Companies find charms worth moving for

By ALISA ULFERTS

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 16, 2000

Mary Jane Stanley oversaw some impressive relocations to Pasco County last year.

The Economic Development Council's executive director unveiled the Soule Co.'s plans to build a 100,000-square-foot facility in Pasco's newest industrial park, in Wesley Chapel. Soule, a manufacturer of boxes, foam packaging and surgical equipment, was moving from Tampa.

"We have available land," Stanley said, explaining why Pasco is attractive to relocating businesses. Its roads aren't as choked as Hillsborough's or Pinellas', plus there are the economic incentives from the county that Stanley helps arrange.

In Soule's case, county commissioners agreed to waive $71,000 in impact fees to entice the company to relocate.

Then there is Welbilt Technology Center, which moved its 25,000-square-foot research and engineering facilities to Trinity. That company provides research support to its food service manufacturing arm, said operations manager Bill Day. Welbilt will move its U.S. corporate headquarters, now in Connecticut, to Pasco later this year.

"We'd like to do that in June," Day said.

To help Stanley and the county identify which kind of company is best suited to Pasco and worth offering economic incentives to, Stanley said, her council plans to do a target industry study. Stanley said she already has a hunch for where Pasco should focus its resources: the food products and food services industry.

"We have a niche," Stanley said.

There's Welbilt, of course. And Fedco Systems Co., a baking goods company, and Vitality Foodservice Inc., which deals in dispensing machines, to name a few.

But despite the recent crop of new industrial parks and relocations, Stanley said the Economic Development Council is planning a push for existing businesses as well.

"We've hired a new person," Stanley said.

"We're developing a whole new existing business program," she added.

That program will include showcasing new businesses every month, Stanley said.

The biggest upcoming challenge for Stanley and the county, she said, is managing the growth that likely will come once the Suncoast Parkway opens up late this year or early next.

"Pasco is going to grow so fast that we have to make sure it's responsible growth. You don't want just any business. You want clean industry with value-added jobs."

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