Business and Industry

The Stuart/Martin County Chamber of Commerce, along with the Palm City, Indiantown, Hobe Sound and Jensen Beach Chambers, plus the Business Development Board, and the Economic Council of Martin County - collaboratively work with local, state, and federal agencies to assist existing businesses to expand.

Also, in accordance with the Economic Element of the Martin County Comprehensive Growth Management Plan, concerted efforts are being made as we attempt to broaden the economic base by targeting and attracting new businesses that will offer employment with a higher pay scale criterion.

Martin County is a Florida designated "Blue Chip" community, which attests that the county has a Growth Management Plan meeting state standards to attract business and industry to the area. Martin County has also been certified "Camera Ready" by the state to enable the motion picture and television industry to film in the area with minimal effort and delays.

Indian River State College campus on Salerno Road assists new start up businesses with solid planning strategies and works with existing companies by providing needs assessments and on site training. In addition to Associate in Arts degrees for university transfer, the college offers over 50 Associate in Science degree programs to prepare a well qualified workforce for technical careers, as well as many one year vocational certificate programs. Also located in Martin County is the Chapman School of Seamanship, Hobe Sound Bible College, New Horizons School of Travel, with Barry University, Florida Atlantic University and Northwood University just a short commute away.

CareerSource Research Coast funds and oversees career centers, where individuals can obtain new skills or be retrained in a particular field to gain employment with local employers. Helping People Succeed, Inc. (HPS) is another non-profit organization involved with the business segment. Through their efforts in training, employing, and seeking employment for the disabled, they make it possible for them to become productive members of the community.

Manufacturing plays a big role in Martin County. There are approximately 15,000 Occupational Licenses issued in Martin County, with 40% to 50% of them "home office based," as a result, the economy is driven by several sectors.

The marine industry with a variety of custom boat and yacht builders, along with the specialty items such as tuna towers and fighting chairs, to fishing lures, fishing charters, and other water related businesses make a substantial contribution.

Agriculture is also a major contributor, with over 40,000 acres of citrus, and ranked in the top ten in the state for citrus and vegetable production, sugar cane, ornamentals and cattle production.  Over 200 manufacturing businesses in 18 different Standard Industrial Codes employ over 3,700 persons.

In the dynamic life sciences sector, Martin County is in the center of the Florida Research Coast, between Scripps Florida and the Max Planck Institute in Jupiter and the Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies.  Already, this new bioscience research activity is sparking commercial investments throughout the region. 

With the goal of providing exceptional care for residents on the Treasure Coast and in southeast Florida, Martin Health became a full member of Cleveland Clinic on January 1, 2019. This partnership created a regional network of five hospitals that also includes Indian River Hospital and Weston-based Cleveland Clinic Florida. The partnership allows Martin Health to be more innovative in meeting the changing needs of the community, with state-of-the-science resources and expertise that will improve clinical outcomes in a patient-centered culture.