By Ashley Portero – Senior Reporter, South Florida Business Journal, Oct 9, 2025

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance helped Broward County secure $139 million in capital investments and attract more than 700 new job commitments during the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the group announced at its annual meeting on Thursday.

Held at the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, more than 600 business and civic leaders attended the event.

Alliance President and CEO Bob Swindell said aviation, pharmaceutical manufacturing and maintenance, repair, and overhaul are among the businesses that chose to relocate or expand in Broward over the past year.

"[They are] further testament to our business-friendly infrastructure and incredible talent pool," he said.

The Alliance reports it provided guidance and services to 11 companies that committed to creating 716 new jobs and retaining another 211. They are:

• CTS Engines, an aviation engine maintenance firm that is expanding to Coral Springs with plans to add 41 jobs and make a $2.5 million capital investment.
• Decoral System USA, a decorative powder coating technology firm that opened a 56,000-square foot manufacturing facility in Coral Springs with plans to add 50 new jobs.
• ESG (Event Services Group), a business that provides décor and services for special events, moved to a new 66,000-square-foot facility to grow its production warehouse and office space. It will add 50 jobs and make a $1 million capital investment.
• Fly Legacy, a pilot training company, retained five jobs by relocating to a new 3,000-square foot classroom, office, and hangar space at a Sheltair facility in Pompano Airpark in Pompano Beach.
• NakAI Robotics, an Israeli manufacturer of autonomous robots for commercial ship hull inspection and cleaning, will open a new 2,000-square foot manufacturing facility in Fort Lauderdale, create five new jobs and make a $300,000 capital investment
• Pherros Biosciences, a pharmaceutical manufacturing company in Deerfield Beach, is expanding its local production facility. It expects to have a 60,000-square-foot manufacturing space and add 85 jobs by the end of 2026.
• Project Clearview committed to making a "multi-million dollar investment" in an advanced manufacturing plant in Pembroke Pines that will support 175 new jobs.
• Ryzhka International, a provider of lubricants and fuel oil for government, commercial and maritime industries, revamped a gas station into a 5,000-square foot space that will have seven jobs.
• Screen Graphics, a graphics designer, is growing its Broward headquarters and manufacturing facility. It will invest $2 million in a new 43,000-square-foot space and add six jobs.
• Transpire Bio, a biopharmaceutical company that develops inhaled therapeutics, is moving to a 139,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Pembroke Pines. The company plans to add 200 jobs and make a $100 million capital investment.
• VSE Corporation, a company that provides parts and maintenance services to aviation and aerospace businesses, moved its corporate headquarters from Virginia to Miramar. It is investing $3.4 million in a local facility and said it will add 350 jobs over the next five years.

This week multinational pharmaceutical company Lupin Limited announced it will invest $250 million in a new manufacturing facility in Coral Springs. The firm, based in India, was also assisted by the Alliance.

The Alliance, Broward County's economic development partner, reports it has helped businesses create or retain more than 22,850 direct jobs since 2016.

During the meeting Jennifer Bales Drake, shareholder and vice chair of Becker’s Public Private Partnerships Practice Group, was announced as Alliance chair of the board for fiscal Year 2025-2026. She succeeded Doug Bartel, state and regional communications leader for Florida Blue.

Nova Southeastern University President and CEO Harry K. Moon presented Alan B. Levan, chairman of BBX Capital Corporation, with the 2025 Ray Ferrero, Jr. Economic Development Leadership Award. The award is bestowed to business leaders who have demonstrated their commitment to economic development and community building in Broward County.

Other economic development awards were presented to NSU's Moon; Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority President and CEO Jenni Morejon; Las Olas Company/Riverside Hotel Executive Vice President Heiko Dobrikow; Avison Young Principal Paul Marko; O’Connell and Goldberg Public Relations Founder and CEO Barbara Goldberg; and Elizabeth Taschereau, director of development services for the City of Margate.

 

 

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