Gov. Rick Scott announced on Friday that CLI Solutions, a national defense intelligence company, plans to create up to 40 jobs -- ranging from engineers and analysts to linguists and translators -- and spend $3.4 million to build a new headquarters in Tampa.
Military and civilian employees retiring from USCENTCOM and United States Special Operations Command, as well as those displaced by NASA layoffs on the Space Coast, will be targeted for the new jobs.
At CLI Solutions, we employ specialists with advanced degrees and experience in the intelligence field, Husein Atari, president and CEO, stated in a release.
Because we hire locally, it is important for us to be based in a strong, defense-oriented community. We look forward to continuing our growth in Tampa and providing high-paying, stable careers for our retiring service members.
The company expansion is the sixth job announcement by the governors office since the start of November, topped by Pratt & Whitney and the Winter Haven Intermodal Rail Terminal.
Pratt & Whitney intends to add 230 jobs as part of a $63 million investment into its manufacturing plant in northern Palm Beach County, while the Winter Haven Intermodal Rail Terminal, being built and run by Jacksonville-based CSX Transportation affiliate Evansville Western Railway, is to create 200 jobs directly and up to 8,500 jobs indirectly, and generate more than $10 billion in economic development, over a 10-year period.
It was great news when CLI Solutions decided to locate their headquarters in Tampa, and now they have chosen to expand even further in Florida, Scott stated in a release on Friday.
My top priority is to create a business climate that will create more jobs for Floridas families. We are striving to make Florida the best place in the world to do business, and Floridas families deserve the best job opportunities available to help them live the American dream. Its great news as we head into the holiday season.
The seven-year-old company, which currently employs 49 in Tampa and has locations in Kentucky and Washington, D.C., had considered Charlotte, Atlanta and Anne Arundel County, Md., for the new headquarters.
CLI Solutions illustrates the ability of defense and security companies to flourish in Hillsborough County, Rick Homans, president and CEO of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp., stated in a release.
Their expansion aligns with our efforts to promote and expand this industry, and provides another compelling reason to retain our military veterans within the local labor force.
The company has been in Tampa since securing a major intelligence and analysis support contract with United States Central Command that was done in partnership with SAIC, an American defense company.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
