Gov. Rick Scott announced that a London-based insurance brokerage will add 157 jobs and make $9 million in capital investments for a new office in Tampa.
Willis Group Holdings PLC, which sells risk advisory services as well as insurance and reinsurance products, already operates eight offices in Florida, but the new Tampa location will serve as the company’s “Operational Center of Excellence in North America.” Willis officials said the new office will be state-of-the-art and modern.
“We are excited to announce the creation of 157 jobs for families in Tampa. Willis could have chosen any location for their new Operational Center of Excellence, but they knew that Florida was the best place to grow their business and create new jobs,” Scott said in a press release.
Jeff Elliott, Willis’ director in North America, said the company chose Tampa because the city provides “geographical diversity” for the company and also because Tampa is “home to a large insurance community from which to draw talent.” Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn said those workers have earned their reputation.
Though exact details were not disclosed in the announcement, Department of Economic Opportunity records show adding all 157 jobs would make Willis eligible for $785,000 in incentives money – $628,000 from the State of Florida and $157,000 from the local government – through the Qualified Target Industry fund, which gives companies a $3,000 tax credit for each new job with higher pay than the area average.
Scott, as he is wont to do, used the expansion to push his economic development plan, which calls for $250 million in incentives funding in the 2016-17 budget to start the “Florida Enterprise Fund.”
That sum is far higher than what the Legislature has allocated for incentives in the past, though officials say that money would be enough for three years.
The governor also wants streamline the approval process for deals that would cost the state more than $1 million by allowing the House Speaker, Senate President and governor to sign off on deals without a full vote in the Legislature.
