Exactech, a publicly traded medical manufacturer, plans to build a regional headquarters in Manatee County and add 29 employees during the next five years.
Meanwhile, Home-Tech, an air-conditioning and appliance repair and replacement company, plans to add 22 more jobs during the same time frame.
Both companies are receiving incentives from Manatee County government, according to the Manatee Economic Development Council.
“More, good jobs for the community is great news any time, and particularly in the current economic climate,” said Eric Basinger, the EDC's executive director on Wednesday. “The EDC was glad to be part of bringing Exactech and Home-Tech to the community and helping them grow here.”
Gainesville-based Exactech, whose stock trades on the Nasdaq, opened an operation in Manatee in 2008 to make surgical instruments used to implant the company's joint replacement devices.
The company began production in 2009, and expects to add employees as the business brings more previously out-sourced manufacturing in-house, said John Pelc, Exactech's vice president of operations.
Workers at the Gainesville headquarters design and make orthopaedic devices that are used by surgeons in more than 30 countries around the world.
“The positions we will add in ManateeC ounty will be in a range of professions including machinists, quality engineers and other professional positions,” Pelc said. “The resource pool in Manatee County is allowing us to rapidly ramp-up our surgical instrument manufacturing operation, which will provide a significant competitive advantage to drive our long-term growth.”
Home-Tech was founded in 1981 by Steve Marino, the company's president and chairman. The privately held company employs more than 110 and provides services in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties.
Manatee County's incentives included up to $58,000 for Exactech to add 29 jobs during the next five years. Home-Tech could receive up to $22,000 for adding 21 jobs over the same time period, plus the company is eligible for $5,743 in impact fee refunds.
Jobs provided by the companies must exceed the county annual average wage of $33,582 for the incentives to apply.
“Performance-based incentives for adding good jobs and rapid response permitting for companies that are building or renovating a facility help us attract and retain employers that our community wants and needs,” said Manatee County Administrator Ed Hunzeker.
