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To grow, Moffitt thinks north

The cancer center has talked with Pasco leaders about building a research facility in east county.

By DAVID DeCAMP and JODIE TILLMAN
Published October 11, 2006

WESLEY CHAPEL - A representative for H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute has approached county officials about building a research facility in southeastern Pasco.

Pasco County Attorney Robert Sumner stressed Tuesday that his talks Monday with an attorney for the Tampa hospital were preliminary.

Sumner said Moffitt officials were eyeing a portion of the former Wiregrass Ranch, a 5,000-acre development already slated for homes and shops.

But Moffitt does not have a contract to purchase land in Pasco, he said.

Top administrators at Moffitt did not respond to messages left Tuesday with their assistants and with spokeswoman Michelle Foley. Foley said she did not have any information about the plans.

Sumner said he also spoke with Pasco Economic Development Council officials, who discussed the possibility of Pasco County contributing as much as $15-million in incentives.

Such a contribution need not be only cash; it could include impact fee credits and other incentives, he said.

Sumner said he did not know the size of the proposed research center or the acreage needed. He also described the talks as speculative until "there was property purchased at Wiregrass."

State Sen. Victor Crist, who represents portions of Pasco County, said Tuesday that he heard about potential expansion plans three months ago in casual conversation with a person affiliated with Moffitt.

He said he was told that the center wants to expand its research, as well as its outpatient facilities, close to its Tampa campus.

Pasco County was an option, said Crist, R-Tampa, because of available land and the county's willingness to assist on such projects.

State Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, said he spoke Tuesday with an official in Gov. Jeb Bush's office, who confirmed that Moffitt has plans for a research center.

The project, Fasano was told, is code named Project Bold.

Such research centers come with high-paying jobs and often attract other research labs, Fasano said.

"This would be tremendous for Pasco if this thing were to actually come about," he said.

In addition to possible county incentives, Moffitt might also be eligible for state financial assistance, Fasano said.

Among possible sources of money, he said, are Enterprise Florida and the Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development.

Bush is aggressively courting the life sciences industry to the state, using hundreds of millions of dollars to entice three California companies - one in 2003 and two in the past couple of months - to expand in Florida.

The state money, drawn most recently from a special $200-million innovation incentive fund, has been matched - and in some cases surpassed - by county and city contributions. Those contributions can be cash, land, infrastructure or services.

Only three years ago, Moffitt opened a $186-million addition, the Vincent A. Stabile Building, which includes an expansion of its clinic and a showy research facility.

Pasco Commissioner Scott Simon said he has discussed the Moffitt idea with County Administrator John Gallagher but had not been briefed on the details. Major projects typically consider multiple sites, he said, but the prospect is a good one.

"That would be very positive because I know what their typical compensation averages," said Simon, referring to generally high-paying jobs in the biotechnology industry. "I hope the interest is accurate."

Times staff writers Lisa Greene and Kris Hundley contributed to this report.

[Last modified October 11, 2006, 01:01:44]