Incentives, talent behind a corporate HQ move to Tampa

August 31, 2016

Margie Manning | Tampa Bay Business Journal

One of the largest roofing contractors in the United States is relocating its corporate headquarters to Tampa.

North American Roofing Services Inc. plans to open its new HQ at Hidden River Corporate Center Two, at 14025 Riveredge Drive, and create up to 180 new-to-Florida jobs that pay an average annual wage of $61,316.

The Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp. has been working to attract corporate headquarters to the area, because they bring high-level, high-value jobs and are a center of influence.

North American Roofing’s jobs will include executive management, accounting, finance, human resources, legal, and information technology roles.

The Tampa talent pool was a key attraction, Kelly Wade, chief operating officer, said in a statement.

Incentives likely were also a draw. If it fulfills its pledge to create the new jobs, the firm will be in line for $900,000 from the Qualified Target Industry tax refund program — $720,000 from the state and $180,000 combined from the city of Tampa and Hillsborough County.

In May, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported that the Sarasota County Commission rejected incentives for a firm that since has been identified as North American Roofing.

North American Roofing, currently based in Asheville, North Carolina and with $132 million in revenue in 2015, ranked No. 4 on Roofing Contractor’s List of Top 100 Roofing Contractors. The company is a national commercial and industrial roofing firm.

The company considered three other states for its new headquarters, according to a press release from the Tampa Hillsborough EDC.

Tampa “offers the sustainability we need for a very long, successful future,” Brian Verble, CEO, said in the release.

North American Roofing will also invest at least $800,000 in construction, renovations, office equipment and furnishings in the new headquarters facility, using local talent and businesses as part of the design plan, the release said.