Bristol-Myers Squibb will locate a North America Capability Center in Hillsborough County.
The move will bring 579 life sciences jobs to the area, a statement from Gov. Rick Scott said.
The 70,000-square-foot facility will open in January 2014 with approximately 250 employees. Those workers will focus on information technology, marketing services, business and finance services and other functions supporting the company’s biopharma business in the United States.
The company plans to add more than 325 additional jobs supporting scientific and technical activities at the site by 2017, the statement said.
The specific location for the facility has not yet been announced, said Rick Homans, CEO and president of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp. The company is in the final stages of negotiations for a site, he said.
Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) evaluated many locations and considered many factors before choosing Florida, Gareth Morgan, senior vice president, said in a statement from the company. He cited Hillsborough County’s work force, university presence, the region’s business climate, economy and quality of life, as well as availability of necessary logistics and office facilities.
Hillsborough County committed $2.1 million, about $700,000 under Florida’s Qualified Targeted Industry program and about $1.4 million from the Quick Action Closing Fund, Homans said. None of the money would be paid out until the jobs are created and then the payments are phased in over the subsequent four years, he said.
Tampa Bay Business Journal 7/18/13
by Margie Manning
