Tampa is the hub of Hillsborough County and one of the largest metropolitan areas in the Southeast. The four-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA) of Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando counties has a population of 2.7 million, making it the 19th largest MSA in the U.S.
We boast a diverse and expanding mix of businesses, from financial services and bioscience, to technology and international trade. As the economy begins to kick back into gear, the Tampa Bay region is looking to a bright future of continued job creation. This will be particularly true of the industry clusters that make Tampa the gateway to Florida’s High Tech Corridor including life sciences, nanotechnology, aviation/aerospace and homeland security/defense.
Recent economic development successes in Tampa include the Draper Laboratory facility at the University of South Florida, with its work on BioMEMS technology, the miniaturization of surgical instruments, diagnostic tools and drug delivery systems. Another is M2Gen, a subsidiary of Moffitt Cancer Center this is partnering with pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. on an accelerated drug-development process. Additionally, researchers at the University of South Florida recently announced a pharmaceutical deal with AstraZeneca PLC and Targacept, Inc., that stands to become one of the school’s most lucrative patents ever.
The region features a highly developed infrastructure with a network of road, air, water and rail transportation. It also boasts a multilingual, highly trained workforce supported by outstanding educational institutions. With a low cost of living, no state income tax and affordable housing, health care and groceries, there's no shortage of people who want to live and work here.
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