Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County approves $27,000 local jobs grant for Treasure Coast Diagnostics Laboratory
Summary
The board unanimously approved a local jobs grant of up to $27,000 to Treasure Coast Diagnostics Laboratory Inc., contingent on jobs being in place for at least one year; the application anticipates seven qualifying jobs with split payments across fiscal years.
The Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved up to $27,000 in local jobs-grant assistance on Jan. 14 for Treasure Coast Diagnostics Laboratory Inc., a diagnostics firm proposing operations in Vero Beach.
Planning and development staff described the county's local jobs grant program, which pays $3,000 for each new position at 75%–99.9% of the county average annual wage, $5,000 for positions at 100%–149.99% and $7,000 for positions at 150% or more. Staff reported the applicant qualified for four positions at the 75% wage level (totaling $12,000) and three positions at the 100% wage level (totaling $15,000), for a proposed grant amount of $27,000.
Staff noted some of the positions were already in place as of Dec. 15, 2024, and others were projected to be filled Jan. 15, 2025. Grants are payable only after qualifying jobs have existed for at least one year; staff said payments may be split across fiscal years and administratively adjusted.
Helene Casseltine, Indian River County Chamber of Commerce economic development vice president, spoke in support and said the company was working with CareerSource Research Coast on hiring. "Even though this is a relatively small company, the economic impact is still pretty significant," Casseltine said, citing an estimated payroll impact calculated by Florida Power & Light's economic development office.
A motion to approve the local jobs grant was made, seconded and carried unanimously. Staff said the Economic Development Council had recommended approval on Nov. 19 and that STAC (the county technical advisory committee) recommended approval as well.
