Research on tiny devices may have big payoff for Tampa Bay area

TAMPA — A research lab that develops microscopic machines for medical and defense use represents latest hope for civic leaders who envision Tampa Bay as a high-tech workplace.

Hillsborough County officials confirmed they are in negotiations to bring satellite operations of Cambridge, Mass.-based Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc. to Tampa and St. Petersburg.

A key decision takes place today when Hillsborough commissioners consider giving the non-profit $6-million to come.

Draper is seeking another $4-million from the University of South Florida Research Foundation, and $10-million from the Florida Innovation Incentive Program. Those subsidies must still be approved.

The money would go toward turning an unfinished building space at USF into a lab and stocking it with equipment. In return, Draper is expected to create 100 jobs paying $75,000 or more.

Hillsborough officials believe it could lead to another 271 spinoff jobs.

“If this project is approved, it will advance our agenda to create a cluster of biotech and high-tech companies in Hillsborough County,” said Economic Development Director Gene Gray. “This is a field of research that has unlimited potential for scientific discovery and the commercialization of that discovery.

“It’s the kind of jobs that any community would welcome.”

Draper is also seeking public financial support for a $14-million electronics plant in St. Petersburg. The company would team up with an existing, but unnamed Pinellas County defense contractor to make “multichip modules,” an advanced form of circuit boards.

Governments on both sides of the bay gave preliminary approval to the projects in April, but the company behind them was not named. The two proposals are not directly related, but Gray said both must be ratified  for either to happen.

Pinellas County commissioners gave provisional assent to a $2-million subsidy on April 22. On Tuesday, the commission will decide whether to make a formal offer of that amount to the company, said County Commissioner Susan Latvala.

By Bill Varian, Lisa Greene and Will Van Sant