SR 52 Industrial Development Project To Bring 2,400 New Jobs To Pasco

PASCO COUNTY, FL — The Pasco Board of County Commissioners has approved a major industrial building project in Zephyrhills that commissioners say will transform and revitalize the area and bring 2,400 new jobs to the county.

The project, at the northeast corner of Interstate 75 and State Road 52, is a 1.4 million-square-foot, build-to-suit distribution center on 218 acres.

"It's basically two football fields in floor area," said David Engel, director of the Pasco County Office of Economic Growth.

He said the developer is discussing adding a 500,000-square-foot mezzanine to the $205 million building that will have $100 million in equipment as well.

Clark Hobby represents the developer, Northpoint Development LLC of Kansas City, which he described as the largest privately held light industrial developer in North America.

"This is an exciting project," Hobby said. "I can't talk about the end user here, but the project is being designed and constructed for a major regional distribution center that will include a significant number of jobs."

The project, known now as Project Channel, also includes construction of nearly $10 million in road improvements in the area, and Engel said the developer has requested $6.3 million in assistance from the county in the form of ad valorem tax relief over 20 years.

"The projected revenue over that period will be $19.1 million, so when you net out the $6.3 million in ad valorem assistance, the general fund will capture at least $12.8 million in revenue," Engel said.

"My client is so confident in the deal happening that we are planning to start construction in late August or early September," Hobby said, adding that it could lead to more collaborations with Northpoint.

"It's a huge net benefit to the county," he said.

The commission eagerly approved the agreement.

“This project will bring more than 2,000 jobs to Pasco County and will help provide a stable livelihood for so many people,” said commission chairwoman Kathryn Starkey. “Our county continues to attract companies with a common goal of creating measured growth that will have a positive impact on Pasco for years.”

“I’m glad to see this project come forward,” said Commissioner Ron Oakley. “This is another example of the great things happening in east Pasco, including good jobs and smart growth.”

Project highlights include:

• A nearly 1.4 million-square-foot, build-to-suit, distribution center
• At least $19 million in county property revenue generated over the next 20 years
• About 2,400 full-time jobs once the project is complete

Engel said the project has an estimated return on investment of $195 for every $1 Pasco spends.