Tampa Area Profile
The Tampa Bay Region is home to two of the state's most populous cities: Tampa and St. Petersburg. This region has become a hotspot for high-tech company growth. It anchors one end of the Florida High Tech Corridor, which houses more than 50% of Florida ’s high-tech companies.
Infrastructure:
Tampa Bay offers the right infrastructure needed for firms to quickly and effectively move products, services and data. With multiple seaports and airports, it is a major entry point for domestic and international shipping. In addition, the region is continuously updating its interstate and highway infrastructure.
Industry:
Home to multiple universities and colleges with prime research facilities, Tampa Bay’s industry clusters range from life sciences and healthcare to homeland security, avionics and marine electronics. Tampa Bay has also been called "Wall Street South" for the size and scope of its financial services industry.
Workforce:
Comprised of about 2 million professionals, the Tampa region is rich in talent. University of South Florida (USF) and local colleges collaborate with companies in the development of products and services and thus are able to graduate students that are equipped with the most practical, industry-relevant skills and knowledge. Thus, local employers enjoy a consistent supply of well-educated and ambitious professionals.
Quality of Life:
Tampa Bay offers a competitive cost of living and some of the best healthcare facilities in the United States, including several hospitals ranked as "America's Best Hospitals" by U.S. News and World Report. It has a clear urban appeal with major metropolitan newspapers, one of the largest performing arts centers in the southeast, and the largest science museum in the south.
Education:
The University of South Florida (USF), located in Tampa, is the largest provider of higher education in the area. USF is one of the nation's largest universities in terms of enrollment, and has the distinction of being a 1st-tier research university. USF’s exceptional research facilities include the USF Center for Robotic Search and Rescue, USF Center for Ocean Technology, USF Center for Biological Defense, USF Nanomaterials and Nanomaufacturing Research Center (NNRC), and H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. Three community colleges, St. Petersburg College, Hillsborough Community College, and Pasco-Hernando Community College provide associate degree or associate/bachelor degree programs in the area.
Business Environment:
With a top-tier research university, exceptional quality of life, and thriving high tech industry clusters, the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area continues to position west-central Florida for a bright future. This region leverages R&D critical mass to prime its growth. The new USF Research Park will play host to bioengineering, life sciences medicine, biomedical engineering, and medical manufacturing companies. Additionally, the Tampa Bay Technology Incubator fosters small start-up biotechnology and life sciences companies. The Tampa Bay area is also home to the largest financial services cluster in the state. Finally, the United States Central Command, which directs military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Middle East, is based in Tampa area, underscoring the region’s strength in homeland security/defense.
| Tampa Bay Region: |
Economic Indicators |
| Population, 2008 | 4,143,594 |
| Labor Force, 2008 | 1,972,335 |
| Total Employment, 2008 | 1,840,962 |
| Unemployment Rate, 2008 | 6.7% |
| Personal Income, 2007 ($billions) | $154.3 |
| Per Capita Personal Income, 2007 | $37,513 |
| Number of Foreign-Affiliated Companies | 305 |
| Median Home Price, 2008 | $178,467 |
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