Canadian Medical Researcher Could Move To Miami Gardens

By Shannon Pettypiece
A Canadian medical research company wants to bring 50 new jobs into an underdeveloped area of Miami-Dade County by September, according to county documents.

The business has 78 full-time employees and 50 contracted staff. If it moves here, the firm plans to add 50 jobs by 2006 at an average yearly salary of $50,000.

The company name is being withheld under a Florida law allowing businesses seeking assistance to remain anonymous during negotiations, said Enterprise Florida spokeswoman Kim Prunty.

The 5-year-old company is looking at a building at 1407 NW 167th St. in Miami Gardens owned by Golden Glades Associates. As part of an enterprise zone, businesses moving in can get financial incentives.

The company has applied to the state and county for Qualified Target Industry incentives of $300,000 a year, including $60,000 from the county. Because a move would generate $71,000 in taxes, the county would gain $11,556, according to the company’s application.

Golden Glades broker Jeremy Larkin said office space is available for rent at the site but he would not say if a deal was pending with a biomedical firm. If the firm relocates, it would renovate a building and build a two-story, 25,757-square-foot research facility for more than $1.1 million, according to state records.

"The facility tests subjects, has an observation area and is capable for overnight stays," records show.

Approval of incentives could make or break the company’s decision to come to Miami-Dade over Atlanta or Buffalo, which the company also is considering.

The incentives "will be used to fund the $1.1 million in improvements to the building," according to its application. "Without these improvements and renovations, this building and location will not be a viable choice."