Time Warner Chooses Tampa For New Services Center

As Time Warner considered 59 cities throughout the United States to house their new Services Center, Tampa was ultimately chosen.

Beating out cities such as Rochester, N.Y. and Atlanta, Ga., Time Warner decided on a 23,289-square-foot office space in the 8-story Highwoods' Lake Pointe Two of Westshore's business district in Tampa Bay Park. Laurie Alden represented Highwoods Properties during the leasing process while Jack Hoskins of CBRE Group represented Time Warner.

“When it came down to the three finalists, we were competing against two communities where Time Warner has a much larger and significant presence,” says Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation (EDC) President and CEO Rick Homans. “Time Warner's decision endorses the quality of Tampa's workforce and business climate, sending a strong signal to Corporate America that Tampa is a good business destination.”

With plans to invest $5 million into the Services Center, the facility is slated to open in the summer of 2012. Upon opening, the new center will have the capacity to employ up to 150 Tampa Bay residents, filling a variety of information technology and human resources positions. Time Warner is promising a salary of $57,200 per year.

“This average wage is well above Hillsborough County's current average of $44,544,” Homans says. “Clearly these are desirable jobs offered by a company that any community would welcome having.”

In September, Time Warner announced its commitment to the Tampa Bay region with plans to create 500 jobs in Hillsborough County by 2016. In Atlanta, the company currently employs hundreds who work for Turner Broadcasting, including television channels such as CNN, Headline News, TBS and Turner Classic Movies.

“This great news builds momentum for our economic development efforts and will provide excellent employment and career opportunities for Hillsborough County citizens,” says Hillsborough County Commission Chairman Ken Hagan.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Rick Homans, Tampa Hillsborough EDC & Ken Hagan, Hillsborough County Commission