Scott Talcott
Business Development Manager
stalcott@pinellascounty.org
(727) 464-7353  -- Bio –

Target Industries
Advanced Manufacturing
Aviation & Aerospace
Business & Financial Services
Defense & Homeland Security
Information Technology
Life Sciences & Medical Technologies

Workforce & Hiring
CareerSource Pinellas

Available Properties
Interactive Property Search
Qrtly Vacancy & Rental Rates
Contact A Site Specialist

Investment Tools
Incentives
FHTC Research Grants

Pinellas Defense & Homeland Security

Industry Leaders

DRS Technologies
General Dynamics Ordnance
GE Aviation
Honeywell International
Jabil Circuit
L-3 Communications
Lockheed Martin
National Forensics Science 
Tech Center
Raytheon

Defense & Homeland Security
Industry Associations
FL Defense Contractors Assn
FL Defense Support Task Force
MyMacDill
Nat'l Defense Industry Assn
Space Florida
Tampa Bay Defense Alliance
Women in Defense

Financing

Bonds, Lending &
Venture Capital

Pinellas' Defense Sector Survey; It's a Whole New Ball Game

It's no secret that the defense sector has been facing declining numbers due to a long laundry list of uncertainties. The new keyword is "affordability". What does that mean for this industry in Pinellas County?

We asked TuckerHall to discuss with existing employers how the recent reductions in federal defense spending have impacted the local industry. This information will guide us as we develop a prioritized list of strategies to effectively assist Pinellas' defense companies so that they can compete, expand and create new jobs.

Click here to learn what local companies had to say and
where there are opportunities for the future.

Pinellas County is home to four major military installations - US Coast Guard Air Station, US Army Reserve MEDEVAC, Florida National Guard 48th WMD CST, Army National Guard 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team – Only miles from MacDill Air Force Base (6th Air Mobility Wing for airlift and refueling) which also hosts U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command.  

Workforce

• 40,000 direct and indirect jobs are related to Pinellas’ defense sector employment

• 100,000 veterans call Pinellas County home

• Pinellas is the largest manufacturing employee base among eight Tampa Bay counties, and is the second largest manufacturing employee base in the State of Florida.

• Workforce training is available through Pinellas Technical College and St. Petersburg College, including CNC machining, welding, mechatronics, and supply chain management. Coming soon: the German apprenticeship model.

The United States Coast Guard Air Station at Clearwater is the largest and busiest air station in the Coast Guard.   

Contracts Awarded to Employers with a Pinellas County location (2014)

• 2,074  prime U.S. Dept. of Defense (DoD) contracts
• $531.6 million in contracts awarded 
• 36% of the region’s DoD awards
  
  Subcontractor Awards

• 31 contracts, totalling $ 602,257
• 74% of the region’s subcontractor awards

Unclassified Test Bed - Pinellas County

National Interest Security Company (NISC) maintains an Unclassified Test Bed (UTB) in St. Petersburg, a type of Research and Development (R&D) lab where new Information Technology (IT) products can be rapidly evaluated, matured, and integrated into existing systems for use by operational forces. The UTB provides an environment for the testing of hardware and software in a laboratory setting. 

Industry Support

Pinellas County’s Defense and Homeland Security industries include companies specializing in aviation, aerospace, electronics, advanced radar, radio frequency systems, space defense systems, satellites, ordnance, tactical intelligence, surveillance, specialty vehicles, explosive prevention/protection, protective apparel, military forensics and geospatial intelligence.

Lockheed Martin Solar Carport Project

Lockheed Martin in partnership with Advanced Green Technologies broke ground to establish Florida's Largest Private, Non-Utility Solar Array. This project will create 151,400 sq. ft. of protected parking for 534 cars sheltered by 7,260 solar modules.

Defense and Homeland Security Industry Cluster