The Miami-Dade Beacon Council "Unlocks New Worlds of Business Opportunity"

During annual presentation of “Keys to the County” by Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez, 

Presented by TD Bank

(Miami, FL – March 7, 2017) – It’s a night to honor the growth of commerce and the entrepreneurial spirit of Miami-Dade County. The 2017 Key Ceremony is the event of the year that recognizes new or expanding companies assisted by the Miami-Dade Beacon Council.

This year, The Miami-Dade Beacon Council will honor 43 companies in our community on March 8 at the Hotel Intercontinental. The event presented by TD Bank includes an exhibit of the businesses during the Greenspoon Company Showcase.

The companies, representing a variety of target industries including aviation, technology, trade & logistics, entertainment, manufacturing and healthcare and illustrate Miami-Dade’s diverse base of industries and its strength as a global business hub. The companies will be honored with a Key to the County by Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez, County Commissioners, City Officials and other dignitaries also slated to participate.

“Tonight, we thank those businesses that fuel Miami-Dade County’s powerful economic engine,” Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez said. “There is no shortage of entrepreneurial talent in our community, and in partnership with the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, our goal is to provide businesses with the necessary environment and support to grow and bring even more jobs to our world-class community.”

“The Key Ceremony is our opportunity to salute the companies investing in Miami-Dade County,” Miami-Dade Beacon Council Chair Jaret L. Davis, Co-Managing Shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Miami office said. “We are pleased to have assisted 43 companies in the past year representing an array of industries including aviation, tech, creative design and trade & logistics. Together, they will create and retain more than 2,400 direct jobs and generate $162 million in new capital investment.”             

“TD Bank is proud once again to be the Presenting Sponsor of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council Key Ceremony. At TD we believe in strongly supporting the organizations and events that bring awareness to the needs of our local economy and bolster job growth.  The Key Ceremony is an impactful way to formally welcome companies that are new to Miami Dade County and recognize those who have recently expanded here.” said Pablo Pino, TD Bank Market President for Commercial – South Florida. 

Miami Herald Business Editor Jane Wooldridge is slated to emcee the event to be held:

    Wednesday, March 8
       Greenspoon Marder Company
Showcase/Reception begins at 6 p.m.
Program – 7 to 8 p.m.

        InterContinental Miami, 100 Chopin Plaza, Second Floor, Chopin Ballroom

       The following companies are scheduled to be honored:

Aims International Florida – a Brazilian executive talent management company located in Miami

– 5 new direct jobs

– $150,000 in new capital investment

Almod’s Diamonds Limited – manufacturing company that sells branded and generic diamonds and diamond jewelry located in Doral.

– 45 new direct jobs

– $2 million in new capital investments

Alpha Trade – imports products used in construction and represents companies exporting their products to U.S. markets located in Doral.

– 5 new direct jobs

– $110,000 in new capital investments

Ameriworld – provides back-office operations for local and foreign companies located in unincorporated Miami-Dade

– 22 new direct jobs

– $1 million in new capital investment

AVANTE USA – Spanish media agency that consults advertisers and advertising agencies, located in Coral Gables

– 5 new direct jobs

– $300,000 in new capital investments

Break the Cup – packages, roasts and trades coffee located in Miami Lakes.

12 new direct jobs

– $500,000 in new capital investment

Bunches to Go – provider of flower and gift delivery service in unincorporated Miami-Dade

– 15 new direct jobs

– $200,000 in new capital investment

Captiva Containers – develops rigid packaging specializing in polymer-based packaging solutions, located in unincorporated Miami-Dade

– 10 new direct jobs

– $1 million in new capital investment

CEEK VR – social virtual reality platform recently expanded, purchasing a building located in Liberty City thanks to new business opportunities with Universal Music and Google

– 70 new direct jobs

CEEPCO – design-build, minority-owned construction contractor and technical support consulting firm located in North Miami

– 35 new direct jobs

– $85,000 in new capital investments

ChicVacation – Travel agency startup specializing in custom tours for French and European visitors about Miami-Dade as investment platform located in Miami Beach

– 4 new direct jobs

– $60,000 in new capital investment

Clearsale – Brazilian tech company using ant-fraud solutions to prevent e-commerce scams located in Miami

– 26 new direct jobs

– $1.5 million in new capital investment 

Cosentino – Spanish producer and distributor of innovative surfaces for design and architecture relocated Americas headquarters from Texas to Coral Gables

– 85 new direct jobs

– $1.1 million in new capital investments

District 900 – a fashion incubator and County’s first shared workspace for the fashion industry located in Miami

– 30 new direct jobs

Dr. Smood – group of organic boutique cafes, located in Miami

– 60 new direct jobs

– $12 million in new capital investments

EMD Serono – Global biopharmaceutical company with a strong market position in neurology, endocrinology and reproductive health relocated Latin American headquarters from Brazil, located in Kendall

– 35 new direct jobs

– $1 million in new capital investments

Florida Minerals – imports and exports pet products and supplies, located in Miami Beach

– 7 new direct jobs

– $500,000 in new capital investment

Freebee – fleet of sponsor-themed 8-seat electric vehicles provides free transportation located in Miami

– 75 new direct jobs

– $1.6 million in new capital investments

Geoglobal USA – importer, distributor and supplier of home goods and furniture, located in Coral Gables

– 3 new direct jobs

– $20,000 in new capital investments

Hip Rock Star – integrated marketing firm that relocated from Atlanta, located in unincorporated Miami-Dade

– 6 new direct jobs

– $25,000 in new capital investments

IMABE US – Spanish recycling company, in more than 50 countries, opened its newest plant in unincorporated Miami-Dade

– 10 new direct jobs

– $500,000 in new capital investment

Ingapan USA – Spanish bakery expanded its operations to the U.S., located in Medley

– 35 new direct jobs

– $1.2 million in new capital investments

Innova Eco Building System – manufactures structural insulated panels considered to be construction materials of the future, located in unincorporated Miami-Dade

– 15 new direct jobs

– $75,000 in new capital investment

Innovative Senior Management – provider of strategic planning and full suite of management services to assisted living industry, located in Miami Beach

– 150 new direct jobs

– $100,000 in new capital investments

Island Monkey Marketplace and Café – Caribbean fusion restaurant located in Perrine

– 7 new direct jobs

– $100,000 in new capital investments

KLX Aerospace Solutions – new global headquarters and distribution center for leading supplier of aerospace fasteners and consumables, located in Hialeah

– 581 jobs retained, 400 new direct jobs

– $48 million in new capital investment

Lamaignere USA – Spanish company specializes in air and sea cargo transportation, located in Doral

– 10 new direct jobs

– $600,000 in new capital investments

LH Trading – manages a diverse network of seaborne logistics operating bulk carrier vessels and specialized cement carriers, located in Coral Gables

– 8 new direct jobs

LoonyBum USA – German swimwear designer, manufacturer and distributor, located in Miami

– 20 new direct jobs

– $300,000 in new capital investments

OneBox – Spanish event ticketing company located in Coral Gables

– 10 new direct jobs

– $200,000 in new capital investments

Owatrol Coatings USA – French maker of quality wood-care products and decorative paints, located in unincorporated Miami-Dade

– 3 new direct jobs

– $25,000 in new capital investments

Petit Pois – women’s fashion designer Viviana Gabeiras is expanding her lifestyle brand “Petit Pois by Viviana G”, located in Hialeah

– 12 new direct jobs

– $150,000 in new capital investments

Schenker Americas – German-based transportation and logistics services provider, located in unincorporated Miami-Dade

– 75 new direct jobs

– $760,000 in new capital investments

Sherpa Water – imports and markets water fortified from nutrients found in the Himalayas, located in Miami

– 15 new direct jobs

– $1.8 million in new capital investment

Spineway – French medical device company located in Aventura specializing in research and creation of new implants and instruments for spinal surgery

– 10 new direct jobs

– $500,000 in new capital investment

Stephanie Creates – multifaceted production and promotions company focused on communities and cultures, located in Miami

– 14 new direct jobs

– $30,000 in new capital investment

Synchroteam – French logistics company located in Miami Beach operates mobile management logistics, tracking and ordering solutions

– 4 new direct jobs

– $300,000 in new capital investment

Tecnocom USA -Spanish tech company establishes U.S. headquarters for banking systems and automated networks, located in Coral Gables

– 50 new direct jobs

– $2 million in new capital investments

Telefonica USA – Spain’s primary telecommunications company is increasing the size of its Miami hub, located in Doral

– 20 new direct jobs

– $9 million in new capital investment

United Parcel Service – package-delivery company chooses Miami over Jacksonville, Nashville and Louisville for its new vehicle packaging hub retaining hundreds of jobs, located in unincorporated Miami-Dade

– 25 new direct jobs

– $65 million in new capital investments

Vectornate – creates, markets and distributes water filtrations systems and products, located in Medley

– 20 new direct jobs

– $150,000 in new capital investments

Weblogs – Spanish tech company that specializes in designing corporate blogs, located in Miami

– 8 new direct jobs

– $400,000 in new capital investments

Woosh Water – Patented smart water stations provide drinking water “on the go” located in Miami

– 11 new direct jobs

– $8 million in new capital investment

Thank you to our event sponsors: TD Bank, Greenspoon Marder, 2020 Ponce, Becker & Poliakoff, BDO, CITIGROUP Center, Colonnade Plaza, Dosal Tobacco Corporation, EWM Realty International, FIU Business, InterContinental Miami, Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health South Florida, Ocean Bank, and Roar Media.

Thank you to our sustaining investors: Miami Herald, American Airlines and MBF Healthcare Partners.

The Miami-Dade Beacon Council  is the county’s official economic development partnership. The not-for-profit public-private organization focuses on job creation and economic growth. Since 1985, the organization has assisted more than 1,000 businesses that have created nearly 67,000 direct jobs and added more than $4.3 billion in new capital investments. It accomplishes this by marketing Miami-Dade as a world-class business location, growing local companies and shaping the local economy’s future. For more information, visit www.beaconcouncil.com

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