Manufacturing Month Spotlight: Made in Pinellas
Tampa Bay’s largest manufacturing employee base celebrates Manufacturing Month
October 1, 2026 – Pinellas County boasts the largest manufacturing industry employee base in the Tampa Bay region at over 34,000 strong and ranks #5 in Florida for total manufacturing establishments. Our manufacturing legacy is rooted in industries like aerospace, electronics, and medical devices, and is home to manufacturing powerhouses like General Electric and Jabil. But the depth of Pinellas County’s manufacturing industry doesn’t stop at the big names: hundreds of companies are thriving in our Ideal Business Climate, supporting a wide array of innovative products, in-demand jobs, and local capital investment.
This Manufacturing Month, Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED) celebrates our manufacturers of all sizes including the following PCED clients:
- Intellitech is “Filling Tomorrow’s Needs Today” by building the i-FILL® family of precision pumps and custom fluid-path systems for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Intellitech first reached out to PCED in August of 2015 to explore moving its manufacturing business to Pinellas County. PCED staff shared the benefits of locating in Pinellas, such as state tax exemptions on electricity & machinery and training grant programs. At that time, the State and local governments had a job creation inducement that Intellitech was able to receive. “We were pleased to hear that there were programs and incentives to help ease the financial challenge of moving our business from Maryland,” explains Barbara Biller, President of Intellitech, Inc. “Working with PCED made this move easier and the information was useful and valuable.”
- Techno Aerospace merges luxury branding with aviation engineering to create certified, flight-ready interior solutions like QATAR Airways’ first class branding panel. Since first beginning to work with Techno Aerospace under its former name, Jormac Aerospace, in 2007, PCED has connected the manufacturer with state tax exemptions and training grants. PCED staff has continually maintained a relationship with Techno Aerospace to alert the company to program changes and new opportunities, and Techno Aerospace has provided assistance and testimonial when PCED assisted aviation/aerospace companies considering a relocation to Pinellas County. Colt Mehler, Senior Vice President of Techno Aerospace, attests, “PCED has been a valued partner to our company for many years, connecting us with local and external resources, strategic partners, and growth opportunities through programs offered both locally and by the State of Florida.”
Pinellas County Economic Development takes a hands-on, personalized approach to help manufacturers thrive. We offer the tools, resources, and partnerships needed to fuel job creation, attract investment, and build high-wage careers. Through collaboration with educators, agencies, and emerging talent sources, we’re shaping the future of smart manufacturing—right here in Pinellas.
Ready to launch or grow your manufacturing business? Contact our team today at PCED.ORG/Manufacturing, or call (727) 464-7332.
About Pinellas County Economic Development
Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED) works with existing businesses to encourage expansion and seeks to attract new companies with high-wage careers to our community. Through investment tools, business classes, professional consulting services, trade missions to open new markets, and strategic partnerships, PCED fosters a pro-business environment and promotes the ideal business climate of Pinellas County, Florida. Learn more at www.pced.org.
