Tradition Medical Center in Port St. Lucie benefits from discounted economic development rate

When it comes to business expansion, controlling costs is critical. Businesses in today’s economic environment are continually looking for opportunities to save money on their operating costs. And nowhere is this more evident than in the healthcare industry.

 One such example is the not-for-profit, community-based Martin Health System, which is benefiting from Florida Power & Light Company’s specially discounted economic development rate designed to help encourage new investment and job creation in Florida. The organization will save tens of thousands of dollars off electric bills over four years after the new Tradition Medical Center in Port St. Lucie opens its doors in early 2014.

 “FPL’s economic development rate – I believe – is a very positive program. It will help not only in reducing our cost of operations at Tradition Medical Center, but we’ll be able to reinvest those savings into top quality health care,” said Mark Robitaille, Martin Health System president and CEO.

When completed, the hospital will be one of the largest economic development projects ever in St. Lucie County. Martin Health System currently employs about 3,000 employees, including an 85-member medical group, and the new hospital will employ approximately 400 positions to be filled using a combination of existing and new associates.

“We’re fortunate to have some great community partners including the City of Port St. Lucie and FPL’s been great,” said Scott Samples, Martin Health System Public Information Coordinator. “It’s going to be a testament of everything that can happen when a community works together.”

 The hospital is located at the Tradition Center for Innovation, which is a 150-acre research park designed for research and development companies and suited for anyone in the health care industry.

 “The Martin Health System brand is known worldwide as one of the best health care providers, but they are also known for being very innovative with clinical trials,” said Andy Favata, vice president of the Mann Research Center, located at the Tradition Center for Innovation. “The new Tradition Medical Center has been very attractive in recruiting some of the best institutes from around the world including the Torrey Pines Institute and the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute to the area.”

 Currently, 12 companies across FPL’s service territory have qualified for the economic development rate with more than 1,700 new jobs projected to be created.  This specially discounted rate is for new or expanding businesses that meet certain minimum requirements in terms of jobs created and added energy usage.

 FPL currently offers business customers reliable service that is among the best in the nation and economically competitive low business rates among the very lowest in the state and well below the national average. The additional economic development rate is part of the company’s ongoing effort to help businesses power economic growth. Businesses eligible for FPL’s economic development rate receive a discount on their standard base energy and demand charges over four to five years. Prior to relocating or expanding, contact FPL’s Office of Economic Development at PoweringFlorida@FPL.com.