City Manager's Bi-Weekly Report Volume 2 | Issue 14 | September 14, 2018 | Page 17

Feature Story Peter Tesch, Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County [email protected] | Office: 772-336-6250 | Cell: 772-801-0623 TAMCO Group and Loop Road groundbreaking lights the way for the Tradition Center for Commerce Port St. Lucie/September 13 – The first ceremonial shovelful of dirt turned today by the TAMCO Group marks a major manufacturing expansion for the City Electric Supply subsidiary; it also kick-starts the long-awaited economic promise of the Tradition Center for Commerce. TAMCO currently employs 210 workers at five locations in St. Lucie West. The company is making a $38 million investment in a new 400,000-square-foot manufacturing and distribution facility to consolidate and expand its workforce. TAMCO, which will add at least 50 new jobs once the new plant is operating, had previously weighed a move to Dallas or Charlotte before recommitting to Port St. Lucie. Cissy Proctor, executive director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, and Peter Antonacci, CEO of Enterprise Florida, attended the groundbreaking, along with officials from Port St. Lucie, St. Lucie County and City Electric Supply’s leadership team. “Florida’s business-friendly environment makes our state a great place for businesses like TAMCO to grow. We are proud to see TAMCO continue to expand in Port St. Lucie and add 50 new jobs for hardworking Floridians,” said Proctor. “Growing our business in Port St. Lucie over the past 22 years has been an amazing journey for TAMCO and establishing our new facility will not only create more jobs for the local area but will also attract new talent to the Treasure Coast,” said Frank McShane, co-vice president of operations. “Enterprise Florida congratulates TAMCO Group in choosing to expand its footprint in St. Lucie County by creating 50 new jobs. These new jobs will bring more opportunity and success to families in the community,” said Antonacci. The 36-acre site is already under construction, in conjunction with Phase One of the loop road which will enable access to over 100 acres of industrial development along the I-95 corridor within Tradition Commerce Park. The road construction was funded through a $3 million Florida Job Growth Grant, with $1 million provided by the Tradition Economic Development Fund. The portion of roadway which connects with TAMCO’s property will be named for City Electric Supply’s founder Tom Mackie. “With 260 jobs paying more than our city’s average wage, a first-class manufacturing facility to anchor the Tradition Center for Commerce, and the opportunity to keep a local, established and successful company like TAMCO here at home, this is an economic development victory to celebrate and build around,” said Port St. Lucie Mayor Gregory J. Oravec. “We look forward to the completion of this new facility, TAMCO’s continuing success and the celebration of many more groundbreakings at the Tradition Center for Commerce.” “The state-of-the-art manufacturing, order fulfillment and office workplace we are constructing will allow us to expand upon our current capabilities, creating new opportunities for TAMCO and our team members,” said Jordan McGinn, co-vice president of operations. 17