Glades Gateway Commerce Park growth driven by “Location, Location, Location”
West Palm Beach, November 29 — Palm Beach County, Florida is one of the fastest-growing areas for business in the U.S., with dozens of companies moving and expanding here during the past five years. Now, a hidden gem in Palm Beach County – the Glades Region – is proving that industrial businesses benefit from the old real estate adage that three things matter: Location, location, location.
The Glades Region is having a business renaissance as it transforms from a rural economy to a magnet for smart companies seeking lower costs, excellent transportation, rail distribution and proximity to some of the most beautiful natural areas anywhere.
This vast and primarily agricultural area on the southeastern rim of Lake Okeechobee in Western Palm Beach County is beloved by visitors, eco-tourists, fishing enthusiasts and nature lovers as a scenic and vital fresh-water resource, bass fishing paradise, bird-watching center and natural beauty area.
Now, as the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County works to support the region and create opportunities for growth, financial opportunity is transforming the Glades area while retaining the natural beauty of the region.
Glades Gateway Commerce Park, a significant development in the City of Belle Glade, provides companies with a sizeable piece of shovel-ready industrially-zoned land. Among the forward-thinking businesses moving to Glades Gateway Commerce Park are Los Vaqueros, Inc., a supplier of food products to primarily Hispanic groceries in the South Florida area; Growers Management, Inc., an agricultural management firm; and World Trade Petroleum, a company owned and operated by entrepreneurs from Romania who have patented burnt oil recycling.
Kelly Smallridge, president and CEO of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, said, “The Glades area provides companies with 10,000 acres of developable industrial and commercial properties. Glades Gateway Commerce Park itself provides industrial zoning, existing availability of water, sewer, electric and natural gas utilities, 2700 lineal feet of rail siding and a half-mile of frontage on U.S. 441, within a 100-mile radius of 7 million people — all only 38 miles from The Palm Beaches and Florida’s east coast, 90 miles from Ft. Myers, Florida’s west coast, and the Gulf of Mexico, and 90 miles north of Miami.”
Recently putting down roots in the Glades Region are industrial services firm Harmack Company, Glades Formulating Company, eco-conscious manufacturer Tellus Products, and others, taking advantage of the benefits of the Glades Region as a growing hub for manufacturing, distributing/logistics, and industries that support agribusiness. The Glades Region is the epicenter of agricultural production with 500,000 acres harvested annually, and home to 21st-century sustainable food processing and packing, sugar milling and refining, manufacturing, distribution, and operations centers. Located on a rail spur, this area is attractive to the Agriculture, Airport / Aviation, Construction, Distribution / Logistics, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Renewable Energy and Green Technologies, and Wind industries.
“In addition to the geographic advantages of the business-friendly Glades Region, we have identified more than 50 financial programs offered through the federal government for rural communities. As the Glades is a state-designated priority rural area, most companies in the Glades Region are eligible for many State of Florida and Palm Beach County incentives, grants and low-cost loan programs. Ad valorem tax exemption is also available for major employers. This is great for companies considering the Glades Region that may be looking for grants or loan guarantees,” said Smallridge.
The Business Development Board of Palm Beach County has created a robust website containing detailed information on the Glades Region, at pbcglades.org.
About the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County
The Business Development Board of Palm Beach County is the official public/private economic development organization for Palm Beach County and Enterprise Florida. Founded in 1982 as a
not-for-profit corporation, its primary purpose is to attract and retain new industry, business investment, high quality jobs and workforce development through corporate relocations, expansions and international trade. During the past five years, the BDB has assisted companies that have created more than 13,382 direct jobs with average salaries greater than $69,923, resulting in more than $668 million in capital investment to Palm Beach County and an economic impact that exceeds $7.33 billion. Additional information can be found at the BDB’s website, BDB.org.
