The Pasco County Commission has approved an incentive agreement with Gary Plastic Packaging Corp., in a deal expected to result in 555 new manufacturing jobs.
The board unanimously approved a total of $983,000 in incentives during its Dec. 6 meeting.
The property is located in the Harrod Properties venture, at the North Pasco Corporate Center, according to David Engel, director of Pasco County’s Office of Economic Growth.
That project consists of two buildings, each being approximately 440,000 square feet, on 72 acres, off Softwind Lane, in Spring Hill.
One of the buildings, according to the developer’s website, has been completely leased, Engel said. Gary Plastics Packaging will occupy 279,000 square feet of industrial space in the other building.
“The property has been cleared and is under mass grading right now and construction is imminent,” Engel said.
He also noted that Gary Plastic is investing approximately $16 million in improvements such as manufacturing equipment, furniture, and other fixtures.
Harrod Properties is set to invest approximately $50 million in the building, land, and infrastructure, according to a Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC) news release.
Engel outlined the incentives package for Gary Plastic Packaging Corp., for the county board.
He said the economic deal essentially can be broken into three buckets. $552,000 for 184 new jobs; $306,206 for a high-impact bonus; and, $100,000 in training funds.
The agreement is a terrific investment for the county, Engel said.
“For every dollar the county provides, we’re getting back annually approximately $110. So, the rate of return is enormous to the community,” Engel said.
The deal came to the county through the Pasco EDC.
Tom Ryan, director of business development for the Pasco EDC, has been working for four years to secure it.
Ryan told the county board that he went to the Bronx to meet with Richard Hellinger, president of Gary Plastic.
“He was enamored with the idea of moving to Florida, he thought it was a great opportunity, but he was looking at two other states. So we had to make our case, and we made our case,” Ryan said.
The biggest issue was finding a suitable space, Ryan said.
Hellinger, the company president, told the county board that he’s “super excited about this opportunity to expand my operation into Pasco County, from New York.”
He expressed enthusiasm for the workforce training opportunities available in Pasco, through the county’s high schools, colleges and AmSkills.
Hellinger also provided some insights about his company, which was named for his father, Gary.
The company was founded in 1963, Hellinger said. It produces plastic packaging and plastic promotional items.
The plastic packaging is clear, hinged containers for the electronics industry and the medical industry, he said.
The vast majority of the company’s product now — 85% — is in the promotional space, he added.
The company’s customers include government, pharmaceutical, medical, gift, cosmetic, jewelry, hardware, automotive, food, drug, and discount chain accounts throughout the United States, according to its website.
Published December 14, 2022
