manufacturing construction outlays have surged to $196.1 billion as of July. The government’s initiatives to bolster domestic manufacturing have unleashed a wave of investment that could reshape supply chains during the next decade and create a significant tailwind for the real estate sector.

Manufacturing Supercycle And Regional Beneficiaries

From my perspective, the American South could be a primary beneficiary of manufacturing investments. Texas, in particular, has received a disproportionate share of investment, with firms such as Samsung, Texas Instruments (paywall) and Tesla already commencing expansion plans that are expected to create thousands of new jobs during the coming years.

The Laredo, Texas, border gateway is a primary point for goods shipments coming to the U.S., with a reported 37% of truck container crossings and 46% of rail containers entering in 2021 through that corridor. Additionally, Laredo registered a 12% year-over-year increase in commerce in 2023. From my view, this heavy traffic has helped increase the demand for industrial space in the central Texas corridor, including San Antonio and Austin.

Xebec, a developer focused on industrial properties, revealed plans for a “3,300-acre logistics and manufacturing center” on a 32,000-acre site northeast of Austin, according to the Dallas Morning News. This development is one example of many seeking to fill the demand for industrial and residential space near multi-billion-dollar projects like Samsung’s chip factory in Taylor and Tesla’s Gigafactory. The impact of these developments will be felt across the Austin-San Antonio corridor and could generate significant economic output and position the region as a hub for advanced manufacturing and technology.

Florida is also poised to benefit from a surge in advanced manufacturing investment. With the NeoCity district positioning Orlando as one of the top cities for STEM talent in the U.S., the state’s prospects are promising.

Moreover, it is expected the region will see a substantial economic boost from several major infrastructure and technology projects currently underway. Among these is Brightline‘s high-speed rail initiative, which links cities like Miami and West Palm Beach to Orlando. This connectivity will enhance commuter access to the Orlando market, catalyzing growth in central Florida. A press release by the company said the rail project generated 10,000 new jobs during its construction phase. Given the current growth trajectory, Florida’s population is estimated to rise by 3.2 million by 2030, according to the Florida Apartment Association. To accommodate this surge, the state will require over 570,000 new housing units, the FAA also said.

Elsewhere in the south, companies like Toyota, Hyundai, BMW and Albemarle are investing billions of dollars in what’s been called the new “Battery Belt.” The auto manufacturing industry has expanded from the traditional markets in the Midwest, which could lead to the creation of tens of thousands of jobs in states like Georgia, Tennessee and North and South Carolina.

Beyond the U.S., Mexico stands to benefit from the regionalization of supply chains, given the existing United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, proximity to U.S. population hubs, affordable labor and ample land.

What This Means For The Real Estate Sector

The manufacturing sector has one of the highest job multipliers, as a manufacturing plant typically fosters demand for suppliers, transportation services and maintenance providers. From my perspective, one of the ripple effects of the revival in domestic manufacturing will be an increased demand for residential real estate throughout the southern states with proximity to ports. Investments in clean energy, infrastructure and semiconductor production will stimulate large-scale job creation throughout these states, particularly in higher-wage sectors.

Based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Dallas-Fort Worth metro is on a trajectory to add 150,000 to 200,000 jobs annually during the coming years, which would be an increase of roughly 4% per year and almost twice the pace of job creation before the pandemic. The conventional theory assumes that one new housing unit is needed for every 1.5 new jobs created. Permits authorized in 2022 for the DFW metro only amounted to about 76,000, creating an annual deficit of roughly 23,000 to 56,000 housing units. This comes at a time when the U.S. already faces a nationwide housing shortage and underscores the need to develop new housing units to meet excess demand.

As the nation intensifies its commitment to domestic manufacturing and the states in the Southeast attract vast industrial and residential investments, there will be significant demand for new housing and industrial space that will not be met by current construction projections and permitted developments. It is important for policymakers, real estate developers and investors to focus on these areas of growth and plan ahead in order to avoid rapidly rising rents and housing costs.

Additionally, real estate developers and investors should consider how they can capitalize on the upcoming capital investment wave. Housing developments generally take two to four years to materialize from inception. Investors and developers should pay attention to the mentioned growth corridors. Additionally, it is critical that developers engage with local municipalities to stay informed on upcoming manufacturing and infrastructure investments to ensure there is sufficient housing available when these investments come to fruition.

 

Source: Forbes

 

Palm Beach County, Downtown Fort Lauderdale Burnish Reputations As Greener Pastures For Businesses

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A little chest thumping never hurt anybody — especially when business is sizzling during inflationary times.

The economic development agency for Palm Beach County made a splash in Times Square in New York City with some targeted advertising. (PHOTO CREDIT: Business Development Board of Palm Beach CountY)

In a case of “strike while the iron is hot,” or perhaps before it turns cold, the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County just took its decade-old “Wall Street South” campaign to midtown Manhattan with the purchase of one-day ads on giant electronic billboards in Times Square and nearby neighborhoods.

“Wall Street South. Head for Palm Beach, Florida,” said one. “Wall Street South. Your Future Is Bright in Palm Beach, FL.” said another.

Fort Lauderdale’s Downtown Development Authority, meanwhile, is circulating a report declaring that its central business district and Flagler Village are generating as much economic activity as Port Everglades and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. For this, think about amounts for each entity that are north of $30 billion a year.

The heads of both agencies are advocates of maintaining hard-earned momentum in a highly competitive economic development game made more difficult by stubborn rising costs for businesses and households.

Kelly Smallridge, president and CEO of the development board, said in an interview that her nonprofit agency caught a deal that was hard to resist: Color ads in three locations for $20,000 — not only for this past Wednesday, but for the forthcoming New Year’s Eve celebration as well.

“This is probably the boldest strategy from an advertising perspective  we’ve engaged in anywhere in Manhattan,” Smallridge said. “I can’t image the hype that’s going to take place when it airs on New Year’s Eve.”

Development board representatives have been visiting New York for years touting the county’s “Wall Street South” campaign, which is designed to persuade executives from financial firms to locate or relocate offices, including headquarters, in Palm Beach County.

Smallridge said her agency was approached by a billboard ad firm and offered a discount rate designed for nonprofit agencies.

“We got very lucky and took advantage of it,” Smallridge said. “We could no way afford the real cost. They approached us to see if we wanted to buy it. They never would have had us on their radar had not been such a big story already. Every time you go to Manhattan, people say, ‘it’s not if we will move, but when.’”

She said the ads appeared at the Times Square Tower, the 43rd Rotunda, and on the “I Love NY” Board at 1530 Broadway,

In a statement, the Business Development Board says that since 2019, it has helped 100 firms open offices in Palm Beach County, which is home to 57 billionaires and 70,000 millionaires. Over the years, the board has even connected headmasters of local schools with company executives to assure them that their children will receive top-notch educations in the county’s schools.

“The 10-year campaign has yielded great results and has certainly boosted our economy in Palm Beach County from Boca Raton to Jupiter,” Smallridge said. “Among those gains: higher salaried jobs, more philanthropic donations to local nonprofits, and companies “run by very smart people. They want to be ingrained in the community,” she said of the newcomers. “None of them has received any financial incentives to move here. We are definitely becoming a finance hub in the Southeastern United States. It’s going to be a continuous effort and we’re not going away any time soon.”

A Surge In Fort Lauderdale

Jenni Morejon, the DDA president and CEO, said the downtown’s growth has its “building blocks” in the wake of the recession triggered by the housing collapse 15 years ago.

“But that growth has been gradual with a spike triggered by COVID-19 and a growing desire of out-of-state residents to relocate to places such as Fort Lauderdale,” said Morejon.

A report commissioned by the DDA and authored by Walter Duke + Partners, a commercial real estate appraisal firm,  concludes that the downtown area, which is defined as a 2.2-square-mile area that runs north of 17th Street to the central business district, Flagler Village and Sunrise Boulevard, “has an annual economic impact of $35.7 billion, a $6 billion increase from 2019.”

“Clearly, the silver lining to COVID was the 250 residents moving in a month into the downtown core,” Morejon said. “The vibrancy of downtown stayed and people were coming into the office. Businesses saw that and continued to locate here.”

The impact figure rivals Port Everglades and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the authority says. They combine for more than $105 billion in economic activity such as jobs, generation of tax revenue and business transactions.

“There are 40 new developments “somewhere in the review pipeline, with some approved by a city review committee,” said Morejon. “I think the sustainable growth in downtown Fort Lauderdale is certainly something unique. Not a lot of cities get that. We’ve grown in population about 35% since 2020, a little over 60% since 2018 and almost a complete doubling of population since 2010.”

The downtown area is now roughly 26,000, according to the report.

The DDA, though, has no plans to broadcast highlights of its uplifting report on Times Square billboards. In the past, Visit Lauderdale, the tourism promotion agency for Broward County, has advertised its latest campaigns there.

“I emailed it to all of my peers in public and private leadership roles,” Morejon said. “The message to the private sector is to continue to show how economically successful downtown is and how it’s great place to relocate to. From a political standpoint it can be a real center that can benefit the entire county and region.”

 

Source: SunSentinel

This Converted Fort Lauderdale Warehouse Is Now 100% Leased With Retail, Office Tenants

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A recently converted warehouse in Fort Lauderdale’s Progresso Village is now 100% leased with retail and office tenants that will altogether employ about 100 people.

Called Fabrick, the former industrial space at 801, 807, 815, and 819 N.E 2nd Ave. has 24,000 square feet of office and retail. The developer, BH3 Management, moved its headquarters from Aventura to the project’s office component in April. It’s larger than BH3’s previous office in Aventura, which was only 5,000 square feet.

The other seven businesses leasing space in Fabrick will employ an estimated 75 people. The final employee count for all tenants will not be known until they have completed their build outs and are open for business, Freedman stated in an e-mail to the Business Journal.

A subsidiary of BH3, BH3 DJ Flagler LLC, bought the warehouse in November 2017 for $2.8 million, according to online records from the Broward County Property Appraiser office. Another subsidiary, BH3 DJ Sub LLC, purchased the warehouse from BH3 DJ Flagler LLC for $1.64 million in May 2020.

After receiving $350,000 in incentives from the Fort Lauderdale Community Redevelopment Agency in December 2020, BH3 launched an adaptive reuse project of the warehouse building.

Besides the incentives, the project was financed through a $5.1 million loan from New York-based Maxim Capital Group.

 

Source: SFBJ

Florida’s Ports Could Strengthen The Nation’s Supply Chain

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Anyone who has been shopping recently has noticed it — long expanses of empty shelves, websites with merchandise marked “out of stock.”

Sometimes it’s canned goods in short supply, sometimes paper plates. Earlier this year, popular brands of baby formula became hard to find, sending parents to Facebook groups to chase down supplies. Meanwhile, the price of new and used cars continues to climb, due to shortages of critical parts and computer chips — while builders complain that they can’t get the drywall and hardware they need to finish projects.

Americans have been accustomed to goods that magically appeared whenever they were required. With a pandemic hitting hard at manufacturing facilities and shipping lines, consumers are learning hard lessons about the details — and vulnerabilities — of the nation’s supply chain. But key Florida leaders also see opportunities to take this short-term crisis and translate it into long-term gain for the Sunshine State. If Florida does this right, the benefits could outlive COVID-based kinks in the flow of merchandise, providing a permanent boost in the quest to diversify the state’s economy.

Some of the measures will take time and lots of money — but talk is free, and we give Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state leaders credit for their aggressive promotion of Florida’s alternatives to the congestion at West Coast mega-ports. DeSantis, in particular, has been beating the drum for months, and it’s the right time to make the pitch. This week, shipping analysts celebrated the fact that only 76 ships were waiting at the massive Los Angeles/Long Beach ports, a three-month low — but transit times from the time container ships leave Asia to the point where the cargo is unloaded onto U.S. soil have more than doubled since the pre-COVID era, reports American Shipper magazine. Northern ports, including New York, are also reporting delays.

Some of that traffic is already diverting to Florida, with shippers calculating that the two-week detour from the west coast, through the Panama Canal and into one of Florida’s 15 deepwater ports makes more sense than lingering at sea for an extra month or two. Not all of Florida’s ports can handle the biggest container ships, but Port Tampa Bay, Port Everglades, Port Miami, Port Manatee and North Florida’s JAXPORT are already seeing increases in various types of cargo including bulk materials, automobiles along with the standard 20-foot containers used to bring consumer products from manufacturers in China, India and other foreign manufacturers. That’s a welcome change from 2020 when port activity dropped by a significant 16 percent, the Florida News Service reported.

That traffic augments Florida’s long-held position as cruise capital of the world. The cruise industry is still in recovery mode, but once the pandemic threat fades it should send traffic at the state’s ports (particularly Port Miami, Port Everglades and Port Canaveral, the world’s three busiest cruise ports) surging once again.

There are reasons Florida ports haven’t been as attractive to importers. Along with the obvious geographical challenges, there’s a lack of infrastructure needed to support a more robust flow of cargo. And Florida leaders must recognize that ports are only one part of the picture. The state’s ground transportation network must be robust enough to handle the flow of inbound cargo — and while lawmakers don’t need to revive an ill-conceived and costly scheme to construct “roads to nowhere” that cut across largely vacant land, they should plan on improving the state’s most important arteries for truck traffic, along with augmenting the rail system to move cargo, vehicles and materials quickly and cleanly.

There’s one more clear priority: As Florida pushes to expand its ports, it must set the national standard for environmental stewardship. While shipping and distribution support an estimated 900,000 jobs in the state, that number is dwarfed by the 1.7 million jobs generated by Florida’s tourism and hospitality industry. Florida already has a lot of damage to repair, particularly in the sensitive Indian River Lagoon. The state shouldn’t risk more degradation when it could instead lead the way in responsible port expansion.

Still, Florida leaders are right to see the snarled shipping situation in the nation’s biggest ports as a golden opportunity. Lawmakers are ready to invest in port infrastructure, adding to hundreds of millions in federal funding Florida ports have already received. In his budget outline, DeSantis requested $117 million for port improvements, and the House and Senate appear ready to top that – their preliminary plans include nearly $136 million for ports. In a year where Florida has plenty of money to spend — including the one-time deluge of cash from Washington — these investments in the state’s economic future make sense.

 

Source: Orlando SunSentinel

The South Florida Answer To West Coast Logistic Bottlenecks

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South Florida’s industrial market fundamentals, particularly for bulk warehouse space, blew through the third quarter of 2021 on strong leasing demand and new construction

The region’s healthy consumer market and growing population helped push investor and occupier confidence in the industrial market, which is likely to continue through 2022.

The backlog at West Coast ports is causing weeks of delays for goods that need  to travel to East Coast markets, making warehouse/distribution space in South Florida an attractive and faster alternative from a distribution standpoint. Bottlenecks in the supply chain are realigning how many firms view real estate needs locally with a shift in philosophy for inventory management.

Previously, companies focused on lean supply chains where materials and goods arrive “just in time.” In a market like South Florida, that meant limited amounts of warehouse space were needed.  Now, companies are turning to an inventory strategy that follows a “just in case” model, where more goods are stored closer to customers to minimize fluctuations in demand. South Florida, with three deep-water ports, has the capacity to address the immediate logistics needs for companies with changing inventory strategies.

In the last year, 18,200 new industrial and warehouse-related jobs were created in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. They were added because of big-box expansion by e-commerce firms, together with a push into last-mile facilities. Hiring also occurred with traditional retailers, plus new-to-market entrants, which increasingly viewed the tri-county as a strategic location to serve the immediate needs of customers.

New inventory and aggressive development captured some of the new employment. In the first nine months of 2021, 5.4 million square feet of new industrial space was delivered in the region. As the industrial inventory and deliveries grew, so did the occupiers’ space requirements for square footage, but new construction could not keep up.

As of the end of the third quarter, 6.6 million square feet of industrial space was under construction, with three projects representing 1.8 million square feet of new inventory. Still, overall industrial vacancy in South Florida fell to 4.4 percent in the third quarter. Both Miami-Dade and Palm Beach County were even tighter at 3.3 percent, with Broward County coming in at 5.9 percent as available space throughout the region decreased year-over-year.

While not a record-setting year yet, new leasing activity year-to-date of 11.6 million square feet was only 18 percent less than the full amount for all deals done in 2019. Net absorption, or the amount of space absorbed by tenants, was 7.8 million square feet in 2021. That represents a 250 percent increase in the amount of space absorbed when compared to 2020.

yc37i south florida industrial absorption The South Florida Answer to West Coast Logistic Bottlenecks

In Miami-Dade, leasing reached more than 6.8 million square feet year-to-date, an increase of 15.5 percent compared to the same period one year ago. For that same period, Broward County recorded more than 3.6 million square feet, a 36.1 percent rise from 2020. Palm Beach County had 1.0 million square feet in new leasing activity so far in 2021.

Limited availability on heightened demand allowed landlords to push asking rates to all-time highs. Overall average asking rents for all South Florida were at $9.87 per square feet, triple net, the highest amount recorded. Rents in Miami-Dade were at $9.17 per square foot, a 7.1 percent jump from last year. And Broward County also reached an all-time high of $10.27 per square foot in the third quarter. Palm Beach County topped out at $11.07 per square foot with the asking rate rising steadily over the last three quarters as construction picked up.

AfGHE south florida industrial rents e1637699131823 The South Florida Answer to West Coast Logistic Bottlenecks

Confidence in South Florida’s economy and potential for growth will only be enhanced by the lifting of U.S. restrictions on foreign travel. The influx of travelers and investors from overseas, starting over the holidays, will contribute to additional optimism in industrial market fundamentals in the region. The longer that challenges remain at West Coast ports to efficiently move goods into the United States means that South Florida becomes the better, more reliable strategic alternative for companies. The region’s positive fundamentals post pandemic,including solid population growth and rising incomes, make South Florida an attractive market for investment.

 

Source: Commercial Observer

 

Amazon Opening “Last-Mile” Distribution Center In Coral Springs

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Amazon is opening a 250,000-square-foot warehouse facility in Coral Springs to serve as a “last-mile” distribution center for the city and surrounding communities, according to Coral Springs officials.

The new center will provide 200 full-time jobs. It will be in the city’s Commerce Park, leasing space in the Exeter Property Group facility.

Amazon also purchased $3.5 million property in the south end of the corporate park to be used for truck parking and employee parking.

“Business expansion and job creation are essential to the growth and vibrancy of the City of Coral Springs and the reason we are excited to welcome Amazon to our Commerce Park,” Coral Springs Mayor Scott Brook said in a statement. “The creation of 200 full-time, diverse jobs in a post-pandemic climate is the boost we needed to jump start a stronger economy long term.”

Amazon has been expanding operations across South Florida as part of its efforts to get products faster to customers. In Tamarac, the global e-commerce giant is opening a same-day fulfillment center in the city’s industrial zone with the goal of delivering items to customers within about five hours, city officials said.

Brook added: “Their move to the newly built 250,000 square foot warehouse facility, is a strong signal to other large employers and industry leaders the benefits of our city’s location to the Sawgrass Expressway and connectivity to neighboring communities.”

Brook credited Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance in working with city staff to help bring Amazon to Coral Springs.

It’s not clear yet when the new facility will open. Amazon could not be reached for comment.

Source: TapInto

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Hollywood Attracts New Opportunity Zone Investments With 3 Major Projects In The Planning Stages

With two well-situated Opportunity Zones, zoning changes and a robust street improvement program, the City of Hollywood is attracting major commercial real estate developers and investors.

“Our strategic location and public investments – coupled with the tax benefits of the federal Opportunity Zone program – have set the stage for new developments that benefit our community,” said Herb Conde-Parlato, economic development manager, City of Hollywood. “We are now reviewing three new projects that could add vitality to our local economy by creating new jobs, while offering a wider array of housing, dining and shopping options to our residents.”

Those Opportunity Zone projects include:

  • Parc Place, the former “Bread Building” at 1745 Van Buren Street just south of Young Circle Park. Redevelopment stalled about a decade ago, but has been revived by developer BTI, said Conde-Parlato. Plans call for a 25-story tower mixed-use luxury apartment complex development in one phase. The project consists of 433 new apartments, 560 parking spaces and 17,000 square feet of commercial retail space. “This development would bring residential and retail vitality to our city and contribute to the walkability of our downtown core.”
  • Soleste, a residential-retail project at 2001 Hollywood Boulevard in the downtown area. Miami-based Estate Investment Group is planning the development, which would include 350 apartments, 30,000 square feet of retail space and 497 parking spaces.
  • A new hotel and restaurant at 2801 Greene Street in the South Florida Design and Commerce Center, a 150-acre mixed-use business park along Interstate 95. This $35 million investment would include 242 rooms and 162 parking spaces.

“We have many other new retail, office, multifamily and industrial real estate projects in the pipeline, but not all are seeking tax benefits under the Opportunity Zone program,” said Conde-Parlato.

Established by the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Opportunity Zones are designed to spur economic growth by reducing capital gains taxes on qualifying investments in designated geographic areas. The City of Hollywood moved quickly to capitalize on two large-scale Opportunity Zone designations, one in the downtown that includes all of Young Circle and the area between two major corridors, Federal Highway and Dixie Highway, and another on both sides of I-95 between Sheridan Street and Stirling Road.

By creating Opportunity Zone funds, investors can acquire and improve properties in these areas, while deferring any taxes on capital gains until Dec. 31, 2026. If the investment is held for five years, the original capital gains taxes are reduced by 10 percent; after seven years that deduction increases to 15 percent.

“Those opportunity fund investments must be entitled before year-end 2019 in order to take advantage of the 15 percent deduction,” said Raelin Storey, director of communications, marketing and economic development for the City of Hollywood. “That’s one reason why our city is seeing an upswing in development activity in the past few months. The City of Hollywood was ahead of the curve in marketing its Opportunity Zones, drawing a wave of interest among property owners, developers and investors. The tax advantages have helped make new projects more feasible, since the funds can be included in the development team’s capital structure. It’s an innovative approach to creating new business and real estate opportunities. Now, the city is working with the real estate investment community to bring forward well-designed projects that meet the standards of the city’s commercial and mixed-use zoning codes.”

Looking ahead, the city’s Opportunity Zones hold a potentially even bigger benefit for long-term investors – a permanent tax break.

“If you sell your investment after holding it for 10 years or longer, you would not have to pay any capital gains on the increased value of the property,” said Storey. “That’s really the ultimate advantage to investing in our Opportunity Zones.”

 

Source: SFBJ

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CEOs Agree Tax Breaks Needed To Lure Businesses To Florida

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The Miami Herald CEO Roundtable, a weekly feature in the Miami Herald Business Monday, ask South Florida CEOs a question each week.

This week’s question is: Should the State of Florida and local governments be offering tax breaks and incentives to lure businesses?

Here are answers from some prominent South Florida CEOs:

  • Dr. Edward Abraham, executive vice president for Health Affairs of the University of Miami and CEO of UHealth – the UM Health System

Because these incentives are offered by other states and local governments, we will need to do so as well. It will be important, however, to ensure that the incentives offered are appropriate and that the true economic benefits of the business being located here are clear and compelling.

  • Jim Angleton, CEO for Aegis FinServ Corp.

Absolutely, and more: Tax Opportunity Zones, Empowerment Zones, CRA, and play up LatAm Hub. We need to focus upon technology, cyber, AI tax incentives, real community services and favorable talent pool.

  • Wael Barsoum, M.D., CEO and president of Cleveland Clinic Florida

Florida is a relatively low tax state, but we tend to have higher local taxes. Tax incentives are one way to help level the playing field.

  • Agostinho Alfonso Macedo, president and CEO of Ocean Bank

Tax incentives to lure new business have become part and parcel of the arsenal that economic development agencies such as the Beacon Council use to attract new businesses. They are needed and should be maintained.

  • Bill Diggs, president, The Mourning Family Foundation

Of course we should. It is more a matter of what those incentives should include. One area that we must do a better job with is our film and motion picture industry opportunities. With the attraction of Florida and Miami weather, we should have a more robust film industry.

  • Brett Beveridge, CEO and founder of The Revenue Optimization Companies (T-ROC)

I am a believer in offering reasonable incentives including tax breaks to attract new businesses and/or entice the expansion of current operations in South Florida for several reasons. First, although South Florida does have a thriving small business and start-up community, we don’t have many large corporations that employ thousands upon thousands of people. Second, and as a defensive measure, in order for us to keep the few large businesses we have and those that are growing rapidly and making decisions on where to locate, we need to be competitive. And third, we want to entice and encourage growth of our current businesses that might not have invested otherwise. All three of these constituencies will add employees that will live and work in South Florida. They will pay property and sales taxes, more jobs will be created, and we will be able to improve our long-term infrastructure. That said, we have to negotiate long-term and rock-solid agreements that guarantee those benefits will actually happen in exchange for the incentives that we provide.

  • Chelsea Wilkerson, CEO of Girl Scouts Tropical Florida

Yes, the state of Florida and local governments should be able to offer tax breaks and incentives to lure business when those benefits are thoughtfully and clearly measured. These types of incentives have become a standard recruitment and negotiation tool. If we do not use them, we are less competitive and will miss opportunities. However, tax breaks should be used among a mix of incentives — each with its own return on investment and parameters for use.

  • Dorcas L. Wilcox, CEO of Miami Bridge Youth & Family Services

As a state that is dependent on tourism, Florida should offer all it can to recruit legitimate, profitable businesses that will provide jobs and promote traditional family values.

  • Gregory Adam Haile, president of Broward College

A 2017 report from the Pew Charitable Trust estimates that state and local governments spend at least $45 billion a year on tax breaks and other incentives to lure or keep job-producing businesses and plants in their jurisdictions, but that this does not always yield the necessary returns. Careful evaluation and monitoring are needed to ensure that the incentives are achieving their intended goals. While incentives have their benefits, it takes more to attract businesses. The state must also invest in other necessary resources and services critical not only for business establishment but their competitiveness and profitability. These include ensuring it can offer an educated and diverse pool of labor, affordable housing, and services such as transportation access that will attract residents.

  • Jorge Gonzalez, president and CEO, City National Bank

Yes. We need to drive investment that creates employment in sectors that will solidify our future.

  • Louis Hernandez Jr., CEO, of Black Dragon Capital

Tax breaks and incentives are instrumental for state and local economic developers to lure jobs to a region. The benefits will outweigh spending, but the burden should be on the governments to ensure costly incentives aren’t a waste of taxpayer dollars. Florida’s lack of a personal income tax and a relatively low corporate income tax rate help to create an exceptional business climate.

  • Paul Singerman, co-chair of Berger Singerman

I think that the state of Florida and local governments should be smart about tax breaks and incentives to lure business. To be sure, I do not think that Florida or local governments should adopt a per se rule against tax breaks and incentives to lure business. Florida and local governments should take these opportunities up whenever possible and evaluate each on its own merits. Relevant questions include: Is this business good for our citizens? Is this an industry that enhances our communities? Are there significant environmental issues that would be implicated by the business of a prospective new entrant to our markets? If tax breaks and incentives are offered, is there a sound return on investment thatthe state and local governments could enjoy?

  • James “Jimmy” Tate, co-owner and president of TKA-Evolution Apparel and of Tate Capital; co-founder of Tate Development Corp.

I do believe in incentive programs as long as they are properly monitored and the people responsible for making these determinations follow a strict formula which eliminates biases or the possibility of personal gain. There should be a cost/benefit analysis performed on all such proposals and if the analysis shows the transaction is accretive to the city, county or state, then you do the deal. If it is not accretive, then you walk.

  • Rashad D. Thomas, vice president of business connect and community outreach for the Miami Super Bowl Host Committee

In order to compete with the other leading cities in the nation, it is necessary. Miami-Dade currently offers several tax credits and business incentives to attract new businesses, such as the Urban Jobs Tax Credit. This program provides up to $1,000 tax credit per job for new businesses with a minimum of 20 new jobs and for existing businesses with a minimum of 10 new jobs, which are regular and full-time (36 hours or more per week). The State of Florida has lost several projects because of its inability to create a film tax break. It has been reported that the $296 million allocated in state tax incentives, intended to last until 2016, had been spent by 2014, with “Ballers” and “Bloodline.” They were the last two major projects that received state funds. Two years later, the program was shut down. Florida is now currently the only Southeastern state without a program to attract film and television productions. While neighboring states like Georgia, Louisiana, and Alabama continue to benefit from the expanding industry.

  • Manny Angelo Varas, president and CEO of MV Construction Group

I believe the city should create tax incentives to lure businesses based on employment and taxable revenue generated.

 

Source: Miami Herald

South Florida Leaders Hope For Another Look From Amazon

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South Florida officials have a message for Amazon and Jeff Bezos: Baby come back.

The Washington Post just reported that Amazon is reconsidering its decision to award New York City part of its HQ2 project, which the company has said would come with 25,000 jobs and billions in local investment. Amazon is facing what the Post calls a wave of opposition from local elected officials about the prospect of giving financial subsidies to the world’s most valuable company. Amazon has not yet leased any land there, the Post reported.

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez says he hasn’t heard from Amazon since the e-commerce giant broke the news to him and other South Florida officials that the region came up short in its bid to land HQ2. Miami’s bid, jointly submitted with Broward and Palm Beach counties, did land the region on a short-list of 20 finalists.

In a statement, Gimenez said he is ready to start things up again whenever Amazon is.

“If Amazon is reconsidering getting out of its plan to open a headquarters in New York, as has been reported by the Washington Post, we welcome the opportunity to talk further with the e-commerce giant,” Mayor Gimenez said.

A spokesperson for Miami WorldCenter, which had been considered as a potential landing spot for a hypothetical Miami HQ2, said Amazon has not gotten back in touch about any new projects.

Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In November, the company announced the other half of the HQ2 project would be located in Northern Virginia. It also announced it planned to open an additional, 5,000-person office in Nashville, Tennessee.

The details of the package South Florida pitched to Amazon have still not been revealed. A spokesman for the Miami-Dade Beacon Council said a freedom of information request filed by the Miami Herald for the information is still being processed.

At a recent panel discussion about lessons learned from the process, Mike Finney, president and CEO of the Beacon Council, did not mention any specific feedback he’d received from Amazon officials about South Florida’s bid. The event was sponsored by the Miami Herald.

In a statement, Finney said the fact that the HQ2 project has been split into two now makes Miami even better positioned for it.

“The change in scope — given jobs and investment were ultimately divided among multiple communities — further enhances Miami’s opportunity to successfully deliver on the kind of partnership we know Amazon is looking for,” Finney said.

He confirmed that he has not engaged in conversations revisiting Amazon bringing any part of HQ2 to South Florida since Amazon’s final announcement was made.

Kelly Smallridge, president and CEO of the Palm Beach County Business Development Board, said she too would welcome Amazon back.

“We’re open for any new opportunities,” Smallridge said.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said he planned to reach out directly to Bezos to pitch the Magic City.

“We are the only global city in America with the talent, tax favorable environment and tactical position to fit a global logistics company like Amazon,” Mayor Suarez said in a statement.

And Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer tweeted, “Hey , heard many NYS leaders oppose deal for your 2nd HQ. We have 0% income tax & lower property taxes in , so you can come to  for a lot less cost, stress & cold. Be happy in  like many HQs. See recent  reports & !”

A spokesperson for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment about whether he had reached out to Amazon officials. Following the Washington Post report, Crain’s Chicago Business reported that Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker had already reached out to Amazon officials asking them to reconsider Chicago as an HQ2 location.

 

Source: Miami Herald

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Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance Returns From Nashville With New Ideas For Job Creation

One lesson learned from the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance‘s past two annual trips: a city’s brand matters.

About 80 members of the Fort Lauderdale business community returned from a four-day trip to Nashville, Tennessee on Wednesday. The trip was led by Broward County‘s economic development partnership, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance. The group met with city officials and leaders in the Nashville business community to discuss common challenges and best practices impacting the two areas.

The trip follows a similar trip to Austin, Texas last year to gain a better understanding of how other cities are attracting companies and fostering economic growth.

In an interview with the Business Journal, Bob Swindell said that one key insight he learned was how Nashville’s Music City brand has helped the city attract talent and create a camaraderie among residents.

“Their brand music is a brand that everyone can relate to,” said Swindell. “They own their brand.”

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance had a similar takeaway on the importance of branding when the group visited Austin last year, which has worked to create a reputation as a technology hub.

“We learned to recognize Greater Fort Lauderdale’s and South Florida’s many strengths, and that perhaps we need to take a page from the Texas playbook and brag a bit more,” Swindell said. “Another lesson learned from the Nashville trip was just how much the two cities have in common.”

In addition to both being named finalists for Amazon’s second headquarters, the two cities face similar major challenges pertaining to workforce housing, homelessness and transportation.

Swindell said transportation, in particular, has been a big focus of Nashville Mayor Megan Berry, who has been communicating the need for action with the city’s business community.

“She says that today will be your best transportation day,” said Swindell, meaning that the problem is getting worse everyday and the need for action is imperative.

Other highlights of the trip included discussions on:

  • How to better align educational programs with target industries with Nashville’s Labor Educational Alignment Committee
  • Innovations in health care at Nashville’s DNA bank
  • Research collaborations and how to take that tech to market with the Vanderbilt Innovation Center
  • How to attract and develop more high-tech companies with the Nashville Technology Council

The trip was funded through several sponsors including JetBlue, the Florida Panthers, the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Executive Airport and Signature Grand.

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance recently released its 2017 fiscal year results, which showed that the organization assisted more than 300 companies and surpassed its original goals for job creation and retention. For the 2017 fiscal year, the economic development partnership brought in 1,978 new jobs, exceeding initial expectations by 24 percent.

 

Source: SFBJ

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Marine Trade Group Gets OK For Foreign Trade Zone In Fort Lauderdale

A new marine industry foreign trade zone has gotten the green light to take off in Fort Lauderdale.

Trade group Marine Industry Association of South Florida said this week it’s won approval from the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) Board and Fort Lauderdale’s FTZ No. 241, to create a 16-site foreign trade subzone.

“This is a first of its kind in the United States,” said Phil Purcell, MIASF executive director, in a statement. “Fort Lauderdale is already known as the yachting capital of the world and will now be known for introducing the first FTZ subzone dedicated to the recreational boating industry.”

FTZ restricted-access sites are shielded from the immediate imposition of duties by U.S. Customs, and are empowered to defer, reduce, or eliminate them on foreign products.

“The 16 businesses that will be included in the subzone operate as either a commercial marina, marine parts and components business or a yacht repair facility,” MIASF spokeswoman Kelly Skidmore said.

“Now that the initial filing for FTZ status has been approved, we are excited to begin working with each marina or marine distributor site to activate in compliance with U.S. Customs and Border Protection regulations,” said Gary Goldfarb, chief strategy officer of Interport Logistics of Miami, an FTZ operator and advisor. “There are so many more options for the industry under a FTZ and, as a result, we expect this will be a very active sector for jobs for years to come.”

Others agree.

“Strengthening our marine industry by creating an environment that will encourage more business is the key reason to pursue Foreign Trade Zone activity,” said Karen Reese, administrator for the city’s FTZ No. 241, based at the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.

“Providing economic incentives through our Foreign Trade Zone program will enable marine industry businesses to free up important resources that can be used to expand operations, increase revenue, and create additional jobs and career opportunities for our community, while also serving as a valuable tool for future business attraction and retention,” Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler said.

 

Source: SunSentinel