TAMPA, Fla. — Despite back-to-back hurricanes, Tampa Bay business leaders are touting a successful year. 

What You Need To Know

In fiscal year 2025, the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council has 29 announced projects and a record $273 million in capital investment

According to the EDC, 2,280 new jobs will be added to the market over the next two years

Companies that have moved to or expanded in the Tampa area in fiscal year 2025 include AquaFence, Geico Insurance, OrderlyMeds Pharmaceutical company, Xtend Reality Technology Company, Amazon, Joffries Coffee and Tea Company and defense contractor OrionEdge

The chief revenue officer of AquaFence, Patrik Hansson, said they selected Tampa as Florida’s home base because of its tight-knit community, easy access to the interstate and the area’s available workforce

According to the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council, 29 companies have chosen to expand or move to the Tampa Bay area. That’s brought in a record $273 million in investment for fiscal year 2025.

When the fiscal year started in October, the Tampa area had already been hit by Hurricane Hilton and was about to be hit again by Hurricane Milton. Business leaders were hesitant about moving to the area.

“People were taking a pause, re-evaluating Tampa, re-evaluating Florida as a whole,” said Senior VP for Tampa Bay Economic Development Council Mitchel Allen. “I think what they saw is our resiliency to get back on our feet, really push forward, and so businesses started to come back to us and say we are ready to make the move.”

Business leaders believe Tampa’s workforce has also been a driving factor. Companies want to be in a place where they can find the best talent.

“There’s a shortage of talent out there in general and so companies are looking for their phase one growth, but their phase two growth,” said Allen. “Are the universities producing enough talent with their graduates, are people moving here that are in mid-senior level careers, and are they looking for these type of jobs.”

AquaFence has committed to adding 150 jobs to Tampa Bay in the future. The company builds reusable flood barriers for critical infrastructure and is based out of Norway. But this year, the company chose Tampa to be home to its Florida office. 

“Being here, feeling the love and the community,” AquaFence Chief Revenue Officer Patrik Hansson said. “It’s a big city, but at the same time, you have this small-town feel. We’ve felt at home in Tampa and that was important to us.”

AquaFence is also hoping to bring a factory to the Tampa area as well. Currently, everything is manufactured in Europe and shipped over to the U.S. 

“We’re thinking about moving our production, manufacturing, assembly to Florida,” Hansson said. “And being around the Tampa area, with logistics, an easy in and out with the big highways moving in and out, it’s a good location.”