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©2006 Florida Preconstruction Programs

WHY TAMPA BAY

Welcome to Tampa Bay, an area that encompasses three counties and is "home" to over 2 million residents. It's a home filled with sunny beaches and bright futures. It offers great business opportunities and low costs for doing business. It's where Tampa Bay Buccaneers' fans cheered their winning team on to Super Bowl glory in 2002 and their favorite hockey team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, on to the 2004 Stanley Cup victory. It's also home to the "Number 1 Zoo in the United States for Kids."

It has the largest performing arts center in the southeast. The largest science museum in the south. And the cultural arts district in downtown Tampa is expanding every day, with the recent addition of the Patel Conservatory which helps both young and mature actors, artists, musicians and performers perfect their craft.

It's one of the few markets in America with two major metropolitan newspapers. The #1 ranked airport in the country. And Tampa is the only city in America that celebrates the glory of being a pirate and all the festivities that Gasparilla offers during one whole month each year.

If you're looking for a great way of life, it doesn't get better than Tampa Bay. There's no state income tax. Low property taxes. And Tampa offers a lower cost of living than other major southern cities, including Atlanta, Orlando, Charlotte and Charleston.

As a region, the commitment to excellence in education is impressive, and is essential for providing an educated, talented workforce for area businesses. Tampa is also one of the most Literate Cities in America, ranking 16th in the country among cities with more than 250,000 residents.

It's a region that attracts millions of tourists each year, who appreciate its mild winter climates, tropical summers, spectacular sunsets and beautiful beaches. To those of us who choose to live here, these are every day pleasures--not just vacation moments. We go fishing before heading into the office. We walk on the beach at sunset. We enjoy wearing shorts in January. And we are thankful, with each and every sunny day, to have made the decision to live in Tampa Bay.

We have a healthy economy, as well as some of the best healthcare facilities in the United States, including H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, two trauma centers, a medical school (which works in conjunction with two major hospitals) and three hospitals ranked as "America's Best Hospitals" by U.S. News and World Report.

Like most Americans, the residents of Tampa Bay are proud of the men and women who serve in the military. And we're honored that MacDill Air Force Base is located here in Tampa. It's the headquarters for two major commands; special U.S. Operations Command and U.S. Central Command. And it's also where Coalition Village is located, comprised of representatives from 65 nations who are working together to combat terrorism.

If you're looking for a place to start or grow your business, Tampa Bay is right for you. In 2004, Florida was ranked #2 as one of the best places in America for start-ups. And more and more companies are also relocating their headquarters to Tampa, as well. We're the west coast anchor of Florida's High Tech Corridor. And you'll find all the logistical resources needed for import/export through Florida's largest deep-water port, conveniently located in downtown Tampa. And you can take advantage of the five major cruise lines that also sail out of the Port of Tampa. The Tampa Bay MSA is also known as a top growth market for manufacturing, especially for the medical industry.

You can choose to live in a historic bungalow - or a high rise by the Bay. You might live in a country club community - or a lakeside villa might be right for you. Tampa Bay has a wide range of residential choices to fit every budget and lifestyle. Just remember, the sunshine, sunsets and gulf breezes are free!

We invite you to explore all the treasures of Tampa Bay. This guide is designed to help you find the answers to all of your questions. We've included maps throughout the publication to help you choose the right home, school, health care resources and more. The more you find out about Tampa Bay, the more we're certain you'll decide to make this special region your home. We look forward to calling you our "neighbor."

IT'S BOOMING IN TAMPA BAY

There's good reason Tampa Bay is ranked as one of the Best Places to Live and Work in America. It has what employers-and individuals-are looking for: a diverse and expanding business mix, a thriving economy, a vibrant job market and a multilingual, highly trained workforce supported by outstanding educational institutions. It's no wonder it's considered one of the best locations for start-ups in the country. Add in a Chamber of Commerce that is committed to attracting new businesses and helping them grow - the future couldn't be brighter.

The business climate in Tampa Bay couldn't be better. In fact, the Bay area's economy is one of the strongest in the country. We boast a healthy mix of businesses, from financial services and bioscience, to technology and international trade-to name but a few.

Tampa Bay also ranks among the best metropolitan areas in the nation for its low cost of living. With no state income tax and low cost of housing, health care and groceries, there's no shortage of people who want to live and work here. In fact, during the recession, when the nation's unemployment rate spiked, Tampa Bay escaped the national average of 5.4% with a 3.8% unemployment rate. And it's a low 3.5% in Hillsborough County. It's no wonder so many businesses and employees are taking a closer look at Tampa Bay, and why the Tampa Bay area is getting so much national attention.

What the Experts are Saying About Business in Tampa Bay:

• Selected as one of two of the world's major emerging financial centers. (Nomura Research Institute- Japan's largest think tank, research and consulting firm)

• The 3rd "Most Economical City to Conduct Business" by KPMG's 2003 Competitive Alternatives Study.

• Ranked #12 of the 20 Best Places to Live and Work in America, based on lifestyle, cost of living, industries, current unemployment rate, healthcare system, education, recreation and the arts. (Employment Review and BestJobsUSA.com, June 2003)

• Ranked #27 in the Top 200 Best Performing Cities, based on job growth, high tech GDP growth and population. (Milken Institute, June, 2003)

• The second most broadband-wired city in the nation, based on AOL's first poll on broadband use, placing higher than Boston, Houston, Charlotte, and Los Angeles. (Tampa Tribune, May, 2003)

• 9th in the nation as one of "America's 50 Hottest Cities." (Expansion Management Magazine, January 2003)

• Out of the top 40 largest cities, listed as one of the "Best Cities for Entrepreneurship." (Entrepreneur.com, 2002)

• Named one of "America's Best Places to Live and Work" and rated as a "Four Star Community." (Expansion Management Magazine, May 2001)

• Appeared on Forbes/Milken Institute list of "Best Places for Business and Career" in 2001.

• Selected one of "America's Hottest Cities for Business Relocation and Expansion." (Expansion Management Magazine, 2001)

• Ranked number 4 out of 354 in Places Rated Almanac. (Criteria: Cost of living, climate, transportation, job outlook, education, the arts, healthcare, recreation. ( Places Rated Almanac, Millenium Edition, 2000)

• According to Newsweek Magazine, one of the 10 best parts of the country to find a job in the next 25 years.

Additionally, businesses benefit from Florida's Tax System which is ranked the 7th best in the nation as being "business friendly." (The Tax Foundation, May 2003)