Charter Schools USA announced today the relocation and expansion of its national corporate headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Officials from the company and its location advisory consultants Mitchell Millowitz and Bradley Griggs of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank worked closely with the Office of Florida Governor Rick Scott, the City of Fort Lauderdale, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance CEO Council and Enterprise Florida to win the multi-state competitive economic development project.  The project will result in the addition of 73 new jobs at an average salary of approximately $60,000 along with retaining 188 existing Florida jobs.  The Company will invest $1.3 million in capital and relocate its current headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, where it will lease over 43,000 square feet of space at the Radice II office building located at 800 Corporate Drive in Fort Lauderdale.  The state and local incentives approved by Florida and the City of Fort Lauderdale total $365,000 using the performance-based Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund program.

“Our company continues to grow and every job we create allows us to support teachers and provide the best possible education for our students,” said a representative of Charter Schools USA. “We appreciate all the combined efforts of the organizations that made this move possible including: Governor Rick Scott; Enterprise Florida; City of Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler & the City Commission, City Manager Lee Feldman and Economic & Community Reinvestment Manager Al Battle; and Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance CEO Council Chairman Ray Ferrero, Jr. and Managing Director Robin Ronne.”

CSUSA’s headquarters will also include a new, first-of-its-kind training facility, Leading Edge, to be used for charter school teachers, principals, assistant principals and staff. CSUSA will bring staff from all 70 schools for professional development throughout the year.

President and CEO of Enterprise Florida Gray Swoope said, “The announcement of the expansion by Charter Schools USA shows that Florida’s resources, including a strong workforce, expansive infrastructure and strategic partnerships, have created one of the top business climates in the country.  We look forward to seeing the company’s success in the coming years.”

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler said “We are delighted that national education industry leaders like Charter Schools USA have chosen to continue to make the City of Fort Lauderdale their location of choice.  This project exemplifies the attractiveness of our city and our ongoing commitment to support new and expanding business enterprises.  We welcome Charter Schools’ expansion in Fort Lauderdale and look forward to their continued growth and success in their new location.”

According to Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance CEO Council Chairman Ray Ferrero, Jr, “We are so very pleased to have had the opportunity to work with our partners at the City of Fort Lauderdale and Enterprise Florida on behalf of Charter Schools USA.  The CEO Council’s mission is to maintain and grow the presence of the more than 150 corporate and international headquarter operations in the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County area that can take advantage of our world class quality of life, transportation access and highly rated business and personal tax climate, and Charter Schools USA’ decision provides further positive confirmation and ratification of our initiative.”

About Charter Schools USA

Charter Schools USA is the first education management company to receive district accreditation through AdvancED and is one of the nation’s leading charter school management companies. Founded by its CEO Jonathan Hage in 1997, CSUSA will manage 70 schools in seven states serving more than 60,000 students in Kindergarten through 12th grade during the 2014-2015 school year. Its educational advantages include disciplined innovation of technology, parental involvement, personal learning plans, student uniforms, enforced discipline policies, highly qualified and motivated staff, community focus and high academic performance.