FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 9, 2014
CONTACT: Governor's Press Office, 850-717-9282, media@eog.myflorida.com
GOV. RICK SCOTT: STATE LAND SALE WILL CREATE UP TO 360 JOBS
TALLAHASSEE – Today,
Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet approved the sale of the former G.
Pierce Wood Mental Health Facility near Arcadia in DeSoto County. The Power
Auto Corporation purchased the property with plans to construct a manufacturing
facility, driver training center, tactical training center and a hotel. The proposed
facility will bring between 80 and 120 jobs to the area during the first year,
and up to 360 within five years.
Governor
Scott said, “Hundreds of Floridians will be able to find a job and provide for
their families because of Power Auto Corporation’s relocation to DeSoto County.
Thanks to our improving economy, more companies are choosing to build their
businesses in our state, and I look forward to seeing the great opportunities
they will bring to Florida.”
The property is approximately 496 acres of surplus, non-conservation land,
which includes 565,000 square feet of building space. DJJ took full
responsibility of the property, and requested the property be surplused in July
2012. Power Auto Corporation submitted a qualifying bid of $2,500,101 to the
Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Division of State Lands in
November.
“I’m
excited about this disposition,” said Kelley Boree, director of DEP’s Division
of State Lands. "It is always pleasing to see corporate opportunities
coming into the state and Power Auto Corporation has a multi-use development
plan that is expected to offer top performance rally-car driver training and
manufacturing facilities. Their new facility will offer tremendous economic
benefits to DeSoto County in the future.”
DEP
is in the process of selling many state-owned, surplus, non-conservation lands
to increase the budget for future purchases of environmentally sensitive
conservation lands.
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