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Vero Beach Theatre Guild celebrates 65 years

The Vero Beach Theatre Guild announced its lineup of Broadway hits for the 2022-23 theatre season. Celebrating 65 years, the Guild will kick off their Sapphire Anniversary with an all-time favorite musical, Footloose, directed and choreographed by Beth McKenzie-Shestak. With a talented cast of 30 local actors, Footloose is everything you could ask for in a lightweight, fluffy musical. The perfect fare for a summer's weekend. Performances will be given from July 8 through July 31. This season's main stage performances will be shown on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 pm, with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 pm.

The month of September will keep not only the Guild actors, staff, and crew busy but its audiences as well, with 10 X Tenn the first annual month-long theatre festival featuring ten plus events by or about Tennessee Williams. The festival will open on September 7 with the Welcome Williams Wine Party on the patio with a fabulous display in the theatre lobby of memorabilia from the Tennessee Williams Museum in Key West, Florida. Curators Dennis Beaver and Bret Wite will welcome everyone and give a brief background of the display depicting the life and times of Mr. Williams and what Vero Beach can expect from the Theatre Guild during the entire month of September. Following the brief seminar will be a feature film Tennessee Williams' South. Williams is front and center in this classic exploration by reading directly from his works, placing them in the context of his life, and serving as a guide in visits to his career shaping refuge in New Orleans and his latter-day writing in Key West.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, directed by Pam Harbaugh and featuring a cast of locals in all roles, will be the Guild's anchor production for the month, opening on Friday, September 9, and running through September 30. Additional monthly events will feature staged readings of The Glass Menagerie, Summer and Smoke trouped in from Florida members of the American Association of Community Theatres, including A Streetcar Named Desire by the Lake Worth Playhouse. In addition, that evening will draw out the many Marlon Brando wannabes during the "Stella" Contest held in the east parking lot following the performance. The contest winner will receive two tickets to the November production Musical Chairs.

Movie Nights will occur throughout the month showing the Tennessee Williams classics Sweet Bird of Youth, The Rose Tattoo, The Night of the Iguana, and Suddenly Last Summer. The Guild's wine bar will be open for all events during the festival, and many will feature informal talk-back sessions on the patio after the live performances and film screenings.

Two one-act plays running as a double-bill on Thursday evenings include This Property Is Condemned, directed by Artistic Director Jon Putzke, and the only comedy written by Tennessee is The Case of the Crushed Petunias, under Tory Malfoy's direction.

In conjunction with the Guild's Education Academy, on September 13, Michael D. Naffziger will hold a master acting class, Ten and the Will (10 decisions to find the will of your character.) Tuesday, the 20th of the month, will be an organized debate over Inclusive Casting. Both educational events will take place on the second floor of the east wing.

Booze & Blues at Moon Lake Casino, a live cabaret night on the patio, will celebrate the festival's closing on October 1. Jacob Craig and his jazz trio will perform with several Guild singers entertaining patrons with the music that surrounded the career of one of the most distinguished American playwrights of our time, Tennessee Williams. Included that evening will be a Southern Bourbon Tasting, wine bar, food truck, and the opportunity to meet many participants and performers from the festival productions.

Following the festival in November, the Theatre Guild's next main stage production will be the song-filled Musical Chairs, directed by Patti Hall. In January, the world-renowned comedy Visiting Mr. Green will be directed by Lisa Keeler. The March musical The Boy from Oz, under the direction of Ben Earman, depicts the life and times of the great songwriter Peter Allen. The 65th season will end in May with Agatha Christie's who-dun-it Murder on the Nile directed by Alex Martinez.

The newly opened Studio Theatre season of staged play readings includes the hit comedy 'Art' followed by two more comedies, Love, Loss & What I Wore in December and The Lifespan of a Fact in February. The final readers' theatre production will be Peter Schaffer's acclaimed Equus.

The Guild is currently running their annual Flex Pass Season Subscription sale for six main stage productions and the 4-play series. Flex passes save patrons between $15 and $25. In addition, single admission tickets for the main stage and studio productions are also on sale. Money-saving Ticket Bundles for the theatre festival will go on sale on August 1. Complete information can be found on the Guild’s website verobeachtheatreguild.com or by phoning the box office Mondays through Fridays from 10 am to 2 pm and one hour before performances at 772-562-8300. The theatre and box office is located at 2020 San Juan Avenue, Vero Beach, Florida.

Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email [email protected]

Jun. 20, 2022|

Indian River County Awards Incentives to Local Firm

Lemnature AquaFarms expanding its operations in Indian River County

The Indian River County Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Office announced that the IRC Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a Local Jobs Grant incentive application for Lemnature AquaFarms. Lemnature AquaFarms is a business-to-business plant-based food ingredient supplier to the food, beverage, and nutrition markets, currently expanding its operations in Indian River County.

The Indian River County Local Jobs Grant is a performance-based incentive program that pays up to $7,000 per new job created, based on the average wages paid to new hires. At least five new jobs must be created, paying a minimum of 75% of the county’s average annual wage. Based on county staff calculations, the company is eligible for up to $200,000 in Jobs Grant funds. The award is paid out over a period of 3-5 years after the jobs are in place and confirmed by county staff.

Lemnature AquaFarms has three locations in Indian River County, including its corporate headquarters, an R&D facility in Fellsmere, plus a large aquafarming and processing operation in western Indian River County. The company anticipates adding 46 employees to its current base of 115 workers by the end of the calendar year, at an average annual wage of $59,800, excluding benefits.

Expressing his appreciation, Frank Jimenez, CEO of Lemnature AquaFarms, states “We appreciate and value the partnerships with the Chamber and its Economic

Development Office, and the Board of County Commissioners, as we build and scale our highly sustainable, plant-based food business and aquafarm within Indian River County.” Further explaining, he adds, “We believe in building innovative farming solutions to help accelerate the transition to a regenerative food system while assisting our customers in the achievement of sustainable development goals through a more efficient agricultural process based on aquaculture.”

The company grows and processes the all-natural Lemnaceae aquatic plant, aka water lentils, which grows naturally – and rapidly - in Indian River County. This aquatic plant doubles its biomass every 48 hours so harvesting can be done daily, year-round in the county’s tropical type of climate. The company will be producing plant-based protein and fiber to be included as ingredients within superfood drinks, protein powders, and nutritional beverages.

As a way to promote the company and its mission, Helene Caseltine, the Chamber’s Economic Development Director, arranged for the company’s CEO to give a presentation to the Commissioners at their regular meeting of April 5, 2022. “The County Commission is excited to see Lemnature AquaFarms expanding in Indian River County,” said Commission Chairman Peter O’Bryan. “We are very pleased that programs like our Local Jobs Grant can assist local companies with their expansion plans. We’re not only interested in attracting new business to Indian River County, but also encouraging our local businesses to expand and add jobs.”

Helene Caseltine echoed Mr. Jimenez’s appreciation of the County Commission, adding “We thank the Commissioners for their continued support of our economic development activities. The Board’s actions demonstrate that, indeed, Indian River County, FL is ready and open for business.”

For more information on locating or expanding a business in Indian River County, call Helene Caseltine at the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce, 772-567-3491 or visit www.indianrivered.com.

Jun. 20, 2022|

Piper Aircraft selects local high school graduates to join manufacturing team

On May 5, 2022 Piper Aircraft hosted students from both the Vero Beach and Sebastian River High Schools for a tour and exploratory visit of the Piper Aircraft worldwide headquarters in Vero Beach, FL. Following the visit, Piper Aircraft coordinated interviews of several of the recent high school graduates and extended job offers to 84% of the candidates. The newly hired candidates are currently in the training process and will join the manufacturing and production control teams in the near future.

Piper Aircraft continues to actively recruit and hire personnel for positions throughout the organization in an effort to meet current and future production needs. With the robust nature of the marketplace and demand for both trainer and personal aircraft, Piper’s production for 2022 is sold out, with firm orders into 2024. For more information on current employment opportunities at Piper Aircraft, visit www.piper.com/careers.

About Piper Aircrafts

Piper Aircraft Inc., headquartered in Vero Beach, Fla., offers aviators throughout the world efficient and reliable single- and twin-engine aircraft and is the first general aviation aircraft manufacturer in the world to certify Garmin Autoland. The single-engine M-Class series – the M600SLS, M500, and M350 – offers businesses and individual’s elegant performance, value and a superior ownership experience. The Personal Class Archer LX and Archer DLX balance proven performance, efficiency, and simplicity in a piston powered aircraft. The Trainer Class Pilot 100/100i, Archer TX, Archer DX, Seminole and Seneca V aircraft form the most complete technically-advanced line of pilot training aircraft in the world. Piper is a member of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. To learn more about Piper Aircraft, visit www.piper.com

Jun. 11, 2022|

Rodger Pridgeon receives 2022 South Florida district SBA Small Business Person of the Year

Rodger Pridgeon accepts the award for 2022 South Florida District SBA Small Business Person of the Year from Lonnie Koyama of the U.S. Small Business Administration during a ceremony held on May 10.
Photo credit: Scott Finney

Rodger Pridgeon has been named the 2022 South Florida District SBA Small Business Person of the Year. The award was announced in April by U.S. Small Business Administration South Florida District Director J. Malcolm Richards, and Pridgeon accepted his award on May 10 in Melbourne during the 2022 National Small Business Week Summit.

Pridgeon is the owner and president of Corporate Air, Inc., a Fixed Base Operator (FBO) that provides fuel, aircraft maintenance, hangar space, and charter jet services at the Vero Beach Regional Airport.

According to Richards, the National Small Business Week Awards celebrate the sacrifices and achievements of small business owners and their significant contributions to our economy and our communities.

“America’s entrepreneurs are doing their part to power our nation’s historic economic comeback,” said Richards. “Many small businesses were able to successfully pivot and with tenacity and resilience have not only survived the pandemic but have thrived. Corporate Air, under the leadership of Rodger Pridgeon, is a perfect example of such resiliency. These awards honor those in our community who have excelled in business ownership, demonstrating these virtues that are among the hallmarks of successful entrepreneurship.”

Judging criteria included staying power, demonstrated by sustained growth and expansion in services or square footage occupied, as well as growth in number of employees; increase in sales, net worth and net profit from 2017 to 2019; response to adversity, be it financial, physical, legal or other crisis; and contributions to community-oriented projects, such as the contribution of time, money and resources to charitable causes, as well as membership and personal involvement in local organizations that serve the community.

Debbie Petrell, Senior Vice President & Sales and Marketing Manager, Florida First Capital Finance Corporation, nominated Pridgeon for the award.

“As one of many in our portfolio of exceptional small business owners, Rodger Pridgeon of Corporate Air soars as a trendsetting entrepreneur and community advocate,” said Petrell. “His leadership, innovation and commitment to the local community, both in the business and nonprofit sectors, is exemplary, and we are delighted he is this year’s award recipient.”

An Aircraft Maintenance Technician by trade, Rodger Pridgeon grew up in Western New York State and moved to Vero Beach in 1980, working for Chautauqua Airlines as Director of Maintenance. Anticipating the airline’s withdrawal from the community, Pridgeon started an aircraft maintenance business on the side, transitioning into working full time for himself when Chautauqua Airlines officially closed their Vero Beach office in 1987. What began as a oneman show has grown to an award-winning, thriving business with 15 employees.

Running a successful and growing business wasn’t the only criteria considered for the award, however. Being an active contributor to the community was also a factor. Just as Pridgeon is passionate about his business, he is equally as passionate about his community. He served on the Board of Directors of the Children’s Home Society of the Treasure Coast for 10 years, including as Board Chair for two years. He regularly provides hangar space to local nonprofits in need of a large venue to host fundraising events, at no cost to the organization. American Red Cross, Boys & Girls Clubs, Children’s Home Society, Jake Owens Foundation, and Women’s Refuge and are some of the charities served in this way.

He is also a strong supporter of veterans. In fact, the last two times the Vero Beach Air Show was in town, the Pridgeon family hosted a hangar party for friends and clients to watch the show up close, asking for donations to benefit the Veteran’s Council of Indian River County. Upwards of $20,000 has been raised for veterans as a result.

“Of course I’m honored to be recognized as the 2022 South Florida District SBA Small Business Person of the Year, but whether I am recognized or not, I will always continue doing what I love to do: invest in my business, including the people who help make it happen, and in my community, which I love,” said Pridgeon.

Jun. 11, 2022|

Mattamy Homes named Master Developer of Newfield in Martin County

***Traditional Neighborhood Development will include 4,000+ homes, town center,* *and more than 2,300 acres of open space with trails, parks and a working farm***

Mattamy Homes, the largest privately owned homebuilder in North America, has announced it will serve as master developer of Newfield, the innovative new town in Martin County conceived over the past five years by financial journalist Knight Kiplinger.

“This has been a labor of love – one that has brought me great joy,” Kiplinger said. “I am convinced that Mattamy, with its great track record around America, including being selected to build the last section of the town of Celebration, an acclaimed model of TND development, is the right developer to bring Newfield to fruition.”

Located in western Palm City, FL between the Turnpike and I-95, the large expanse of land, previously known as Shadow Lake Groves, has been owned by the Kiplinger family for more than four decades.

“Newfield will introduce a new standard for TND and open-space preservation on the Treasure Coast,” said Dan Grosswald, Mattamy’s Southeast Florida Division President. “Newfield will be a multigenerational pedestrian-friendly community that will appeal to a wide variety of current and future Martin County residents. We are honored and privileged to have been selected to develop this amazing unique property and look forward to bringing the Kiplinger vision to life.”

Newfield will embody the characteristics of a TND (Traditional Neighborhood Development) with an array of villages comprising homes in various sizes, styles and prices—mixed in a natural way with civic spaces such as parks, community gardens and schools, along with small-scale retail and office space. To promote walkability and community connection, Newfield neighborhoods will include rear-access garages and driveways in alleys behind homes, enabling residents to greet neighbors from the front porch and watch children play safely in the front yards.

More than 70 percent of the total Newfield acreage – 2,300-plus acres – will remain open with a 70-acre working farm with livestock, a mix of wooded hiking, biking and equestrian trails, pasture, wetlands, lakes and the natural new Kiplinger Conservancy.

Knight Kiplinger worked closely with Martin County residents to obtain commission approval in 2020, including proposing a whole new zoning category for the project. Newfield’s phase 1 encompasses 139 acres of which the first village will serve as the town center and include approximately 1,250 residential units, along with retail, restaurants, small-scale offices, recreational amenities, ten miles of trails and the county’s first gopher tortoise preserve.

Groundbreaking is expected later this year with sales to begin in fall 2023. The first homes are slated for early 2024 delivery. Kiplinger and members of his original planning team will work closely with Mattamy Homes in an advisory capacity.

About Mattamy Homes

Mattamy Homes is the largest privately owned homebuilder in North America, with 40-plus years of history across the United States and Canada. Every year, Mattamy helps more than 8,000 families realize their dream of homeownership. In the United States, the company is represented in 11 markets — Dallas, Charlotte, Raleigh, Phoenix, Tucson, Jacksonville, Orlando (where its U.S. head office is located), Tampa, Sarasota, Naples and Southeast Florida. In Canada, Mattamy Homes' communities stretch across the Greater Toronto Area as well as Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton. Visit www.mattamyhomes.com for more information.

Jun. 11, 2022|

Florida SBDC Network urges preparation for hurricane season

The Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of small business assistance, urges small business owners to prepare for the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins today and extends through November 30.

According to a forecast by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the 2022 season is predicted to be above-normal, with a range of 14 to 21 named storms, of which six to 10 could become hurricanes, including three to six major hurricanes.

The Florida SBDC Network encourages small businesses to prepare for hurricane season by developing a disaster preparedness plan.

“With another active season predicted this year, all small businesses should take time now to develop a preparedness plan,” said Greg Britton, State Director of the Florida SBDC Network. “No storm should be taken lightly and all small business owners should prepare each year no matter the forecast.”

Businesses should consider several elements in preparing for a disaster. Not only is it important to protect staff, their building, data, and inventory, it is also critical to prepare a plan to continue operations following the disaster. A good plan may include provisions to relocate to a pre-identified site, retrieve data, including employee, customer and vendor records; and a way to operate efficiently with a smaller staff of key individuals.

The Florida SBDC also strongly encourages businesses to back up data and ensure they have access to important files, such as tax records, legal, and financial documents.

As a principal responder in the state’s Emergency Support Function (ESF) 18 for Business & Industry, the Florida SBDC Network helps small businesses prepare and recover from disasters.

Through the network’s service offering, professionally certified business consultants can help small business owners develop comprehensive business continuity, emergency preparedness, and disaster recovery plans at no cost. Florida SBDCs also offer training on disaster preparedness, tips, and resources.

In the event of a disaster, Florida SBDC disaster specialists help affected businesses prepare disaster loan applications. The network will also deploy its mobile assistance centers into communities for affected businesses to receive on-site assistance with disaster loans and other post-disaster challenges.

Preparedness resources:

For preparedness resources from the Florida SBDC Network, please visit https://floridasbdc.org/services/business-continuation/preparedness/.
The state’s disaster preparedness sales tax holiday extends through Friday, June 10. To learn more about the holiday and qualifying items, please click here.
www.FloridaDisaster.org – The state’s official source of information for individuals and businesses from the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
www.FloridaDisaster.biz - The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s website to provide businesses access to critical information before, during, and after a disaster.
For a hurricane preparedness checklist and other resources from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), please click here.

For more information about the Florida SBDC Network and to find an SBDC near you, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.

About the Florida SBDC Network:

For over 45 years, the Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of business assistance [Fl. Stat. 288.001], has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development to provide existing and emerging small and medium-sized business owners with management and knowledge resources that enable overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for Florida’s economy. In 2021, Florida SBDCs provided 157,841 hours of professional business consulting to more than 18,379 client businesses. Based on the results from the network's latest economic impact analysis, our services resulted in almost 38,000 jobs impacted; $7.4 billion in sales generated; $381.6 million in government contracts acquired, and $528.4 million in capital accessed. With over 40 offices statewide, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, State of Florida and other private and public partners. The Florida SBDC Network, headquartered at the University of West Florida, is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs and is a recipient of the President’s E Award for Export Service. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for individuals with limited English proficiency. For more information, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.

Jun. 5, 2022|

St. Lucie County releases 2022 estimated tax property values

St. Lucie County Property Appraiser, Michelle Franklin, officially released the 2022 estimated taxable value of real estate and personal property to the 24 Taxing Authorities within St. Lucie County. The estimated taxable values are working numbers that are due to the taxing authorities by June 1 annually per statute. The estimates provide assistance to our Taxing Authorities as they develop their operating budgets and determine proposed millage (tax) rates.

“Taxable values are capped at 3% for homesteaded properties, and 10% for non-homesteaded properties, however, new construction is applied to the Roll at full value. New construction, totaling more than $823 million, coupled with our extraordinary real estate market, produced the highest taxable value we have ever seen in St. Lucie County,” said Michelle Franklin.

St. Lucie County - Taxable value is estimated at $29 billion, which is a 14% increase over the 2021 tax year.
City of Port St. Lucie - Taxable value is estimated at $15.8 billion, which is a 19% increase over the 2021 tax year.
City of Fort Pierce - Taxable value estimated at $3.2 billion, which is an 11.50% increase over the 2021 tax year.
Town of St. Lucie Village - Taxable value estimated at $87.9 million, which is a 14.50% increase over the 2021 tax year.

Pursuant to Florida law, the 2022 taxable assessment reflects the value as of January 1, 2022.

The St. Lucie County Property Appraiser’s Office is open 8-5, Monday - Friday with two convenient locations - 2300 Virginia Avenue, Fort Pierce, FL 34982 and 250 NW Country Club Drive, Port St. Lucie, FL 34986. For more information, visit www.paslc.gov or call 772.462.1000 to speak to a professional.

Jun. 4, 2022|

Martin County Boys & Girls Clubs board member celebrated at national conference with Lifetime Achievement award

Appearing in the attached photo: (L-R) James L. Newland, Val McNeely, Jim Clark President & CEO Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and Lorraine Orr Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Office BGCA.

It’s the highest acclaim the Boys & Girls Clubs movement can bestow to celebrate outstanding service from a volunteer leader. Earlier in May at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America national conference in Chicago, this tribute was granted to longtime board member Val McNeely.

McNeely received the James L. Newland Lifetime Achievement Award in Board Leadership for demonstrating “extraordinary service and devotion to the mission of Boys & Girls Clubs, both locally and nationally,” says Keith “Fletch” Fletcher, President, and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County.

Fletcher cited McNeely’s commitment to ensuring the highest possible safety standards for young people attending BGCMC Clubs, as well as establishing a fund to improve Club infrastructure, enhance security measures, and support programs dedicated to the members’ emotional growth and well-being.

“No one person has been there for our organization more frequently than Val McNeely,” says Fletcher. “Whether it was a safety concern or an opportunity for growth, Val wasted no time in finding or creating solutions. Her nimble, innovative style is an excellent example of leadership in action. And she deserves a great deal of credit for forging the foundation of our incoming flagship Club in Stuart and the state-of-the-art workforce collaborations it will offer our members.”

“It's impossible to overstate the value of the positive environments in our Clubs. They exude an intentional balance of safety, security, warmth, and welcoming,” says Kathy Parsons, BGCMC Board Chair. “Which is more important than ever when so many of our Club members live in challenging environments exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic.”

Looking ahead to the opportunity to serve even more children and families in Martin County, BGCMC is planning for a new state-of-the-art Club in the heart of Stuart, on property leased from the Martin County School District. In addition to offering a gym, classrooms, creative space, and all the features associated with a traditional Club environment, the incoming facility will feature workforce laboratories equipped with the technologies and tools needed to prepare members for a variety of trades, vocations, and specialties. Through partnerships with local employers, members will not only gain new skills and in some cases, certifications, but also build relationships essential to employment opportunities in the local workforce.

About the Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County

For more than 30 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County has provided award-winning programs designed to guide and inspire young people ages 6-18 to learn, grow and mature in route to becoming successful adults. Each of the four clubs enjoys strong partnerships with local schools and communities. Such cohesion ensures that Boys & Girls Clubs’ programs complement and enrich the curriculum our members learn in class as well as remain attuned to the challenges and opportunities they face on a day-to-day basis. The clubs offer opportunities for fun, fitness, and S.T.E.A.M. activities, and certified teachers collaborate with club members on everything from tutoring and homework help to specialized courses that prepare them for careers in a variety of trades.

May. 26, 2022|

Stonemont Financial Group breaks ground for St. Lucie County’s largest building

St. Lucie County officials and Stonemont Financial Group representatives broke ground for the South Florida Logistics Center 95 May 25.
Photo by Flynn Fidgeon, St. Lucie County

Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on May 25 for what will be, at 1.1. million square feet, the largest building in unincorporated St. Lucie County.

Stonemont Financial Group, a private real estate investment firm specializing in industrial development and net lease assets, is constructing the South Florida Logistics Center 95, a two-building, Class-A, 1.3-million-square-foot speculative industrial development on Orange Avenue at South Kings Highway. In addition to the 1.1.-million-square-foot cross-dock building, the company is also constructing a 245,300-square-foot rear-load facility in the park.

The site and buildings are being developed with functional, state-of-the-art features tailored for e-commerce and third-party logistics users and is anticipated to be ready for occupancy in early 2023. The project marks Stonemont’s initial venture in the South Florida region, with the firm already active in Jacksonville, Orlando, Lakeland and Tampa.

“The location of this development provides an immediate competitive advantage for e-commerce providers and other logistics operators who have to meet growing consumer demand for rapid delivery,” said Zack Markwell, managing principal and CEO at Stonemont Financial Group. “Our team is already fielding a number of inquiries from prospective users who not only need to be within close range of South Florida’s booming population but can also have better proximity further north to the ports in Jacksonville and Savannah. The business-friendly environment and cost-of-living advantages offered by St. Lucie County are an additional bonus, and we thank the EDC for their partnership in transforming our vision into reality.”

“With 62% of our workforce commuting outside the county each day for work, Stonemont Financial Group’s investment in St. Lucie County will not only help make hundreds of jobs available for our residents, having these jobs close to home will deliver the biggest benefit of all – time. Time for parents to be active in their children’s schools, time for family dinners, time to enjoy all the leisure activities our county has to offer, time for working men and women to be active in their communities,” said St. Lucie County Commission Chairman Sean Mitchell. “It’s also exciting to be breaking ground today for what will be the largest building in the unincorporated county.”

“The location of this Class-A facility is ideal not only for the ultimate end-users but also for residents of Fort Pierce and northern St. Lucie County who are seeking career opportunities with good pay and benefits,” said Pete Tesch, president of the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County (EDC). “It is gratifying to see that top-tier companies like Stonemont have discovered our county’s ready workforce, great location and outstanding quality of life.”

JLL is overseeing leasing for the project with space from 50,000 to 1.1 million square feet available for lease. JLL is a global professional services firm specializing in real estate and investment management.

Evans General Contractors is managing construction operations. Evans is a leading design-build, general contracting, and construction management firm headquartered in Atlanta. Engineering Design & Construction, Inc. of Port St. Lucie is the project’s civil engineer.

Stonemont’s ability to source and capitalize on premium speculative development opportunities in markets with high barriers to entry have enabled the firm to grow its industrial portfolio exponentially over the last 24 months, with 15 million square feet of Class-A product currently under construction. The firm currently has nearly 4 million square feet of new industrial space under construction across the state of Florida.

About Stonemont Financial Group

Stonemont is an Atlanta-based private real estate investment and development firm that acquires, develops and operates primarily industrial real estate across select markets in the United States. Stonemont owns and manages a portfolio with a market value in excess of $4.5 billion. For more information, visit www.stonemontfinancial.com.

About JLL

JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. JLL shapes the future of real estate for a better world by using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $16.6 billion in 2020, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 91,000. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit jll.com.

About the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County

The EDC is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting economic vitality in St. Lucie County through the attraction, retention and expansion of businesses in the community. The EDC works in partnership with local governments and the private sector to advance its goals of creating more and better-paying jobs for residents, broadening the tax base and improving St. Lucie County’s economic quality of life. Contact the EDC at 772.336.6250 or www.youredc.com.

Photo ID: (L to R) Michelle Miller, St. Lucie County Clerk of Court & Comptroller; Pete Tesch, Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County; St. Lucie County Commissioner Cathy Townsend; St. Lucie County Commission Chair Sean Mitchell; Avery Dorr, Stonemont Financial Group; Neal Moskowitz, Stonemont Financial Group; Bryan Blasingame, Stonemont Financial Group; Zack Markwell, Stonemont Financial Group; Evan Christiansen, JLL; Fort Pierce Commissioner Curtis Johnson; St. Lucie County Commissioner Linda Bartz; St. Lucie County Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky; LaToya Young, St. Lucie County Fire District.

May. 26, 2022|

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Latest News

Vero Beach Theatre Guild celebrates 65 years

Indian River County Awards Incentives to Local Firm

Lemnature AquaFarms expanding its operations in Indian River County

Piper Aircraft selects local high school graduates to join manufacturing team

Rodger Pridgeon receives 2022 South Florida district SBA Small Business Person of the Year

Mattamy Homes named Master Developer of Newfield in Martin County

Traditional Neighborhood Development will include 4,000+ homes, town center, and more than 2,300 acres of open space with trails, parks and a working farm

Florida SBDC Network urges preparation for hurricane season

St. Lucie County releases 2022 estimated tax property values

Martin County Boys & Girls Clubs board member celebrated at national conference with Lifetime Achievement award

Stonemont Financial Group breaks ground for St. Lucie County’s largest building

TCCH Foundation earns Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency

***Traditional Neighborhood Development will include 4,000+ homes, town center,* *and more than 2,300 acres of open space with trails, parks and a working farm***