From Hometown News, September 18, 2024
Homegrown company encouraged to Stuart after two decades.
STUART — The Martin County Commission unanimously approved a resolution Sept. 10 that would be the first step in bringing a former Stuart business back to the area after more than two decades of operations in Northern Palm Beach County.
Commissioners and staff first got wind of the possible expansion northward of Jupiter-based Power Systems Manufacturing via a letter from Business Development Board Interim Executive Director Dan Hudson on July 23 requesting an eight-year exemption of ad valorem taxes.
“PSM is planning an extensive expansion to accommodate a new business line in aerospace,” he wrote. “The expansion will require 180,000 to 200,000 square feet of manufacturing space to be located on Florida’s East Coast between Palm Beach and Vero Beach. Should Martin County become chosen as the project location, the total expansion will occupy 185,000 square feet on leasehold at South Florida Gateway. Other potential sites include Palm Beach Park of Commerce, along with Midway and Northbridge at Becker [Road] in Port St. Lucie. The applicant will create 101 jobs over the first three years.”
In his letter, Hudson pointed out that PSM would be investing $5.8 million to upgrade the company’s desired building at SFG Industrial Park to meet its needs.
Fast-forward to the second week of September, and Assistant County Administrator George Stokus informed commissioners that Martin County had beat out both West Palm Beach and Port St. Lucie to win the expansion.
“Power Systems Manufacturing intends to occupy a 185,000-square-foot manufacturing facility located off Kanner Highway,” he said. “They are proposing 101 jobs at 36 percent above the average earnings of Martin County, and the average wage is $74,429. They will be applying for this tax exemption for the tangible personal property tax, which is the tax on equipment purchased between Jan. 1 and March 1.”
Stokus emphasized that the Commission was not being asked to commit to the exemption that day, but rather simply to get the ball rolling on the formal request to come by next spring.
“This resolution does not obligate the Board of County Commissioners to guarantee an ad valorem tax exemption will be granted,” he added.
When there were no questions for Stokus, Chairman Harold Jenkins invited Power Systems Manufacturing Vice-President and Lead Counsel John Paré to the podium for a brief introduction.
“PSM actually began in Stuart about 25 years ago,” the latter said. “We have since moved to the north end of Palm Beach County in Jupiter and have been there ever since. We’re outgrowing the facility there. We will still be there, [but] we’re going to grow here for our existing power generation/gas turbine business manufacturing and engineering design, and additionally, aviation and aerospace engines.”
“Homegrown Martin County coming back to your roots,” Jenkins said.
Commissioner Ed Ciampi told Paré that his timing for choosing Martin County was perfect.
“At least in my world, I plan on focusing on additional industrial companies and manufacturers that can employ our residents [and] knock down some of the travel time required when people live out of the county and work in the county or live in the county and have to go somewhere else,” he said. “So, it’d be my pleasure first to welcome you, and secondly, to accept staff’s recommendation.”
Commissioner Stacey Hetherington immediately seconded that informally expressed motion, which was followed by public speaker Tammy Mazzotta.
“It sounds like a great thing to have a facility up here,” Mazzotta said. “My question is, how many of these 101 people are actually going to be employed from Martin County, and how many are going to be transferred up from the Jupiter area? It’s great that they’re bringing this up here, but if they’re not going to employ actual Martin County residents, maybe it should be looked at and figure out something a little better for Martin County taxpayers.”
Stokus then offered a county response to her concern.
“These are 101 new jobs – they’re not being transferred – these are new jobs to Martin County,” he insisted. “Unfortunately, we cannot make them hire Martin County residents. A lot of our workforce comes from St. Lucie County.”
Commissioner Ciampi, however, believes that PSM would try to hire as locally as possible.
