Gov. Scott Announces Bertram Yachts Picks Florida for International Headquarters; Will Create 140 New Jobs in Tampa


July 13, 2016



TAMPA, Fla. / Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that Bertram LLC will establish its international headquarters in Tampa and create 140 new jobs with a $35 million capital investment in the local community. The company chose Florida over North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia as the best location for their new manufacturing facility.

Governor Scott said, “I am proud to announce that Bertram has chosen Florida over North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia as the best state to locate their international headquarters which will create 140 new jobs in Florida. This announcement follows the over 1,000 new jobs I announced at the Farnborough Air Show in London this week. We will continue to do all we can to welcome new businesses to our state.”

Peter Truslow, CEO of Bertram LLC, said, “This announcement signals another exciting chapter in the history of Bertram Yachts. We are proud to partner with the State of Florida, Hillsborough County, and the City of Tampa and look forward to building our organization’s future here. Our new headquarters will attract yacht owners, their associates, and crew members from around the world to Tampa to monitor progress on the construction of their new vessels and have them serviced and maintained.”

Bertram Yacht got its start in 1960 when founder Dick Bertram, a yacht broker, bluewater sailing yacht racer, and powerboat racer, built the first Bertram, the 31-foot fiberglass Moppie. In 2015, Bertram was acquired by a group headed by Beniamino Gavio. Their new facility in Tampa will include the headquarter offices, production, tooling storage, yacht service, maintenance and refit operations, and parts sales.

Thanks in part to its leading business climate, workforce, and trade and infrastructure, Florida ranks among the nation’s top 10 states for manufacturing and is home to more than 18,600 manufacturing companies. The state’s more than 321,000 manufacturing employees produce a wide variety of goods including boats, aerospace products, batteries, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and more.

“This is a great win for Tampa Bay and the state,” said Crystal Sircy, executive vice president and COO of Enterprise Florida. “Florida is synonymous with boating, not only for recreation but for manufacturing and innovation as well. Manufacturers like Bertram help us solidify the state’s position as a top location for boat makers, and we thank them for choosing Florida.”

This project was made possible through strong partnerships between Enterprise Florida, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation, Hillsborough County, and the City of Tampa.

“Three other states did their best to lure Bertram’s international headquarters, and the competition for this project was intense,” said the Hon. Leslie “Les” Miller, Chair of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. “Hillsborough County has the business climate, workforce, and quality of life our competitors simply could not beat. We are excited to welcome Bertram to Hillsborough County and thank them for their investment in our community.”

Bertram LLC joins a growing list of diverse companies that have recently established their international, national, or regional headquarters in Tampa and Hillsborough County, including Ashley Furniture Industries’ Ashcomm, Johnson & Johnson, Cody Talbert Distribution, TransferWise, and Cohesion.

Mayor Bob Buckhorn of the City of Tampa said, “We are honored to have one of our nation’s most iconic brands in the boating industry call Tampa home. Bertram recognizes what people around the world are realizing – that this city is on the rise. We are excited to have Bertram with us on this journey, and we will make sure they find the talent and support here that they need to be successful.”

“Bertram’s selection of Tampa is a big win for Hillsborough County and the entire Tampa Bay region,” said Colleen Chappell, Chair of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation and CEO of ChappellRoberts. “Manufacturing projects are among the most competitive and highly prized in economic development, and as the boating industry show signs of recovery and expansion, we’re well-positioned to leverage this momentum.”

Individuals interested in employment opportunities with Bertram are encouraged to visit http://www.bertram.com.

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Bertram Yacht got its start in 1960 when founder Dick Bertram—yacht broker, bluewater sailing-yacht racer, and powerboat racer—built the first Bertram, the 31-foot Moppie. Built to replicate the deep-V hull that smashed records in the 1960 Miami to Nassau Ocean Power Boat Race, the Bertram 31 launched a line of performance and sportfishing boats ranging up to 80 feet long that would be known for their excellent ride and seakeeping in unforgiving conditions. The company and its legend grew, thanks to many noteworthy models, including the Bertram 28, 46, and 54, that made their mark on the fishing world. In 2015 Bertram was acquired by a group headed by Beniamino Gavio. This boatbuilding entrepreneur and avid boater is involved with Baglietto and CCN and is committed to returning this iconic American brand back to its roots. www.bertram.com

Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) is a partnership between Florida’s businesses and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for Florida. EFI facilitates job growth through recruitment and retention, international trade and exporting, promotion of sporting events, and capital funding programs to assist small and minority businesses. EFI recently launched “Florida – The Future is Here” to promote the state as the nation’s premier business destination.

Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation The Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation works to develop and sustain a thriving economy through the attraction, retention and expansion of high-wage jobs and capital investment in Hillsborough County and the cities of Tampa, Plant City, and Temple Terrace. Our efforts are focused on growing locally established companies as well as recruiting corporate headquarters and regional operations in targeted industry sectors including Information Technology, Financial and Professional Services, Life Sciences, Defense and Security, Manufacturing, and Distribution and Logistics. The Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation exists because of the generous support of over 100 investors from the local community. For more information, visit tampabayedc.com.

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