Talk America, a telecommunications company, considers locating in the county and adding the jobs over six years.
By BRIDGET HALL GRUMET
Published June 18, 2003
NEW PORT RICHEY - A telecommunications provider is looking to open its next call center in Pasco County, bringing up to 500 new jobs.
Talk America, which provides local and long-distance telephone service, would include customer service and sales representatives at the center, said Frank O'Hanlan, the company's director of human resources.
But O'Hanlan told the County Commission the deal isn't final: The company has not yet settled on a site, and it awaits approval of a tax incentive from the state.
Eager to help pave the way for the new business, commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday supporting the company's application for the $1.5-million tax break.
"You can't imagine the ripple effect the good job brings in the long run," Commissioner Steve Simon said after the meeting in the West Pasco Government Center.
Under the state Qualified Target Industry program, businesses can receive a tax refund for each job they create that pays more than 115 percent of the average local wage, which in Pasco would total $27,005. Counties kick in 20 percent of the refund, so Pasco County could pay up to $300,000 if all 500 jobs are created.
Talk America plans to gradually add the jobs over six years. The jobs would pay an average salary of $28,000. The employees would receive full medical and dental benefits, O'Hanlan said. He also touted the company's record contributing to charities in Pinellas, Lee and Orange counties, where it also operates call centers.
About 37 percent of Talk America's employees in Palm Harbor commute from Pasco County, O'Hanlan said, so Pasco seemed a logical place for the expanding company to build its next call center. The company is looking at sites along State Road 54, he said.
"With the projected growth in Pasco County and the demographics, I think it would support it," O'Hanlan told the St. Petersburg Times.
In other news, commissioners revisited part of the sign ordinance but decided not to change it as a developer had suggested two weeks ago.
The ordinance allows businesses to have signs with up to 210 square feet of total surface area.
The developer of the Collier Commons Shopping Center had proposed signs with 210 square feet of lettering after adding a base and other architectural features; however, the total surface area reached 385 square feet.
Commissioners had wondered whether the ordinance should be amended to allow additional square footage for architectural features. But Assistant County Attorney Barbara Wilhite showed pictures of other businesses that meet the ordinance now, even with decorative features on their signs.
"I'm satisfied and willing to leave the sign ordinance (as it is) and see if it works," Commissioner Ted Schrader said.
Commissioners also approved spending $35,000 to fill in potholes and add guardrails along the sharp curves on Causeway Boulevard in central Pasco.
The road has had numerous accidents, including a fatal one recently, because drivers who try to avoid the potholes sometimes run off the narrow road, Commissioner Pat Mulieri said.
"Do we allow another car to go off the road when we could basically do something?" she asked.
- Bridget Hall Grumet covers Pasco County government. She can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6244 or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6244. Her e-mail address is bhall@sptimes.com
