County Lures Bigger Business
LAND - O' LAKES - Businesses moving to Pasco County have invested nearly $30 million in the county since October, almost double the previous year's figures.
In a report to the Pasco Economic Development Council's board of directors Wednesday morning, industry recruiter Bryan Kamm spelled out the council's success in bringing new manufacturers into the county.
So far in the council's fiscal year, which began Oct. 1, it has recruited 13 companies that have invested $29.4 million in machinery, buildings and other capital improvements, Kamm said. Those companies have filled 456,000 square feet of industrial space.
In its last fiscal year, the council recruited 13 companies, which brought in $17.7 million in capital investment and accounted for 257,000 square feet of industrial space.
"We're seeing bigger companies coming in, making bigger investments in capital," Kamm said.
Clark Steel Framing is among the companies setting up shop in Pasco this year. The company has spent $4 million building a 200,000-square-foot center next to the Dade City Business Center.
The company announced plans in December to consolidate its Ocala and Tampa operations in Dade City. Clark officials ultimately hope to employ 100 people there.
The Economic Development Council also released its latest survey of local manufacturers.
The survey was based on 69 responses the council received from the 365 companies it surveyed, said existing industry manager Jennifer Borecky.
Of those companies responding:
•Two-thirds reported an increase in yearly sales.
•Twenty percent have been in business five years or less; 36 percent have been in business 20 years or more.
•The vast majority of the businesses' $342.7 million in total sales went to buyers outside Pasco County.
•42 percent expected to add employees in the next year.
Companies cited Pasco's location as a strength for doing business here. They cited the cost and pace of the county's development review process as a weakness.
Economic Development Council officials also reported that the Pasco-Hernando region has received $220,000 in training grants from the state to improve employee skills. The money becomes available Saturday and will reimburse qualified employers for up to 50 percent of their training costs.
An additional $98,000 in state money will be used to help unskilled workers find work, said Dave Hamilton, contracts supervisor for the Pasco-Hernando Workforce Board.
Reporter Kevin Wiatrowski can be reached at kwiatrowski@tampatrib.com or (813) 948-4201.
