Accusoft, BlueGrace Logistics announce major expansions

July 22, 2015

Two of Hillsborough County’s homegrown entrepreneurial success stories, Accusoft and BlueGrace Logistics, announced the expansion of their headquarters this month.
 
At an event on July 8 with Governor Rick Scott, Commissioner Sandy Murman, Chair of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners , and EDC President and CEO Rick Homans, BlueGrace Logistics announced the expansion of its Riverview headquarters along with plans to hire 100 new employees by 2017. The new positions will include technology, accounting, legal, and professional services.
 
Founded in Apollo Beach in 2009 by Bobby Harris, BlueGrace Logistics offers a web-based proprietary transportation management system, BlueShip®, that enables companies to consolidate all of their shipping requirements into one resource, in addition to other freight services.
 
Harris, a USF graduate, quickly rose among the ranks of rising star entrepreneurs in the state. In 2011 and 2012, he was honored as one of Ernst and Young’s Florida’s Entrepreneur of the Year finalists; in 2014, he won Entrepreneur of the Year in Florida in the Emerging Category.
 
BlueGrace Logistics currently has 165 employees across the country.
 
“More than ever, top talent from across the U.S. wants to make Tampa their home,” said Harris, BlueGrace’s CEO. “This partnership helps make that a reality. We couldn’t be more excited to further our investment in expanding in this market.”
 
Less than a week later, Accusoft CEO Jack Berlin announced plans to expand its headquarters, which will create 125 new jobs by 2019. The company, a global provider of document, content and imaging solutions, is creating new jobs in software development, engineering, and other key functions and will pay an average salary of $75,000.
 
Governor Scott, Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners Chair Sandy Murman, Mayor Bob Buckhorn, and USF President Judy Genshaft were on hand to celebrate Accusoft’s achievement and applaud Jack Berlin for his contributions to growing Tampa’s technology industry over the past two decades.
 
Governor Scott said, “Companies like Accusoft know Florida’s pro-business climate is the best place to grow and create jobs, and we are excited to announce 125 new jobs for Tampa families today. More than 879,700 private-sector jobs have been created in our state since December 2010, and we will keep working every day to create an environment that encourages business growth so Florida can become the global destination for jobs.”
 
We are always excited and proud to see Tampa and Hillsborough County’s homegrown entrepreneurial grow, and a big part of our mission is to help them do just that. Congratulations to Bobby Harris and Jack Berlin and the talented people that fuel their organization’s success.
 
If you’d like to learn more about how the EDC can help your business with your workforce and expansion needs, please check out our expansion services and reach out to our team. We’d be delighted to answer your questions and assist you.