SPIRIT AIRLINES CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN DANIA BEACH
On September 10, 2019, the CRA Board approved Resolution No, 2019-CRA-020 committing to pay the ten (10%) percent Local Financial Support (LFS) required by the State QTI and HIPI programs as an incentive to Spirit Airlines to relocate a new headquarters and operations facility to the Redevelopment Area at the Dania Pointe. The Spirit Airlines headquarters project qualified for both the QTI program (150% average wage $4,000/job) and the HIPI bonus program ($2,000/job). The project location qualified for a Brownfield bonus incentive ($2,000/job, State only). The CRA’s LFS commitment represents a total of $135,000, payable for job creation achievements in FY2023 to FY2030. Broward County also has a ten (10%) percent LFS.
Qualified Target Industry Program (QTI): QTI is an incentive program supporting businesses that create high-wage jobs in specific target industries in Florida. Incentive based on committed job creation schedule over 5 years and committed average wages paid: 115% = $3,000/ job, 150% = $1,000 bonus/job, 200% = another $1,000 bonus/job.
High-Impact Performance Incentive Grant (HIPI): HIPI is a negotiated incentive used to attract and grow major high-impact facilities in Florida.
Incentives for both programs are earned by verified achievement in each past year, payable at 25%/year for 4 years. Incentives are paid only for jobs/wages committed in the contract. This payment structure ensures each new job endures for at least four years. Incentives for over achievements (more jobs and/or higher wages) are not paid.
The Spirit headquarters campus includes a 6-story, 180,000sf office building, a 103,500sf tech center with flight simulators, a 7-story, 200-unit apartment building with a parking garage for Spirit Airline employees, an employee center, and a 998-space parking garage. Occupancy is expected in 2024, According to the Greater Ft Lauderdale Alliance analysis (IMPLAN PRO v 3.1), the Spirit Airlines project is forecasted to have the following impacts:
- Capital Investment: Approximately $173,420,000 over three years for property purchase, development, and construction (2019 $).
- Job Creation: 225 new hires over 5 years, with an average salary of $78,854 (direct 225, indirect 132, induced 135 = 492 total jobs), and 853 retained jobs.
- Job Creation Output Impact: $87,988,239 over five years from Direct, Indirect, and Induced Jobs (2019 $).
- Estimated Campus Taxable Value (City): $208,750,000.
However, based on Spirit’s funding application for 2022 achievements, independent research, and supporting documents, FloridaCommerce Division of Economic Development has determined that Spirit Airlines actual achievements include:
- New Jobs: Required Jobs 24 / Actual Jobs 218
- Wages: Required average $78,854 / Actual Average $109,569
- Development costs: Original estimate $173,420,000 / Current estimate $250,000,000
On October 13, 2022, Spirit celebrated the top off of their headquarters office building. The City Commission, senior City administration, and the entire construction crew were invited to lunch and door prizes in the topped off, but completely open building. Let’s just say, “spirits were high”.
Spirit Airlines is the 7th largest airline in the US in terms of number of passengers. Spirit’s commitment to providing the best value in the sky was recognized in WalletHub's 'Best Airlines' (2024) report, earning the carrier first place for safety and affordability. Spirit ranked third-best airline overall, surprisingly besting industry giants like Delta, American, and Southwest. WalletHub compared the nine largest U.S. airlines and one regional carrier across 13 important metrics using 2023 data from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
On April 18, 2024, Spirit Airlines celebrated the official opening of Spirit Central, its new corporate campus at Dania Pointe in Dania Beach, Florida. The campus spans more than 11 acres and features four buildings, including a support center with offices, an amenity building, a new crew training facility built for hands-on experience in flight simulators, and a corporate housing facility. Additionally, the campus also includes dedicated parking garages for Spirit Team Members. The new Spirit Central provides an expansive, centralized location for the airline's main support teams and is only a few minutes away from Spirit's largest operating base at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).
