Johnson & Johnson to bring 500 jobs to Tampa

August 27, 2015

 
 
Jerome R. Stockfisch, Tampa Tribune
 
Global health care giant Johnson & Johnson will open a new North American shared services headquarters in Tampa, creating 500 jobs over the next three years with a capital investment of $23.5 million into the region.
 
A major taxpayer-funded incentive package helped lure the New Brunswick, N.J.-based company to establish the operation in the first five floors of Hidden River Corporate Center One near Interstate 75 and Fletcher Avenue. It will likely include roles such as human resources, accounting, information technology and other back-office roles.
 
“We currently have a strong presence in Florida and this new site will continue to build on the successes that our businesses have already achieved across the state,” said Erin Champlin, vice president of Johnson & Johnson Global Services, in an announcement of the move. “We look forward to increasing our presence in the state and within the Tampa community.”
 
In March, the Hillsborough county commissioners and the Tampa City Council approved a combined local incentive package of $1.5 million. That was pooled with a commitment of $4.9 million from the state through the Quick Action Closing Fund program for a $6.4 million overall incentive offer.
 
The incentives are performance-based, meaning funds are only paid after the jobs are created at a minimum average annual wage of $75,000.
 
Economic development officials in the spring said they were working on a $9.1 million deal that would yield 700 jobs. Rick Homans, president and chief executive of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp., said the deal announced Thursday represented the first phase of Johnson & Johnson’s plans. A second phase of growth will be dealt with separately, he said.
 
“This lands Johnson & Johnson in our market with both feet at a very high level, and it gives the company a chance to find out what a remarkable place this is to do business,” Homans said. “We hope that we will see all kinds of growth from Johnson & Johnson in the years ahead.”
 
Johnson & Johnson is one of the most highly recognized brand names in the world. Its consumer health care products include its eponymous baby shampoo and lotion, Band-Aid adhesive bandages, Listerine mouthwash and Tylenol pain reliever.
 
“Tampa offers everything Johnson & Johnson needs to attract and retain the best talent for their new North American shared services headquarters,” Mayor Bob Buckhorn said in the announcement. “Our city has become a magnet for well-educated millennials, and our lifestyle and business climate can’t be beat. Johnson & Johnson made the right choice in choosing Tampa, and we look forward to supporting their growth here for decades to come.”