Raymond James = Jobs jobs jobs for Wesley Chapel

View Proposed Raymond James Campus in Wesley Chapel in a larger map

Pasco County Board of County Commissioners today will consider approving up to $10 million in financial incentives including 5 new roads to lure Rayond James Financial Services to build  two towers with 100,000 sq. ft. in each and eventually as much as a one million sq. ft. campus on Wiregrass Ranch property in Wesley Chapel. 

The proposed site is on the NW corner of Mansfield Blvd., and SR 56 and surrounded by a hotbed of commercial projects already in the works for Wiregrass Ranch.  To the south, Pasco-Hernando Community College is planning the Porter Campus at SR 56 & Mansield, with expectations of groundbreaking occurring later this year on a 7 story building.  To the west, just north of the popular mall, The Shops at Wiregrass, construction is underway on the 200,000 sq. ft. and estimated $121 million Wesley Chapel Medical Center.  To the north of the proposed Raymond James campus, construction on a new super Walmart on SR 54 also is expected to begin later this year.  Lastly, the $27 million widening project of SR 54 on the northern border of Wiregrass Ranch, is expected to be completed by December.

Why financial incentives to lure Raymond James to Pasco County?  Jobs, jobs, jobs!  The local papers today are reporting that the company plans to bring 100 jobs, possibly as early as early as 2014 and as many as 750 jobs by 2024, paying an average salary of $38,900.  Additionally, the St. Petersburg Times reports the project will bring in $20 million in revenue over the next 17 years through sales taxes, property taxes and taxes paid by new residents and businesses.