Tampa pharma manufacturer Xcelience adds 100 jobs, keeps 100 more

March 13, 2015

 
 
Jeff Harrington | Tampa Bay Times
 
Pharmaceutical manufacturer Xcelience is expanding its Tampa headquarters, creating 100 jobs while pledging to keep 100 current ones.
 
Xcelience committed to invest $9 million as it expands both its manufacturing operations and pharmaceutical development labs in the area. New positions will include staff for drug development, manufacturing, quality assurance and packaging.
 
Gov. Rick Scott, who revealed the company’s plans Friday, has made adding jobs the focal point of his administration. “It is announcements like this that are helping our state become the global destination for jobs,” he said.
 
Derek Hennecke, company president and CEO, called Tampa “a great place to build a base of scientific capabilities,” citing government support, easy airport access for out-of-state clients, and a warm climate that attracts a stable workforce.
 
“Exciting things are coming down the pipeline, for Tampa, for Xcelience, and the exciting new medical treatments we are developing with our clients,” Hennecke said.
 
Xcelience hits a sweet spot for economic development efforts in more ways than one. It overlaps with manufacturing and the biotechnology industry, two higher-paying arenas that state and local leaders are keen on growing.
 
Enterprise Florida, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and local development officials paved the way for the deal earlier this year by endorsing $500,000 in incentives through the state’s Qualified Target Industry (QTI) program,
 
In January, Hillsborough County Commissioners and the Tampa City Council approved a combined local incentive package of $100,000 in QTI funds, which were backed by a $400,000 commitment from the state.
 
The funds, intended to create up to 100 high-wage jobs, are to be distributed over a six-year period and will be performance-based. The company will only be paid after jobs are created at the wages promised. To qualify for incentives, the new jobs must pay a minimum average wage of $56,000.
 
Separately, the state will provide Xcelience with $135,000 in Quick Response Training (QRT) program funds to reimburse training costs for new employees along with $585,000 in sales tax exemptions for qualified manufacturing and equipment purchases.
 
For more information, job seekers are urged to visit the company’s career website at xcelience.com/careers.