Corporate Moves: Florida
- NABI Biopharmaceuticals Celebrates New Vaccine Manufacturing
Facility
- Division of Citigroup Creates 400 New High-Value Jobs
in Northeast Florida
- American Water Opens New Customer Service and Technical
Support Center in Pensacola
- GE Infrastructure Security Chooses Florida as Home to
its International Headquarters
- Tampa Bay Financial Services Leader to Increase Employment
Up to 500 By Year-End 2007
By Mary Ellen McCandless
NABI Biopharmaceuticals Celebrates New Vaccine Manufacturing
Facility
In June, Nabi Biopharmaceuticals officially opened the
company's new, state-of-the-art vaccine manufacturing facility
in Boca Raton, FL. The operation, constructed at the company's
world headquarters in South Florida, will be uniquely able
to produce commercial quantities of StaphVAX® [Staphylococcus
aureus Polysaccharide Conjugate Vaccine] to meet global
demand for the prevention of Staphylococcus aureus bacterial
infections. As a result of this expansion, Nabi is creating
100 new, full-time jobs in Florida and making capital investments
of $39 million in the new facility.
"[The] grand opening of Nabi Biopharmaceutical's new vaccine
manufacturing facility demonstrates Florida's growing leadership
as an international hub for biotechnology and life sciences,"
says Lt. Governor Toni Jennings. "Our state's life sciences
R&D cluster is rapidly growing, yet we have only begun to
tap into the vast potential this sector will play in the
development of technologies and cures that will directly
benefit mankind for many generations to come. I thank Nabi
Biopharmaceuticals for its commitment to make a difference
and for doing so from its base in Florida."
Nabi Biopharmaceuticals, with operations in Florida and
Maryland, $170 million in annual revenues, and over 700
employees, is one of Florida's largest biotechnology companies.
The company is focused on four core business areas: Gram-positive
bacterial infections, hepatitis, kidney disease (nephrology),
and nicotine addiction. They have three products on the
market (PhosLo®, Nabi-HB®, Aloprim™) and a
number of products in various stages of clinical and preclinical
development. Nabi Biopharmaceuticals has advanced StaphVAX®
to Phase III clinical development.
"More than ever before, patient health depends on safe,
compliant, efficient, and effective manufacturing processes,
practices, and facilities," says Raafat E.F. Fahim, Ph.D.,
Senior Vice President, Research, Technical and Production
Operations of Nabi Biopharmaceuticals. "At Nabi Biopharmaceuticals,
we have constructed a world-class, state-of-the-art manufacturing
facility to prepare for the global commercialization of
StaphVAX, as well as the steady stream of products being
developed as a result of our aggressive R&D efforts."
The Governor's Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development
worked closely with Nabi Biopharmaceuticals and Enterprise
Florida, Inc., to help facilitate this expansion for Boca
Raton. Maryland also competed for the project.
Division of Citigroup Creates 400 New High-Value Jobs
in Northeast Florida
In June, Citi Cards dedicated its recently completed Jackson-ville
facility, which houses the Citigroup division's customer
service, collections, and technology support activities.
Construction of the 580,000-square-foot facility began
in January 2004. A year later, the campus was completed
and now houses approximately 4,000 employees. With the increased
capacity, 400 new jobs have been created in Jacksonville.
Of the 33 Citi Cards service facilities, the Jacksonville
campus is the largest.
"Our employees are why we've been so successful in Jacksonville,
and this new campus is a testament to their contributions,"
says Citi Cards Jacksonville President Kristi Bageant-Epperson.
"We have truly found a home here and are proud to reaffirm
our commitment to Jacksonville."
American Water Opens New Customer Service and Technical
Support Center in Pensacola
American Water Service Company, Inc. celebrated the official
opening of its new customer service and technical support
center in Pensacola on May 23.
The company recently completed renovations to the building,
investing approximately $16 million, according to Adam Boelke,
director of customer service. The company has entered into
a 10-year lease of the 63,000-square-foot facility. American
Water expects to employ 220 people by the end of this year.
"We are thrilled American Water chose to expand its U.S.-based
operations in Escambia County, especially during the aftermath
of Hurricane Ivan," says Gov. Jeb Bush. "Their decision
to expand here exemplifies the company's commitment to the
community and serves as a testament to the resiliency and
strength of the Northwest Florida business climate."
"We are very excited about this grand opening," says American
Water Chief Operating Officer, Jim McGivern. "It is a testament
to our continued success, and is part of our long-term business
strategy to meet future customer demand and provide sustainability
in our business continuity plans."
The Governor's Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development
worked closely with Enterprise Florida, Inc., Escambia County,
and the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100 to
secure American Water's location in the region and state.
The company was considering expanding its operations in
Pensacola when Hurricane Ivan landed ashore last fall. Despite
the impacts of the storm, American Water remained steadfast
in its commitment to the community and selected Escambia
County as its newest home.
American Water is part of RWE Thames Water, the world's
third largest water and wastewater services company.
GE Infrastructure Security Chooses Florida as Home to
its International Headquarters
GE Infrastructure Security's new world headquarters in
Bradenton will create 70 new high-wage jobs, and make capital
investments totaling $6 million in equipment relocation
and worker recruitment.
The company is a subsidiary of General Electric with operations
in more than 30 countries. GE's security business is focused
on communication and information technologies for security,
safety, and lifestyle enhancements, and is part of the corporation's
fastest-growing business division, GE Infrastructure, which
provides solutions to some of the world's most challenging
problems including water scarcity and homeland protection.
In March 2005, the company purchased Edwards Systems Technology,
a fire detection systems business with an operation in Manatee
County. GE's Security headquarters will now occupy the existing
Edwards Systems Technology building in Bradenton, along
with the current residents.
"As one of GE's growth platforms, our security business
is focused on being the world's premier security company
offering innovative technology solutions to help our customers
protect people, assets, and communities," says Louis Parker,
COO, GE Infrastructure Security. "We would like to thank
Governor Bush and the great state of Florida for helping
create a strong business environment that allows us to continue
our growth. We believe this is only the beginning of a great
long-term relationship focused on the importance of security
and life safety technology advancements for the world."
The Governor's Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic
Development worked closely with the Manatee County Economic
Development Council, the Board of County Commissioners of
Manatee County, and Enterprise Florida, Inc. to bring this
project to Florida.
Tampa Bay Financial Services Leader to Increase Employment
Up to 500 By Year-End 2007
HSBC North America will expand its mortgage services division
in Florida, adding up to 250 new employees in the Tampa
Bay region this year, with a total employment increase aimed
at 500 by 2007. To accommodate the recent growth of this
top-ranked financial services firm, HSBC North America will
establish operations in Tampa's NetPark complex where the
mortgage services division will support existing customer
service, lending, and management functions.
"[This] announcement demonstrates HSBC's commitment to
the Tampa Bay region and to the state of Florida," says
J.C. Faulkner, group executive of HSBC Mortgage Services.
"We look forward to continuing to attract the best and the
brightest for our servicing team."
The London-based HSBC Group, the parent of HSBC North America,
is one of the world's largest banking and financial services
companies, with a global network of more than 9,800 offices
spanning 77 countries in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region,
the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa.
"We welcome the expansion of HSBC Mortgage Services and
are pleased by the new job opportunities for our community's
citizens," says Jim Norman, Chairman, Hillsborough County
Board of Commissioners. "Corporate partners like HSBC, coupled
with our economic development efforts, keep our economy
strong."
The Governor's Office worked with Hillsborough County,
the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100,
and Enterprise Florida, Inc. to encourage this expansion
in Tampa. South Dakota and Delaware were also vying for
the project.
"HSBC's expansion is a strong indication that the Tampa
market is vibrant and healthy, and our financial services
cluster is still very solid," says Sam Ellison, chair of
the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and managing director
of The Beck Group. "We will continue our efforts to grow
and support this important cluster while at the same time
working to diversify our economic development efforts."
