SMARTstartMiTek to Locate Steel Connector Plate & Builder Product Manufacturing Facility in City of Zephyrhills
August 6, 2024
Company to invest nearly $80 million at the North Tampa Bay Industrial Park Ready Site and will employ 150 people at their new Pasco County location
PASCO COUNTY, FLORIDA (August 6, 2024): Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC), City of Zephyrhills, and Pasco Board of County Commissioners are pleased to welcome MiTek to Pasco County, Florida. MiTek purchased the 111-acre North Tampa Bay Industrial Park Ready Site in the City of Zephyrhills. The company is expecting to invest nearly $80 million in the new 480,000 square foot facility where the company will manufacture steel connector plates and builder products for the construction industry. The new location will allow the company to retain 125 jobs and create an additional 25 jobs.
“We are excited to put down roots in Pasco County and to be part of the ongoing economic development in this area,” said Douglas Krauss, MiTek SVP, Global Supply Chain and Manufacturing. “This new location is close to our present-day facilities, which will help us retain our talented team members, while also giving us space to increase capacity for raw materials and finished goods. We have a high concentration of customers in Florida, so this is really a long-term investment in MiTek’s future, our customers, and the Pasco County community.”
MiTek is a construction technology leader on a mission to advance the adoption of off-site construction. MiTek serves residential and commercial customers, delivering software, services, engineered systems, and automated solutions that optimize a more integrated Design-Make-Build™ approach to construction, a methodology that enables the delivery of exceptionally streamlined builds that offer high quality, increased speed, less waste, and more value for everyone involved.
The Pasco County site will be developed in three phases. Phase one is currently underway and involves civil, geotechnical, environmental, and architectural research to determine the best way to develop the site for MiTek's specifications. Phase two will begin in the coming months as MiTek finalizes permits and contracts and begins site development and building construction, with the goal of breaking ground in the fourth quarter of 2024. Phase three includes purchasing equipment for the facility. MiTek is targeting to complete the building in the fourth quarter of 2025 and to begin operations in the first quarter of 2026.
One of MiTek's site requirements was to be able to connect directly to a current rail network via its own rail spur. The Pasco County site is well-positioned near one of CSX's main lines, which will enable the new site to be serviced.
“I am excited that MiTek chose Pasco County for its Southeast Center of Excellence,” shared Bill Cronin, President/CEO, Pasco EDC. “This is the third Ready Site purchased by a target industry and a great testament to the public/private partnerships we have developed.”
The Ready Sites Program assesses, evaluates, and certifies large tracts of land to prepare properties for industrial development and create a portfolio of project-ready sites for targeted industries. The Ready Sites Program is supported by the Penny for Pasco.
On July 22, 2024, the City of Zephyrhills approved incentives totaling up to $2.9 million. The incentive package includes waiving or reimbursing transportation impact fees up to $430,500 and permit fees up to $432,425. Additionally, they will provide a job creation incentive cash grant equal to the amount of 50 percent of ad valorem city property taxes paid for the first 10-year period.
"I am thrilled to have MiTek building their new facility here in Zephyrhills. Working closely with the Pasco EDC and utilizing the Ready Sites Program, we now have evaluated sites for industrial projects. This has been pivotal to the ongoing development of the Zephyrhills Industrial Corridor where the city has worked to preserve the Chancey Road area for job creation, and the addition of MiTek aligns with our vision,” shared Mayor Melonie Bahr Monson, City of Zephyrhills. “The collaboration with Duke Energy, Pasco County, and MiTek is a testament to how partnerships can work. We look forward to working with MiTek, and to the addition of new jobs in our region."
Today, the Pasco County Commissioners approved a 10-year performance based Economic Incentive Agreement for ad valorem tax reimbursement, job creation, and a workforce training grant up to $3.15 million.
“Pasco County is delighted to welcome MiTek to our community,” said Pasco Board of County Commissioner Chair Ron Oakley. “This economic development project is another step in creating employment and development in close proximity to the Zephyrhills Airport. Pasco County is seeing the benefits of investing $3 million in utility infrastructure in the area.”
“Projects through the Duke Energy Florida Investment Fund and Advancing Sites Fund encourage new development and create economic opportunity to help power the vitality of the communities we serve,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida State President. “We’re proud to support the Pasco Economic Development Council, City of Zephyrhills, Pasco Board of County Commissioners and MiTek.”
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About Pasco Economic Development Council
The Pasco Economic Development Council is committed to developing Florida's most competitive climate for business growth by providing businesses that seek to start, move, or grow in the North Tampa Bay area, a comprehensive suite of programs that can help them to reach their full economic potential. Since 1987, Pasco EDC has fostered a strong partnership funded by corporate and public investors focused on the economic vitality of Pasco County. Discover more at www.pascoedc.com.