Governor Scott: Tampa company servicing Military expands; 1,215 new jobs

Tuesday, Governor Rick Scott made the following announcement in a press release from Japan, where he has been heading a delegation of Florida business leaders:

United Services Automobile Association (USAA), a leading provider of insurance, banking, investment and retirement products and services for the military community and their families, will expand its presence in Hillsborough County, creating up to 1,215 new jobs and $164.3 million in capital investment by 2019.

Governor Scott said, “The expansion of USAA in Hillsborough County will create over 1,200 new jobs for Florida families, meaning 1,200 families will have the opportunity to live their version of the American Dream right here in the Sunshine State. This is great news for Florida families and is another sign that Florida is becoming the number one state for business. With nearly 370,000 jobs created in two and a half years and an unemployment rate below that national average, we know it’s working in Florida.”

USAA currently employs more than 1,800 individuals at its Commerce Park facility in New Tampa, with more than 600 additional employees located throughout the state. Headquartered in San Antonio, the Fortune 500 company also maintains operations in Phoenix, Colorado Springs, Norfolk and the Dallas area.

“USAA is growing as the demand for our financial products and services among the military community increases,” USAA CEO Joe Robles said. “We’ve had a great team of employees in Tampa for forty years and we are excited to grow that team in this great military community.”

Florida today has the 3rd largest finance and insurance cluster in the nation. More than 122,000 Financial and Professional Services companies employ some 850,000 workers at locations around the state, and the industry’s designation as a “high impact” sector further signifies its importance to the Florida economy.

Secretary of Commerce Gray Swoope, President & CEO of Enterprise Florida said, “USAA’s decision to expand in Hillsborough County demonstrates that Florida’s financial sector is one of the best in the country. The investment and the jobs USAA will create add to our extensive financial industry and I look forward to seeing their future successes in our state.”

To accommodate the anticipated growth, USAA will initially lease 50,000 square feet of temporary office space at Lakeview Center in Tampa, with plans to construct a new, 420,000 square foot facility at the Crosstown Center in Brandon by 2015.

The project was made possible through strong partnerships between Enterprise Florida, the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation, Hillsborough County, Workforce Florida, Inc. and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

“USAA has operated in Florida for more than 40 years, with a significant presence in Hillsborough County since selecting Tampa as its southeast home office location in 1987,” said the Hon. Ken Hagan, Chairman of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. “They have deep roots in this community, and reflect our values of service and commitment to the military.  We are proud to support their growth and look forward to many years of future success.”

“USAA’s decision to invest and expand in Hillsborough County is a statement of confidence in our community, and a tangible indicator of our economic vitality and momentum,” said Allen Brinkman, Chair of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation and Chairman, President and CEO of SunTrust Bank Tampa Bay.  “This announcement is also a testament to the strong support the company has received from the public and private partners committed to their success.”

“USAA’s latest expansion in Florida is exciting news for the Tampa region and for our state,” said Workforce Florida President/CEO Chris Hart IV. “Workforce Florida is proud to support this leading financial services company, with its strong ties to our military, in its continued commitment to creating quality jobs and helping grow Florida’s economy.”

“We are excited that USSA, a national leader in the finance and insurance industry, chose to expand their information technology operations in Tampa and create jobs for Florida families,” said Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Jesse Panuccio. “With this company, known for its commitment to the financial well-being of members of the military and their families, expanding in our state, we can see that our efforts to attract businesses and create jobs for Floridians are working.”

USAA provides insurance, banking, investment and retirement products and services to 9.8 million members of the U.S. military and their families. Known for its legendary commitment to its members, USAA is consistently recognized for outstanding service, employee well-being and financial strength. USAA membership is open to all who are serving or have honorably served our nation in the U.S. military, and their eligible family members.

Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) is the principal economic development organization for the state of Florida. The legislatively-mandated organization is a public-private partnership between Florida’s business and government leaders. The EFI newsroom is designed to offer public access to the latest information on Enterprise Florida’s programs and initiatives.

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