Hillsborough County is located in west central Florida and is one of seven counties often collectively referred to as Tampa Bay. The Hillsborough County Economic Development Department administers programs that sustain and encourage the economic growth of the local economy, including programs that stimulate the creation of quality jobs for the skilled and semi-skilled work force. The Department’s Corporate Business Development (CBD) section is committed to increasing quality job opportunities for the community’s residents by helping to establish, maintain and project Hillsborough County’s business friendly climate to corporations that create and sustain those desirable quality jobs.

The CBD section of the Hillsborough County Economic Development Department commissioned the Hillsborough County 2003 Manufacturing Survey. Innovation Insight, in accordance with its Cooperative Agreement with the Center for Economic Development Research (CEDR), conducted the survey and provided an analysis of the survey’s findings.

578 manufacturing companies were selected from a commercial database provided by InfoUSA, courtesy of the Tampa Chamber of Commerce / Committee of 100. Surveys and cover letters were mailed by July 7th, with responses collected by mail (self-addressed stamped return envelopes included), facsimile, and internet until July 31, 2003. 75 responses were received, for an estimated response rate of approximately 13%.

Overall, the survey responses indicate that the participating manufacturers viewed Hillsborough County as competitive, at least comparable to other U.S. business climates overall. The quality of the overall business climate was rated as “better than average,” with a 3.9 rating out of a possible 5. There are specific areas where the County excels, such as utilities, air transportation, sports and entertainment, arts and culture. The quality of
these business climate factors are rated as better than average by both high-tech, and non high-tech designated respondents. This positive overall rating is due to the fact that the areas of greatest defi ciency were still given roughly an “average” rating by respondents. These elements of Hillsborough County’s business climate include insurance, road infrastructure, taxation structures, and financing methods. Insurance costs stands out as a topic that respondents indicated has the greatest disparity between its current quality and its importance to manufacturing.

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