Center of Excellence expansion in Miramar creates 24 jobs and a capital investment of , $114,00

Miramar, Fla. - Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that Lufthansa Technik, an aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industry, will consolidate and expand its South Florida regional office in Miramar. The project will create a capital investment of $114,000 and will create 24 jobs in the region.

Governor Scott said, “Lufthansa Technik’s expansion is great news for South Florida families, and will create 24 jobs. Since December 2010, Florida has created more than 563,000 private-sector jobs, and our unemployment rate remains below the national average. We are creating an opportunity economy where companies like today’s can continue to grow and create more jobs for Florida families.”

Lufthansa Technik Component Services (LTCS), headquartered in Tulsa, offers a comprehensive bandwidth of aircraft component repair services for hydraulic, pneumatic and avionic components as well as emergency and galley equipment. The expansion of the South Florida branch is due in part to the company’s overall strategy of expansion worldwide and an effort to consolidate and maximize their client services efficiency. In addition, the goal of their expansion is to establish a center of excellence where all major customer service, account management and product sales functions are represented serving as a key component in the growth of the American operations.

“We found the right location for our new office and appreciate the support of the city of Miramar. We look forward to a long term relationship, accommodating our growth in order to support our customers in the Americas,” said Gordon Weller, Senior Director Product Sales and Customer Service and branch manager of the LTCS Fort Lauderdale office.

The company considered several factors in its selection of Miramar, including tax incentives, access to international airports, proximity to universities and a strong pool of employees as top advantages. In addition, Miramar was chosen in part due to the growing cluster of aviation businesses that have recently located to the city.

Florida is home to more than 2,000 aerospace and aviation companies employing more than 87,000 workers. The state offers a broad range of industry expertise; the world’s premier gateway to space; the undisputed air traffic hub of the Western Hemisphere; a major hub for flight training and MRO; and is home to leading manufacturers of all types of aircraft and components.

President and CEO of Enterprise Florida Gray Swoope said, “The expansion of Lufthansa Technik in Miramar will add great value to Florida’s extensive aviation and aerospace sector. South Florida has maintained its reputation as a place for aviation and aerospace companies to succeed and Lufthansa Technik can take advantage of the resources within the industry as it grows in the Sunshine State.”

The project would not have been possible without a strong partnership at the state and local levels. Partners that helped make the project a success included Enterprise Florida, the City of Miramar, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

“Florida’s business-friendly policies, strong infrastructure, and resurgent economy have provided an environment for Lufthansa Technik to expand and create additional jobs in Miramar in the aviation industry for Florida families. We appreciate Lufthansa Technik’s confidence in Florida and our labor force,” said Jesse Panuccio, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

City of Miramar Mayor Lori Moseley said, “We thank Lufthansa for choosing Miramar for its regional headquarters and becoming part of our aviation industry cluster. The company’s commitment to locate here further supports our vision to be a highly desirable corporate location for a wide variety of businesses.”

Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance President and CEO Bob Swindell added, “We are extremely pleased that Lufthansa Technik Component Services selected Miramar for the expansion of its regional customer service headquarters. The mission of the Alliance is to maintain and grow the presence of target industry companies in the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County area that can take advantage of our educated, diverse and talented workforce; transportation access; and highly rated business and personal tax climate. Lufthansa Technik Component Services will be an important part of our strong and growing cluster of aviation companies, specifically those located in the city of Miramar.”

# # #