NKAS®, a global conglomerate headquartered in Toronto, Canada, plans to manufacture armored vehicles in the city of Fort Pierce, Florida.
The company’s US branch, INKAS USA, Inc., will locate an $18.75 million manufacturing facility on Enterprise Road at the site of a former tomato packing facility. The INKAS Group of Companies has operations in the Americas and Africa and is an integrated security solutions provider to industry and high-profile individuals around the world.
“This is a truly unique and exciting business sector for St. Lucie County,” said Wes McCurry, senior vice president of the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County. “In addition, INKAS will be utilizing and upgrading property that has been vacant for some time, bringing new economic activity and good jobs to this commercial/industrial area in southern Fort Pierce.”
In addition to renovating the existing 59,332-square-foot building at 3500 Enterprise Road, INKAS plans to add 20,000 to 30,000 square feet of new space, hire 294 people over five years at 107% of the county’s average wage, and invest in $19.4 million of equipment. The project was previously dubbed “Knight Rider.”
St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners Chair Jamie Fowler said that the site INKAS intends to locate its facility on will benefit from the planned renovations. “We are looking forward to a new, brightened up structure,” she said. “I think it is really cool they are coming here and the potential to one day in the future say that we make armored vehicles for the president right here in St. Lucie County, within the city of Fort Pierce.”
Fowler also said that she was excited about the potential synergy between INKAS and a new program at Indian River Sate College. “In February of last year, the governor was here and presented a check for $4 million to Indian River State College to help get a program off the ground where students will be able to make ballistic assault barriers, bullet-proof glass, walls and doors,” said Fowler.
“This is exactly the kind of business we want to welcome to Fort Pierce – a company that is increasing the quantity and quality of jobs available to local people,” said Fort Pierce Mayor Linda Hudson. “We are always looking for the opportunity to grow our employment base and strengthen our tax base. Having a first-class manufacturing facility in that industrial area will set the tone for neighboring properties.”
INKAS is one of the largest armored vehicle manufacturers in North America. The INKAS Group of Companies includes six other divisions, including aerospace and defense, safe manufacturing, professional vehicles, payment solutions, environmental protection and metal fabrication. The company is a Tier 2 Canadian defense contractor.
“I’m glad we are finally coming to fruition to have a Canadian company locate here in St. Lucie County,” said County Commissioner Cathy Townsend who noted that there had been multiple conversations with Canadian companies in recent years.
INKAS established its armored vehicle manufacturing operation in Toronto in 2000 and has won numerous product, operational and human resources awards over the last 25 years. In addition to Fort Pierce, the company had been considering several cities in New York State for the location of this facility.
“Establishing the company’s first U.S. manufacturing facility represents a significant milestone in our growth and your support is greatly appreciated as we move closer to the development of the project,” wrote INKAS CEO David Khazanski in a February 17 letter to the commission.
“It’s exciting to have this sort of manufacturing industry come here,” said County Commissioner James Clasby. “Manufacturing obviously is one of our highly targeted industries that we are looking to bring here; hopefully we’ll get more like this.”
At meetings on February 18, the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners and the Fort Pierce City Commission approved incentive packages for INKAS USA that include ad valorem tax exemptions for real and tangible personal property at 100% for the first five years, then at 90%, 80%, 60%, 40% and 20% for the next five years; road/mobility impact fee mitigation and an opportunity for a Job Growth Investment Grant. Projects with incentives must still pay 100% of all school, fire, voter-approved debt and other taxes. The company also received Capital Investment Tax Credit Certification from the Florida Department of Commerce.