Defense Contractor Expansion Fuels Economic Growth in Pinellas County
Defense contractor McCormick Stevenson expanded its Pinellas County operations to add manufacturing, assembly, and test capabilities to its existing headquarters and engineering services. The expansion involved redeveloping a former 16,000-square-foot retail facility and was supported by Pinellas County’s Employment Sites Program. McCormick Stevenson has created 50 engineering and technology jobs since its founding over 27 years ago and expects to add dozens of new science and engineering positions over the next 10 years.
“We’re very excited to continue our strategic growth here in Pinellas County,” says McCormick Stevenson’s Vice President of Business Development & Strategy Noel McCormick. “Launching into new capabilities required space we just didn’t have at our previous location. By repurposing a former retail facility with the right amount of square footage, we’ve been able to add military systems manufacturing, labs and test functions to our portfolio, strengthening our position as a leader in the area’s defense industrial base.”
The Employment Sites Program (ESP) provides funding assistance for the construction and redevelopment of industrial and office buildings to support existing business growth and attract new target industry employers to Pinellas County. McCormick Stevenson applied for and was approved to receive $221,000 in ESP assistance to help fund the more than $1 million in retrofits required to convert the former retail space into an appropriate industrial facility.
“The Employment Sites Program is a valuable tool for business retention,” explains Scott Talcott, Pinellas County Economic Development Economic (PCED) Development Manager. “Space is a premium commodity here, which means every acre and facility is an asset that we strategically leverage to support growing businesses. While transforming a standard retail building into a specialized high-tech defense facility requires significant investment, the ESP bridges that gap. With this program, we can say to companies like McCormick Stevenson, ‘We want to keep your business and high-paying jobs in our community – and we can help you do it.’”
PCED’s support for McCormick Stevenson has not been limited to ESP assistance. Our team has worked directly with the company since 2005, helping McCormick Stevenson navigate previous expansions and connecting the company to state workforce assistance and training grant funding. Long relationships like this provide local businesses with quick answers and guidance from trusted experts: necessary conditions to keep important employers thriving in Pinellas County rather than looking for opportunities elsewhere.
“McCormick Stevenson is a proud member of the Pinellas County business community,” affirms Noel McCormick, “and we want to continue doing business here in the future. We know we can count on PCED to guide and support our company as we continue to attract federal defense investment and high-tech career opportunities to the area.”
Learn more about Pinellas County’s Employment Sites Program at www.PCED.ORG/ESP.
Find McCormick Stevenson at www.mccst.com.
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.
