Top Three Reasons Why Manufacturers Choose Tampa

Florida ranks among the top ten states in the country for manufacturing, and excels in producing everything from aerospace equipment, fabricated metals, medical devices, computers and electronics to chemicals, food and beverages.

Tampa Bay has the second highest concentration of manufacturing employment in Florida and is home to diverse global manufacturers including The Mosaic Company, Advanced Airfoil Components, Signode, Masonite, Bertram Yachts, Bausch + Lomb and Suzuki Marine. Coke Florida, one of America’s largest Black-owned businesses, recently broke ground on a new 800,000 square foot, state-of-the-art sales and distribution center in Tampa. And innovative manufacturing startups like Cirkul, the Tik-Tok- famous water bottle manufacturer and the region’s newest “unicorn,” are thriving here.

Ideally situated at the western end of Florida’s I-4 Corridor, the Tampa market offers manufacturers easy access to Florida’s largest deepwater seaport, rail lines and major interstate highways. Over 3,200 manufacturing firms employing more than 71,000 people are operating in Tampa Bay today.

Why do manufacturing firms choose Tampa Bay?

1. Talent, Talent, Talent
   The Tampa Bay area is one of the top relocation destinations in the country, and the tremendous influx of new companies and residents has strengthened and diversified our labor force. The manufacturing sector in Tampa Bay is projected to grow 57 percent by 2027 and add more than 32,000 new jobs in sectors such as computer and electronic products, fabricated metal products, machinery, chemical and food manufacturing.*
   
   The growth of Tampa Bay’s higher-skilled, higher-wage manufacturing employment is fueled by certificate and degree programs at local colleges and universities that are keeping pace with our employers’ needs.
   
   Graduates from Hillsborough Community College, St. Leo University, Florida Polytechnic, University of Tampa and University of South Florida stay in this market and fuel our talent pipeline. Resources such as USF’s Institute for Applied Engineering partner with industry and the Department of Defense to assist manufacturers with rapid prototyping, testing, validation and many other technical services.
   
   The Hillsborough County School District offers programs in robotics, engineering, and machining technology. High school graduates and experienced workers can further develop their skills with Hillsborough Community College’s numerous certificate programs in areas such as applied welding, engineering technology and industrial machining.
   
   
2. A Welcoming, Pro-Business Community
   Executives that have chosen Tampa for their manufacturing business’ relocation or expansion consistently rave about the market’s welcoming local business, government, and higher education leadership. Making the Tampa decision is easy when you consider the rich talent pool, tax advantages, quality of life, and supportive and collaborative business community you’ll find here. For frequent business travelers, Tampa International Airport offers more than 90 daily nonstop flights to major U.S. hubs as well as international business destinations including London, Frankfurt, Zurich, Toronto, Montreal, Panama City and many others. And the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council’s seasoned team of business development professionals is ready to assist you with everything you’ll need to be successful in Florida.
   
   
3. Unbeatable Quality of Life
   Tampa Bay residents enjoy a daily lifestyle that most Americans only get to experience once a year on their vacation – close proximity to some of the country’s most beautiful beaches, outdoor activities that can be enjoyed year-round, four professional sports teams, a thriving arts and culture scene, world-class amusement parks, exceptional dining, and much more. Tampa Bay’s multitude of parks – including the Tampa Riverwalk and the Pinellas Trail – offer miles of free trails for walking, biking and other family-friendly activities.

It was for these reasons that New Jersey-based Norwalt, a preferred resource in elite automation machinery, chose Tampa for its recent expansion.

“We’ve been blown away by how welcoming and supportive the Tampa community has been to us. All the local partners work together so collaboratively to make sure we have the resources we need to be successful,” said Mike Seitel, CEO of Norwalt. “We’ve been really pleased with the local workforce, too. The employees we’ve already hired are talented and hardworking, which has helped put us ahead of schedule with our expansion plans in Tampa.”

If you’re interested in expanding or relocating your manufacturing company to the Tampa area, please visit TampaBayEDC.com or contact Adam Myers, Interim VP of Business Development, at amyers@tampabayedc.com.

*Source – Chmura JobsEQ, 2022