Lee County Garners Another Corporate HQ Relocation

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Oct. 28, 2014 - PRLog -- Lee County, Florida has landed yet another new corporate headquarters, adding to the robust economic development landscape that’s evolved since Hertz announced its corporate relocation in 2013.

Universal Trailer Holdings Corp. of Cincinnati this week confirmed its relocation to Lee County after the Lee Board of County Commissioners approved an incentive package of $63,000 from the Lee County Job Opportunity Program. UTC will relocate its headquarters and create 21 new jobs at an average annual wage of more than $90,000.

UTC has grown rapidly in the past 12 years through the acquisition of several smaller companies located throughout the United States. The company selected Lee County over other locations in the Southeast for its strong growth trajectory.

Lee County, Florida is favorable to companies looking to relocate for many reasons:

·   A well-educated historically underemployed workforce. Many people have moved for the lifestyle or with a spouse and are working jobs not within their field of expertise;

·   No personal income tax;

·   A comparatively lower cost of living than many other major markets across the country;

·   An uncongested international airport with 19 major carriers and 44 non-stop destinations including Canada and Germany;

·  10 universities and colleges along with two high tech centers in the region;

·  An active lifestyle year-round due to the favorable climate.

“We are excited to be part of the Fort Myers-Lee County business community. Lee County met all the key requirements in our search for a new corporate headquarters location, and I’m confident the location will serve our business and employees effectively. I appreciate the broad support of the Lee County Economic Development Office, as this was an important part of the process,” said Jim Galeese, chief financial officer of UTC.

The company’s new headquarters is designated to meet, train and communicate with a national dealer base of more than 800. The Lee County office will be the main location for the Senior Management Team and related support activities. With nearly $230 million in revenue last year, the company is an industry leader, designing and manufacturing seven trailer brands.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled about UTC’s relocation and the synergy emerging in our market as more corporations look at us as a relocation destination,” said Lee County Commissioner Cecil L Pendergrass, who serves as the Board’s economic development liaison to the Horizon Council.

The Lee County Economic Development Office offers numerous resources (http://leecountybusiness.com/site-selection) for businesses considering relocation and site selectors, in addition to incentives, including statistical data, demographic information, custom property locator tools and other research. For information on the Lee County Economic Development Office, visit http://www.leecountybusiness.com/.

The Horizon Council is a public-private board established in 1991 to advise the Lee County Board of Commissioners on economic development issues. The Council’s mission is to improve Lee County’s business environment, retain and encourage expansion of existing businesses, and attract new and diversified employers. It is the only public-private partnership of Lee County Government and business leaders.