Five companies move, expand in Palm Beach County

Date: Thursday, February 24, 2011, 12:52pm EST

The Business Development Board of Palm Beach County announced on Thursday that it helped five companies relocate or expand to its county.

The result should be 127 more jobs. The BDB aided the companies with real estate information, permitting, incentives and training programs.

Brenham, Texas-based Blue Bell Creameries plans to hire 28 people at its distribution facility in Delray Beach. In 2009, the company bought a 2.3-acre site at 9655 Atlantic Ave. for $1.4 million. The BDB said it recently started construction on a 13,000-square-foot facility there.

An additional 24 jobs came when Native Outfitters moved its headquarters and manufacturing center to West Palm Beach from Hobe Sound. The company, located at 411 Seventh St., has its own brand of outdoor lifestyle apparel.

Also in West Palm Beach, Mass Mutual DBS Financial Group and Richard S. Bernstein & Associates joined together to open a district office. They plan to recruit 25 workers in the financial service field over the next five years.

Mass Mutual DBS is a mutual life insurance provider, while Richard S. Bernstein & Associates does insurance advising and estate planning, mostly to wealthy clients.

“It is very exciting to form this strategic alliance where we can combine the synergies of two highly successful organizations,” Mass Mutual DBS CEO David Schulman said in a news release. “We will be jointly providing advisory services, retirement analysis, estate planning strategies, employee benefits and retention services, and business continuation consultation.”

Bernstein is on the BDB’s board of directors. The companies received assistance from the BDB in finding office space, but did not receive public funds.

Boca Raton-based 3Cinteractive, which plans to hire 25 people this year, received financing support from the Workforce Alliance for recruitment and training. The mobile communications technology firm is relocating to take up the 26,000-square-foot fourth floor of Boca Colonnade II by June.

Another Boca Raton company that moved to a larger facility was Clarity Diagnostics. It plans to add 10 workers after moving into 7,500 square feet at 33 S.E. Eighth St. The company manufactures and distributes diagnostic testing devices.

The BDB has several large prospects in the works that have yet to be finalized. In January, Palm Beach County commissioners approved a preliminary offer for job growth incentives to Garda Cash Logistics. The Canadian cash management and armored car firm was considering creating 100 jobs in Boca Raton. On Tuesday, the Palm Beach County Commission will vote on making a final offer to Garda – indicating that it is close to making a decision.


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