ZEPHYRHILLS – Monin plans to purchase 70 acres of the Zephyrhills Airport Industrial Park Ready Site in the City of Zephyrhills.
The company, which provides flavoring products for creating specialty beverages and elevated culinary solutions, is expecting to invest over $100 million in a new facility where it will produce and distribute its product across the U.S.
“As we evaluated potential sites for our new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, we prioritized locations with a pro-business environment and a growing talent pool,” Monin CEO Bill Lombardo said. “Zephyrhills emerged as the ideal choice. With established food and beverage leaders like Zephyrhills Bottled Water and Bauducco Foods already calling the area home, we knew we were joining the right community. The Monin team is thrilled to expand our operations in Pasco County and bring even more quality jobs to the region.”
Greg Grabau, chief financial officer for Monin, described the decision as the “result of a disciplined process.”
“We assessed 10 candidate sites across four states before Zephyrhills rose to the top on labor availability, site readiness and long-term manufacturing potential,” Grabau said. “Its proximity to our original Clearwater facility is also a meaningful advantage as we ramp up, allowing both locations to share expertise and best practices.”
Duke Energy and Pasco EDC previously partnered to evaluate and market Zephyrhills Airport Industrial Park through two separate site evaluation programs.
“Monin’s investment is about much more than a new manufacturing facility; it’s about building long-term prosperity for our community. This project validates years of collaboration between Pasco EDC, Pasco County, the City of Zephyrhills, Duke Energy and our partners at the state to prepare and market competitive industrial sites,” said Bill Cronin, president and CEO of Pasco EDC. “The result is high-quality jobs, significant private investment and an expanded local and state tax base that will generate economic benefits for years to come.”
Grabau said Monin plans to hire more than 100 employees and invest more than $111 million in the initial phase.
The City of Zephyrhills recently approved incentives totaling $3,289,372. The incentive package is based on the company creating 100 new full-time positions which will have average annual wages of at least $46,760.
The city’s approved incentive package includes waiving or reimbursing transportation impact fees up to $252,750 and permit fees up to $435,060. Additionally, they will provide a job creation cash grant equal to the amount of 50% of ad valorem city property taxes for Years 1-5 and 25% for Years 6-10.
“The momentum in Zephyrhills continues to grow,” Zephyrhills Mayor Melonie Bahr Monson said. “Following several major investments in our industrial corridor, we’re proud to welcome Monin, Inc. as another globally recognized company choosing to invest in our community. At the City of Zephyrhills, we invite businesses to ‘Jump Right In,’ and Monin has done exactly that. Their decision to locate here reflects the strength of our workforce, our strategic location and our commitment to creating an environment where businesses can thrive. This investment will create quality jobs, strengthen our local economy, and reinforce that Zephyrhills is a place where opportunity springs.”
Construction is projected to generate 564 job-years locally and $148.4 million in economic output through 2026. Once the facility is fully operational, it’s anticipated to support 173 ongoing jobs and contribute $53.9 million in annual output. Beyond the immediate impact, the project will provide steady tax revenues for Pasco (about $1.09 million during construction and roughly $260,000 each year afterward) creating ongoing value for the community.
“Monin’s decision to invest here is a tremendous win for Pasco County,” Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley said. “This project brings high-quality jobs, new opportunities for our residents and continues the momentum we’re seeing across the Zephyrhills area. We’re proud to welcome Monin to our community.”
