Date: Feb 24, 2017
CONTACT:
Estella Gray, Hill + Knowlton Strategies
Email: estella.gray@hkstrategies.com
Cell: 813.313.6682
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Port Logistics Refrigerated Services brings jobs
and diversity to Tampa Market
Port Tampa Bay celebrates construction of new business, welcomes Commissioner Adam Putnam to Tampa Bay
Tampa, Fla. (Feb. 24, 2017) — Port Logistics Refrigerated Services (Port Logistics) celebrated the construction of its 130,000-square foot state-of-the-art intermodal cold storage food products facility at Port Tampa Bay. Thursday’s event welcomed more than 100 area business leaders and special guest, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.
The celebration was the culmination of a milestone public-private partnership established in 2016. The 54-year lease agreement between Port Logistics and Port Tampa Bay includes the construction of the facility on Hooker’s Point at the port in downtown Tampa and considers the opportunity for additional expansion.
Port Tampa Bay CEO Paul Anderson emceed the celebration and praised the new refrigeration business for diversifying and growing the lines of business for the port. “We are extremely pleased to see the partnership and construction of this project because it is important to the development and future of our port. This project will create jobs and augment the diversity of the state’s largest port,” Anderson said.
As announced in October 2016, well-known Tampa developer Richard Corbett has partnered in the financing of the project on behalf of Port Logistics. Corbett is recognized for the development of the International Plaza retail center in Tampa’s Westshore business district, as well as numerous office and retail centers throughout Florida and the U.S.
“The primary products targeted for import will be high volume, year-round, weekly service items that include customer program items from similar growing regions,” said Dick Corbett, board chairman, Port Logistics. “We are adding to an already flourishing job market in Tampa Bay and anticipate this partnership impacting this region for decades to come.”
Port Logistics will develop and operate a refrigerated supply chain business dedicated to the economical delivery of quality goods in Florida and the Southeast.
Commissioner Putnam championed agriculture as a $120 billion economic driver and second largest industry in the state of Florida. “It is important that we support businesses that strengthen Florida’s leading industries,” said Putnam. “This [partnership] allows us to create a platform to export the abundance of what we grow in Florida.”
The refrigerated warehouse company anticipates adding more than 65 full-time and part-time jobs to the Tampa Bay market. The facility will be fully operational in July.
About Port Tampa Bay
Port Tampa Bay is Florida’s largest port and the largest economic engine in west central Florida, supporting nearly 80,000 jobs and generating almost $15 billion in annual economic impact. In addition to being a top 10 U.S. cruise port, the port handles a wide array of bulk, break bulk, containers and roll-on/roll-off cargoes, and is a major shipbuilding and repair center. Port Tampa Bay was honored as 2016 Best Port Operator by Lloyd’s List. For more information, visit www.portTB.com.