Movies and books have popularized the imagine of a vigilant spotter stationed in the ship crow’s nest scanning the horizon with a telescope before shouting, “Land, ho!”
In Martin County, any search for the Land of Opportunity begins by looking at the water. After all, our regional marine economy generates more than $305.3 million a year and provides more than 3,300 industry jobs to area families.
Those job numbers will grow even greater thanks to the recent unanimous approval by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners on an expansion proposed by Willis Custom Yachts.
Since purchasing American Custom Yachts in 2021, Willis Custom Yachts—created by Mark Willis and Brooks Smith—has sought to boost its position in the marine industry.
Occupying a 35-acre operation just west of I-95 with plans to add 30 more acres—in addition to its 2-acre waterfront site in Stuart—the approval enables the creation of a 130,000-square-foot expansion. That breaks downs to 90,000 square feet of manufacturing space and a 40,000-square-foot facility dedicated to marine services.
As an expanding member of the essential marine industry—which we list among other local economic pillars such as aviation, agriculture, healthcare, information technology and clean energy as “Hubs of Excellence”—the Business Development Board worked to assist the company early on. In addition to business advocacy, our role included availing Willis Custom Yachts to one of the key items in our updated Jobs Toolkit—expedited review.
Having already grown its workforce by nearly 50 percent, Willis Custom Yachts will continue to add talent to its 140-plus workforce. The company is recruiting technicians for mechanical, fiberglass, electrical work and more.
Helping fill those jobs—an aspect of our Talent Advancement initiative—is a team effort enjoined by our partners in economic development, including the Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast, Economic Council, Stuart Martin County Chamber, Martin County School District and others.
Thankfully, key business and elected leaders realized years earlier the need to cultivate a local workforce for our core industries. Even as we focus resources and concentrate efforts, the demand—which currently outplaces supply—will soon offer some remarkable and rewarding opportunities for those fortunate individuals savvy enough to realize that their ship, literally and figuratively, is indeed coming in.
Martin County Commercial Real Estate event
Is any topic more talked about around town—or across the state—than real estate? We’re excited to lend something meaningful to the conversion with an expert panel at our 2023 Martin County Commercial Real Estate Forum.
Held from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Jan. 26 at IRSC’s Chastain campus in Stuart, the forum will feature local and state experts as they share their outlooks and insights on trends to watch as well as opportunities to anticipate. Speakers include:
- Kenneth Krasnow, Vice Chairman, Institutional Investor Services Florida, Colliers
- Z. Joe Kulenovic, Vice President, International, Enterprise Florida
- Cathy Chambers, Economic Development Director, FPL
- Doug West, President-General Manager, Willis Custom Yachts
For more information and to reserve your seat at the CRE Forum, please visit EVENTS at BDBMC.org or call (772) 221-1380.
This article can also be found in the January 15, 2023 Friends and Neighbors of Martin County Newsletter.
