Altadis USA Adds 55 New Jobs at Fort Lauderdale Headquarters
City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida - Venice of America
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Altadis USA Adds 55 New Jobs at Fort Lauderdale Headquarters

Economic development partnership secures successful retention and expansion of national headquarters

Matt Little, Public Information Specialist
(954) 828-4732 or mlittle@fortlauderdale.gov

Fort Lauderdale - A coordinated jobs growth initiative between the City of Fort Lauderdale, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance CEO Council, the office of Governor Rick Scott and Enterprise Florida led to the announcement today that Altadis USA will retain and expand its 22-year headquarters presence in Fort Lauderdale and add 55 new, high-paying jobs.

The company had previously announced plans to move its headquarters to Goodlettsville, TN, near Nashville. As a result of quick action by coalition partners here, the Fort Lauderdale headquarters was secured.
The company said it would expand existing office space at 5900 North Andrews Avenue and invest over $700,000 in capital improvements to integrate administrative functions of Altadis USA with a related company, Commonwealth Brands. Commonwealth Brands is currently located in Bowling Green, KY.

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler lauded the success of the team effort to bring new jobs to the area. "The City of Fort Lauderdale is pleased to play a leadership role in providing the necessary incentives to ensure their continued presence in our community."

The state and local incentives from Florida and the City of Fort Lauderdale total $625,000 and consist of $330,000 from the Qualified Target Industries Tax Refund Program along with $236,000 from the Governor's Quick Action Closing Fund and $59,000 in a Direct Cash Incentive from the City of Fort Lauderdale to support the addition of 55 high paying jobs with an average salary in excess of 150% of Broward County's average wage, or $62,448. In addition to the new jobs, the company will retain 84 current employees at the Fort Lauderdale site.

"Altadis USA and its management and employees have long been an important part of the Fort Lauderdale community fabric and are well known for their generous support of many local and international charitable causes through their corporate and personal contributions, such as Junior Achievement and their own Montecristo Relief Organization for the Haiti earthquake victims," Seiler said. "But most importantly, the City of Fort Lauderdale values and appreciates their decision to remain and expand their corporate headquarters in Fort Lauderdale and continue to add to the local economic vitality as we recover from the recent recession."
In a statement released today, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance CEO Council said, "Your CEO Council was pleased to work closely with Altadis executives, Governor Rick Scott's office, Enterprise Florida, City of Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler and the City Commission, and City of Fort Lauderdale Economic Development Director Stephen Scott to secure competitive incentives that ensured Altadis USA's continuing presence in our area."

Altadis USA is one of the nation's largest cigar companies, manufacturing and distributing brands that include Backwoods, Phillies, Dutch Masters, Montecristo and Romeo y Julieta. Commonwealth Brands manufactures and distributes cigarettes and other tobacco products including USA Gold, Sonoma and Davidoff Cigarettes. Altadis USA and Commonwealth Brands are both subsidiaries of UK-based Imperial Tobacco Group.