Drew Wilson
Gov. Rick Scott’s office announced Tuesday that a Miami-based outdoor shade manufacturer will add 21 jobs and spend $1.25 million on a 100,000 square-foot facility in the area.
TUUCI, shorthand for The Ultimate Umbrella Co., produces several styles of shade structures, from parasols to pool-side pavilions and lounges, and has been operating in Miami since it was founded 17 years ago. TUUCI CEO Dougan Clarke said those Miami roots were a factor in the company’s decision to stay and expand operations.
“While we considered relocating to North Carolina, the company’s roots in Miami ran too deep. It was the breathtaking shores of South Florida that inspired us to create the world’s best shade systems,” Clarke said. “The opportunity to expand the operation and add jobs to the community was exactly the right incentive to continue what we started here in Miami.”
Exact details of the incentive package TUUCI will receive are not available, but the company will receive some incentives under the Qualified Target Industry Fund, which gives tax rebates to companies that add jobs with higher wages than the area average.
The company got help with site selection and the application process for incentives from The Beacon Council, a public-private partnership that acts as the economic development arm of Miami-Dade County.
“This is a great example of a company that has benefited from Miami’s connectivity to the Americas, Europe and Asia,” Beacon CEO Larry K. Williams said. “And their products are on display in Miami and all over the world.”
