FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (October 24, 2024) - The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, Broward County’s official public/private partnership for economic development, held its 2024 Annual Meeting, presented by Amazon, the Florida Panthers, and Memorial Healthcare System, on Thursday, Oct. 24 at the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale with more than 650 business and community leaders in attendance.

During the event, the Alliance treated guests to a sneak peak of a new community campaign featuring a sit-down with Florida Panthers star forward, Matthew Tkachuk. The campaign, which is being produced by Zimmerman Advertising, will highlight Tkachuk’s favorite things about living, working, and playing in Greater Fort Lauderdale and be used to promote the community to prospective talent and companies interested in relocating to the area.

As a key part of the Annual Meeting, the Alliance announced several company expansions and relocations to Broward County, and reported that in its 2023-24 fiscal year, which ended September 30, the Alliance assisted businesses in creating 1060 new high-value jobs, retaining 170 jobs, and securing more than $164.6 million in new capital investment.

A major announcement of the evening, leading aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services provider, Xtreme Aviation, in partnership with Sheltair Aviation, the nation’s largest privately-owned aviation network, announced the development of a new MRO hangar facility at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), including the latest advanced technology in aviation maintenance and an aircraft wash rack. The 70,000 sq. ft. hangar facility will reduce maintenance turnaround times and costs for airlines that serve FLL, as well as decreasing flight delays for travelers. The project is expected to create 400 high-skill jobs and has a projected total capital investment of $30 million. FLL, under the leadership of Mark Gale, assisted with the project.

Additional companies assisted by the Alliance in Fiscal Year 2024 include:

Aerothrust, an aviation maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) company, is adding 85 airframe and powerplant technicians at a new 45,000 sq. ft. space in Davie, where they are making a capital investment of more than $15 million. The company is also establishing its Academy Center of Excellence for training and will guarantee trainees work for five years.

ARC 145, is a long-established, FAA-certified, aviation MRO company specializing in avionics and small components for commercial and military planes. The company relocated to a 5,000 sq. ft. facility in Miramar, where they plan to hire up to 20 employees over the next three years, making a capital investment of $300,000. The company was assisted by the City of Miramar and is working with Broward College to hire apprentices.

ARG America, a company focused on designing and manufacturing devices to reduce ship sway, is creating four new jobs and making a capital investment of $2 million in Fort Lauderdale.

ATI is establishing a dedicated additive manufacturing facility in Margate developing highly engineered parts through advanced manufacturing methods including metal 3D printing. The secure 132,000 sq. ft. facility will create 60 new jobs.

Two Cheney Brothers, Inc. affiliates, Grand Western Beef and Crazy Fish, are expanding into a new 70,000 sq. ft. food processing facility in Pompano Beach, which will be home to approximately 150 new employees, while retaining 100 existing employees. The company is making a capital investment of more than $40 million.

Chick-fil-A is opening a new food and beverage logistics center in Weston, creating 116 jobs and making a capital investment of $50.5 million. The company was also assisted by FPL’s economic development team.

Life Wear Technologies, a leading manufacturer of innovative sports medicine products, is expanding operations, creating 20 new jobs and retaining 40 existing jobs, and making a capital investment of $2 million in Pompano Beach. The company was also assisted by FPL’s economic development team.

Ontic, a leading global manufacturer of aviation and aerospace parts, is expanding into Florida with the opening of its eighth global site. As part of a strategic decision to create a global network of Ontic MRO Centers of Excellence, the company’s new 64,000 sq. ft. facility in Miramar will create 88 jobs with a capital investment of $10 million. Broker Tom Viscount of Avison Young assisted Ontic in securing the lease, with additional support by Larry Dinner of CBRE, a representative of the landlord. The company was also assisted by FPL’s economic development team. Click here for additional information.

Project Thunder, a manufacturer of custom molded parts, will be creating 40 jobs, retaining 30 jobs, and making a direct capital investment of $8.3 million in Miramar.

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