Pasco County has agreed to spend $3.5 million to install sewer pipes and two lift stations on property surrounding the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport.
County commissioners approved the funding as part of a cooperative agreement with the City of Zephyrhills at a Dec. 13 meeting in Dade City.
The county investment complements about $4.5 million spent by the City of Zephyrhills to improve water lines in order to increase capacity and pressure.
The coordinated efforts are strategically targeted at nearly 500 acres next to the airport.
The goal is to get the property build-ready for developers interested in aerospace, manufacturing, light industrial, assembly companies, and plastics.
“This is being proactive, not reactive,” said Pasco County Chairman Mike Moore. “We know there are opportunities there.”
Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano agreed.
“Site selectors are going to love this,” he said.
The funds will pay for the lift stations and about 20,000 linear feet of sewer lines.
The county and city partnership began in 2015, when Duke Energy and consultants, with McCallum Sweeney, completed a study and site assessment of about 480 acres around the airport.
The study concluded that the property had great potential, but needed infrastructure to make it marketable to developers.
Another selling point is a CSX rail line through the property.
The land is part of the county’s “pad ready” program, which seeks to promote industrial sites through similar infrastructure installations.
The Pasco Economic Development Council is helping the county to target industrial sites within the county.
Published December 21, 2016
