Furniture manufacturing company wants $126K in incentives

An anonymous outdoor furniture manufacturing company, going by the identity of “Project Trooper,” wants to create 21 jobs in a new 100,000-square-foot facility in Miami-Dade County. It just needs incentives to do so.

According to published reports, it is seeking $126,000 over six years through the state’s Qualified Target Industry tax refund program, with $25,200 of that from the county. In return, Project Trooper would retain the 204 jobs it already has and create 21 jobs with an average salary of $42,446.

The company said it would invest $1.25 million to to purchase equipment and renovate a leased 100,000-square-foot manufacturing facility located in County Commission District 2, which includes parts of West Little River, Liberty City, Golden Glades, North Miami Beach, Opa-locka and Hialeah.

“Incentives are critical to the decision to expand in Miami-Dade, as alternative sites offer inexpensive real estate, attractive government incentives, high quality of labor force, and logistics,” the company wrote in its application. Currently, about 80 percent of its sales are outside Florida.

According to the South Florida Business Journal, the Miami-Dade County Commission will consider Project Trooper’s application on Jan. 21. The deal will also require state approval. [South Florida Journal] — Kristina Puga