Clare Controls Plans 62 New Jobs in Manatee County

BRADENTON – Clare Controls Inc., which provides home automation systems for the custom home audio/video industry, has launched in Manatee County and plans to add 62 employees over the next four years, according to Sharon Hillstrom, president of the Manatee Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

The Manatee Board of County Commissioners recently approved $248,000 in performance-based incentives, and the State of Florida also committed $248,000. The new jobs will pay on average twice the county average, or $66,896.  The county also will provide an estimated $7,797 in impact fee incentives to facilitate the company’s renovation of a 20,000-square-foot leased building at 7519 Pennsylvania Avenue in South Manatee County.

In addition, the company qualified for a Quick Response Training grant from the State of Florida in the amount of $93,000 for employee training.

Clare Controls (www.clarecontrols.com) provides systems that optimize the installation, management and use of sophisticated home automation solutions. Deployed from the “cloud” and run in customers’ homes on Mac platforms, these systems encompass lighting, security, multi-zone audio, video entertainment, energy, CCTV and other applications.  All are controlled by users through iPhone, iPad and browsers, using interfaces that they design and deploy themselves, without outside assistance.

The company also offers ClareVision, its IP video surveillance solution, as a freestanding package for use in residential and commercial applications.  ClareVision uses advanced analytics (computer algorithms originally developed for military analysis of live video) to turn raw video into actionable intelligence. This major advancement over traditional CCTV gives users the potential to proactively intervene in developing situations, before they escalate.

Clare President Brett Price owns a related business in Manatee County, Tempus Inc., which installs and services home automation systems. Formed in 2002 after Price sold Cheetah Technologies, Tempus has 50 employees in Manatee County.

“While Clare Controls is a startup, the owner’s track record for growing good jobs and the company’s technology and business model give us confidence in helping to accelerate Clare’s hiring in Manatee County,” said Hillstrom. The MEDC assisted the company in applying for county and stateincentives, and in permitting for facility improvements.

“Clare Controls is the type of company Florida seeks to spark further growth in its information technology sector, which is a target for economic development,” said Gray Swoope, president & CEO of Enterprise Florida Inc., the state’s lead economic development organization.  “Therefore, Clare’s selection of Florida and the new jobs involved are more than welcome news.  It’s a validation of this state’s ability to meet the needs of both progressive businesses and high-growth industries.

“A significant market opportunity exists in the home automation industry where Clare’s solution will simplify the user experience and use the power of the “Cloud” to achieve efficiency for the custom audio/video dealer and improve customer satisfaction,” Price said. “We chose to locate Clare in Manatee County because this has been a great community for our other businesses, with the right combination of a business-friendly environment and excellent quality of life.”

Price said the company is working on facility improvements for offices and engineering labs, and investing in computers and test equipment. He plans to hire the first 39 employees in 2012. Job candidates may review openings at www.clarecontrols.com.

“By judiciously applying performance-based incentives and providing efficient services to businesses that want to locate and expand in Manatee County, the Manatee Board of County Commissioners is accelerating job creation for local residents,” said Ed Hunzeker, Manatee County administrator. A list of Manatee County's economic development incentives is available at www.mymanatee.org/econ_dev.