INDIAN RIVER COUNTY – The Indian River County Board of Commissioners has approved a $68,000 jobs grant for a national telecommunications company that has its headquarters in Vero Beach.
With little discussion and no debate, commissioners unanimously approved the grant, which is to be paid to the unnamed firm over the course of three years. In order to get the money, the company must prove it hired the 12 employees at the promised salaries.
Six of the new hires can expect to be paid more than $52,000 annually, while four can expect salaries of nearly $35,000, and two would receive more than $26,000.
“Everything looks good,” Community Development Director Bob Keating told commissioners Tuesday, noting that both his and the County Attorney’s Office researched the firm.
Indian River County resident Bob Johnson asked if the 12 new positions would be restricted to Indian River County hires only.
Keating said the new hires would have to live in either Indian River County or in an adjacent county.
Commissioner Bob Solari said restricting where candidates could live should not be something government should meddle with. Instead, he said, the county should focus on the fact that 12 more people will be working in Indian River County, stimulating the local economy.
The firm is looking to expand its workforce due to a recent acquisition, which has led to new opportunities and long-term clients, a representative from the company told the Economic Development Council last week.
The telecommunications firm has 180 employees nationwide with 45 located in the Vero Beach headquarters.