N.C. tries to lure EdgeWater from Florida

swadminApril 6, 2007

DELAND, Fla. – Several states are vying to lure EdgeWater Power Boats from its home Florida’s Volusia County as the manufacturer makes plans to streamline its operations, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reported in a story this morning.

County officials say North Carolina is offering a package worth more than $2 million, including job training, land and the shell of a building if the company would like to relocate, the newspaper reported.

But Volusia County Council members unanimously approved several incentives yesterday in hopes of keeping the business there. They include an offer of $159,000 in tax rebates based on the company building a new $6 million, 100,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and hiring an additional 53 employees at an average salary exceeding $33,000 a year.

The council also approved applying to the state for $755,000 to build a road to a site for the plant, according to the story.

“Definitely, the county has a shot at keeping us,” said Peter Truslow, Power Boats president. “We don’t want to leave the county. We are just looking at alternatives to stay competitive.”

If the company moves, Truslow said EdgeWater, which employs 98 people, would offer jobs to all its employees, but he also said such discussions are premature. The company will make a decision in two months.

EdgeWater is planning to streamline its operations, now spread out in five buildings, the News-Journal reported.

“We just have a lot of wasted movement,” Truslow said.