County May Give 200000 In Incentives For Up To 146 Jobs

By Suzy Valentine
Creation of up to 146 jobs through almost $200,000 in incentives to three companies is to be considered by Miami-Dade County commissioners today (7/7).

Tax breaks and grants of $182,315 for three separate projects across the county are on the table. The identities of two recipients are undisclosed. The third was set up in Miami-Dade 28 years ago.

nLEASA Industries Co. Inc., 2450 NW 76th St. in the Enterprise Zone, plans to add 31 jobs to its 73-employee workforce and branch out from an agriculture-based business into computer software. Commissioners will decide whether LEASA can benefit from tax breaks of $2,315 through annual payments of $463 over the next five years.

nAn unidentified import-export database and software trade company is considering the county and Princeton, NJ, as locations for its international headquarters and US sales office. It would land in the county’s Enterprise Zone in District 6. The operation could create up to 30 direct and 20 indirect jobs. It has applied for $30,000 in general revenue payments of $5,000 from 2006 to 2011 and promises average annual salaries of $67,333.

nAn unnamed distributor of vitamins and supplements plans a $5.1 million expansion. Its proposed manufacturing and packaging plant could create 50 direct and 15 indirect jobs. It has applied for $150,000 in payments of $25,000 from 2007 to 2012 and promises average annual salaries of $18,000.

One county commissioner applauded the proposed incentives.

"If government can help facilitate a legitimate job market, then that’s great," said Sally Heyman. "So long as we’re not creating the working poor, these companies and their employees will be an asset to the community."