BlueWare Celebrates Relocation To Melbourne

New Space Coast Employer

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Drizzle from Tropical Storm Debby couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm for those gathered to witness a special ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday afternoon in Melbourne.

BlueWare Inc., a healthcare information technology company, has officially relocated its operations to Melbourne from Michigan and the ribbon-cutting event was an opportunity for company, civic and community leaders to celebrate.

The BlueWare company will be based in downtown Melbouirne and is expecting to hire up to 190 employees over a span of four years at an average wage of $69,000.

Besides hiring workers, BlueWare will invest more than $1 million in local property and all of the equipment necessary to sustain its business.

When all is said and done, company officials say the economic impact will amount to more than $22.5 million for Melbourne and Brevard County.

In relocating here, BlueWare received a State of Florida Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund, a host of labor rebates and a Quick Action Closing Fund incentive will help the firm to offset the expense of training new employees and for relocation from Cadillac, Mich.

It may have been raining outside, but the day was sweet for BlueWare President and CEO Rose Harr.

“We’re just so happy to be here,” Harr told an overflow crowd on hand to watch the ribbon-cutting under a large tent. “We were on a quest to find the right city for BlueWare — one with abundant technical talent, a wonderful community and strategically located — and we found all of that here in Melbourne.”

BlueWare Is Framework of 10 Companies

Harr said an array of business incentives offered by Melbourne helped cement the company’s plan to move here after receiving offers from more than 19 other locations around the country, but she also acknowledged other factors played a part too.

“The people here were so open,” Harr said. “From the minute we got here they were so attentive and we found this prevailed among everyone we met here.”

She said about 30 current company employees will transfer to Melbourne from Michigan and will boost everything from the real estate market here to community charities.

BlueWare is a framework of 10 companies within its corporation and Harr said she expects its business to blossom here.

“We offer a cradle to the grave electronic record for healthcare and a host of the businesses,”Harr said. “We’re really excited to help improve healthcare and to build a presence in other fields like schools and government agencies.”

Lynda Weatherman, president and CEO of the Economic Development Commission of the Space Coast said BlueWare made the right choicer in relocating here.

“They saw our highly skilled and available workers on the Space Coast many who worked at the Space Center as an asset,” Weatherman said. “We think they will fit right in here.”

She said a number of partners worked to successfully bring BlueWare to Melbourne, including the Brevard County Commission, Enterprise Florida, Brevard Workforce and the city of Melbourne.

Melbourne city councilman John Thomas said his fellow councilman Mark LaRusso worked countless hands-on hours on the project and deserves a lion’s share of the credit for helping bring BlueWare to the Harbor City.

Thomas said he feels BlueWare’s relocation is something good for everyone living in Brevard County.

“This is a home run for Melbourne and for Brevard County,” he said. “I think it’s a great example of what can be accomplished when a community works together.”

Among the guests watching the ribbon-cutting included Brevard County Commissioner Mary Bolin, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs Ret. Army Col. Mike Prendergast and Melbourne city manager  Jack Schluckebier.

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