FORT LAUDERDALE, FL. - The Broward Alliance CEO Council recently completed two important studies to determine how to most effectively recruit corporate headquarters facilities. These studies looked at characteristics and drivers for headquarters location projects, as well as recommendations for strategic recruitment and marketing activities.
The first study, conducted by Moran, Stahl & Boyer, used demographic and other secondary research to evaluate the needs of headquarters operations and the assets that Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County offers to those businesses. A follow-up study conducted by Boyette Levy provides specific recommendations around how to better prepare Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County for this recruitment effort.
"Corporate headquarters contribute to both the economic and philanthropic strength of communities where they locate by creating higher paying jobs, utilizing local business services, paying local taxes, and serving as strong corporate citizens," said Ray Ferrero, Jr., chair of The Broward Alliance and the Alliance's CEO Council. "For all those reasons, we believe actively pursuing headquarters operations is a very strategic step for our area."
The reports found that the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County area, already home to more than 150 headquarters operations, offers a number of amenities that position it as a strong location for these businesses. The Boyette Levy report recommends that the Broward Alliance pursue recruitment of overall corporate headquarters, as well as divisional or regional headquarters and U.S. headquarters of international companies.
Characteristics available in Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County that a corporate headquarters would consider favorably when relocating or establishing its operations include:
• A growing and vibrant population;
• Presence of nearly 150 diverse corporate, regional or division headquarters operations, including 10 corporate headquarters with annual revenues exceeding $1 billion, including AutoNation, Alcatel-Lucent, Citrix Systems, Claire's Stores, DHL Americas, General Motors/Latin America, Africa and Middle East, JM Family Enterprises, Microsoft Latin America, SEACOR and Spherion;
• Air access via Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport;
• Five major universities with MBA programs within 30 minutes of Fort Lauderdale;
• One of the largest and most diverse labor forces in the state, along with a growing talent pool;
• No personal income tax in Florida and a ranking as the fifth best state business climate;
• Highly favorable climate/weather; and
• Five professional sports teams in South Florida.
"The Headquarters Recruitment Strategic Blueprint will provide direction to enhance our strengths and address any potential challenges in the areas of marketing, business intelligence, existing headquarters support, prospect preparedness and workforce preparedness. We are now working to develop a detailed implementation plan that will guide execution of these recommendations," said Ferrero.
In addition to the implementation plan, performance metrics will also be developed to monitor success of the headquarters recruitment effort. The projected date for completion of the implementation plan and performance measures is June 1, 2009.
Boyette Levy is an economic development, public policy and communication strategy firm with more than 85 years of cumulative experience helping communities, organizations, companies and governments accomplish their strategic objectives. For more than 40 years, Moran, Stahl & Boyer has been advising companies and organizations of all sizes in making strategic location decisions. MS&B also offers analytical services to developers and investors for locations and sites related to office and industrial development.
The Broward Alliance (www.browardalliance.org) is Broward County's official public/private partnership for economic development. Its mission is to lead Broward County in building a stronger and more diverse economy by stimulating the creation of new jobs and capital investment while facilitating the growth and retention of businesses in Broward County. Services offered by The Broward Alliance include assistance with business relocation or expansion and site selection; incentive programs and information; market research; small, minority- and women-owned business assistance; film permitting, government liaison and community resource referrals for film and television; and serving as a liaison for workforce development between educational institutions and the business community.
The Broward Alliance CEO Council is currently comprised of 20 of the most prestigious private sector leaders in Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County. The primary objectives of the CEO Council are to market and promote Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County as a premier location for corporate headquarters and international/regional headquarters on a national and international basis, and to monitor Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County's national external rankings and perceptions compared to its primary competitors to ensure continued favorability as a business location.
