Loading
TAMPA — What a week for economic development news in Hillsborough County — Bristol-Myers Squibb is bringing nearly 600 high-paying jobs to the area, long-sought flight service to Panama is on the way and a new ship terminal to import cars from Mexico will be built.
Capping the week, Edelweiss Air announced Friday it would start a second weekly flight next week to Zurich from Tampa International Airport. Two days earlier, Copa Airlines said it was adding a Tampa to Panama route, a long sought route that airport officials says opens up South and Central America to TIA travelers.
Thursday, Fortune 500 drug maker Bristol-Myers Squibb announced plans to open a 70,000-square-foot facility in Hillsborough that will employ nearly 600 people who will earn an average of $65,000 annually.
The Tampa/Hillsborough Economic Development Corp. calls the Bristol-Myers deal a big coup for the Tampa Bay area. The region beat out other states that were also vying for the company's North American Capability Center.
The pharmaceutical giant declined to say exactly where it's locating the facility in the Tampa area, but it will open in January with 250 employees. Those employees will initially focus on marketing, information technology and other functions supporting the company's biopharma business. By 2017, the company will add another 325 employees to support scientific and technical activities.
Bristol-Myers, with $18 billion in annual revenues, chose the area for its quality of life, strong university presence, work force, business climate and availability of facilities.
At the Port of Tampa, officials announced Thursday it had signed a letter of intent with AMPORTS to develop a new terminal to import new cars and vehicles from Mexico.
One in every 10 cars sold in the U.S. is manufactured in Mexico, says Ed Miyagishima, director of special projects at the port. The vehicles are now primarily transported by rail car from Mexico through the West Coast.
Ocean transport of two days will cut down on transportation time, though it's not expected to be cheaper, he says, adding: “This is a game changer” for the region.
Hillsborough economic development officials are looking for more good news later this month — from Amazon. The Hillsborough County Commission approved economic incentives of more than $2 million this week to attract the giant online retailer that is looking to build 1-million-square-foot distribution centers in Florida to improve delivery time.
Amazon is expected to make a decision by month's end.
Your free article limit has been reached this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited digital access to our award-winning business news.
Join thousands of executives who rely on us for insights spanning Tampa Bay to Naples.
