(WEST PALM BEACH, FL): The Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, Inc. (BDB) has assisted four aviation, aerospace and engineering companies with workforce training and expansion, international certification and business referrals that will help them compete in the global marketplace and preserve and create jobs in Palm Beach County.

As a result of the BDB’s efforts, the Palm Beach County companies have:

• Received State grants for training and retaining their employees;
• Participated in international standards (ISO) certifications;
• Made connections with other local resources such as workforce recruitment or referral solutions; and
• Made real estate connections for planned expansion.

The current projects are as follows:

( Boca Raton, FL): PartsBase has recently added 3,500sf to their existing space in Boca Raton, enabling them to announce the expectation of adding 60 new jobs in the next two years.

PartsBase.com is an on-line Aviation market place. They bring buyers and sellers together through a user-friendly database consisting of over 70 million line items, repair/overhaul capabilities and government logistics search. Members are both buyers and sellers who are matched to locate the products and services they wish to purchase or sell. They currently employ 75 people, and plan to add 60 new jobs with average annual compensation of $70,000 or 160% of the average Palm Beach County wage.

The Business Development Board assisted PartsBase with workforce recruitment and training resources, new business connections in their industry, and additional support services for their customers.

www.PartsBase.com
905 Clint Moore Road , Boca Raton , FL 33487
Contact: Gary Hochman - Vice President, 561-953-0700

( West Palm Beach, FL): SV Microwave, an Amphenol Company, was recently awarded $23,669 from the State of Florida for training their existing employees.

They design, develop and manufacture Radio Frequency (RF) components, connectors and cable assemblies used in the defense, aerospace and telecomm industries. SV Microwave currently employs 125 employees, and plans to hire an additional 12 employees over the next 2 years, with average annual salaries over $46,000 or 105% of the average Palm Beach County wage. The company is part of the Aviation/Aerospace/ Engineering business cluster.

The Business Development Board assisted SV Microwave in receiving this award by advising them of available grants, consulting throughout the completion of the application, and providing an endorsement to the State Workforce Development office.

www.svmicrowave.com
2400 Centrepark West Drive, Suite 100
West Palm Beach , FL 33407
Contact: Chuck Brunelas - Dir. of Operations & Training, 561-840-1800

( West Palm Beach, FL): General Dynamics Aviation Services was recently awarded $173,502 from the State of Florida for training new and existing employees.

The business-jet service company serves a broad range of business aircraft owners through regional maintenance centers, including one in West Palm Beach. GDAS, along with Gulfstream Aerospace and Jet Aviation, from the Aerospace Group of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD). General Dynamics is part of the Aviation/Aerospace/ Engineering business cluster. Employees volunteer time and information to Palm Beach Community College and Palm Beach County School District regarding appropriate and necessary curriculum modifications to better serve the industry.

www.gdaviationservices.com
1500 Perimeter Drive , PBIA
West Palm Beach , FL 33406
Contact: Julia Ponton - HR Specialist, 561-681-9307

( West Palm Beach, FL): Wafer World was recently awarded $ 19,650 from the State of Florida for training existing employees. Wafer World designs and manufactures silicon wafers used throughout the automotive, communication, defense and aerospace industries. A small but growing company since 1996, they are a part of the Aviation/Aerospace/ Engineering business cluster. They currently employ 19 people, and plan to add another 11 positions with average annual salaries of $45,000 or 103% of the average Palm Beach County wage.

The Business Development Board of Palm Beach County is the official public/private economic development organization for Palm Beach County and the official Palm Beach County partner of Enterprise Florida . Founded in 1982 as a not-for-profit corporation, our primary purpose is to attract and retain new industry, business investment, high quality jobs and workforce development through corporate relocations, expansions and international trade. Additional information can be found at the BDB’s Web site, www.bdb.org.