Did Florida Gov. Rick Scott Pay-Off Office Depot in Boca Raton?
Office Depot receives governor's incentive to stay in Boca
By Marcia Heroux Pounds, Sun Sentinel
Gov. Rick Scott confirmed Friday that he used his special Quick Action Closing Fund to retain Office Depot's headquarters in Boca Raton.
The governor, in Boca to announce 50 new jobs to be created by TouchSuite, said he authorized the new incentive for Office Depot but didn't know the exact amount.
He referred reporters to Enterprise Florida, but spokesman Sean Helton said he couldn't disclose the incentive amount due to a temporary confidentiality agreement with the company.
Office Depot, which last year closed on a $1.2 billion merger with rival OfficeMax, decided in December that Boca Raton would be the company's headquarters.
The company already was under an incentives agreement with the state and county stemming from its move to Boca Raton from Delray Beach in 2008, but officials said a new incentives package was likely.
No such package has come through the Boca Raton City Council yet, however.
The governor has the discretion to use his Quick Action Closing Fund to help retain a company that is considering other locations.