Manatee tech firm set to hire 62

BRADENTON -- Clare Controls Inc. says it will hire 62 employees over the next four years to support its new operations in Manatee County, with 39 of those hires taking place in 2012.

Clare Controls is a startup company that provides automation systems for consumers with custom audio/video setups in their homes. It also offers ClareVision, a video surveillance service.

In addition to the hirings, the company is renovating its 20,000-square-foot headquarters, located at 7519 Pennsylvania Ave., in South Manatee County, a statement explains.

Manatee County commissioners have combined with state officials to provide Clare with nearly $600,000 in financial support for these efforts. The county and the state have each approved $248,000 in performance-based incentives for Clare; Manatee will waive $7,797 in impact fees; and the state's Quick Response Training program approved a $93,000 grant, for a total of $596,797 in funds.

Clare Controls President Brett Price says the new employees will earn an average annual wage of roughly $67,000.
 
Price also owns Tempus Inc., a Manatee County-based home automation system installer with 50 employees. Manatee Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Sharon Hillstrom says Price's track record with Tempus motivated the EDC's decision to support Clare's expansion.

Gray Swoope, president and CEO of Enterprise Florida Inc., calls Clare “the type of company Florida seeks to spark further growth in its information technology sector.”