Ireland : The Florida Chamber of Commerce got a bit more out of its trip to Ireland than an appreciation for the culture.
Enterprise Florida announced during a trade mission to Ireland and the United Kingdom that four Irish companies committed to opening offices and growing in Florida. Enterprise Florida is a partnership between Florida’s businesses and government leaders.
Capstone, a unified communications software company, will expand a U.S. Southeast office in Tampa and add 25 jobs. Its office is currently in St. Petersburg at 360 Central Ave.
“As a growing and innovative communications technology systems integrator, opening operations in Florida made sense for Capstone,” Capstone CEO Fergus Kelly said in a press release. “The business friendly environment, the talent of the people and the growing base of businesses to work with made it a logical location for our continued expansion in the USA.”
Two businesses — SL Controls and Modular Automation — will move to the Jacksonville area, creating 27 total jobs. And UrbanVolt will move to Fort Myers, adding 100 new jobs.
“Florida affords a favorable business environment for business growth, a large pool of college graduates and a robust infrastructure for technology-enabled businesses,” said Kevin Maughan, CEO of UrbanVolt. “It is also one of the core industrial building markets for UrbanVolt, with about 20 percent of all U.S. warehouses based in Florida. With multiple direct flights to and from Europe and its location on the East Coast of America, Florida is also readily accessible for international management teams.”
More collaborative business organizations are taking trade missions overseas in an effort to bolster international partnerships. In November, Global Tampa Bay, a collaboration between the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp., Pinellas County Economic Development and the Pasco Economic Development Council, took a slew of business officials to Chile.
