BlueGrace Logistics to Expand in Hillsborough County
Tampa, Fla. (PRWEB) July 08, 2015 -- Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that BlueGrace Logistics, a leading national provider of complete, customized transportation management solutions, will expand its headquarters in Hillsborough County and hire 100 new employees by 2017. The new-to-Florida jobs will fulfill a variety of functions in the organization, including technology, accounting, legal and professional services.
Governor Scott said, “I want to thank BlueGrace Logistics for bringing 100 new jobs to Florida and expanding its headquarters in our state. We are working every day to make Florida the number one state for job creation, and the more than 879,000 private-sector jobs created in the last 4 ½ years let us know we’re well on our way. We will continue working to create jobs for Floridians across the state.”
Bobby Harris founded BlueGrace Logistics in Apollo Beach in 2009. The company offers a web-based proprietary transportation management system, BlueShip®, that enables companies to consolidate all of their shipping requirements into one resource, as well as freight services including Less Than Truckload (LTL), Truckload Services (TL), International and Domestic Air Freight, Ocean Freight, and Supply Chain Management. BlueGrace is currently headquartered in Riverview in Hillsborough County and has 165 employees in offices nationwide.
“More than ever, top talent from across the U.S. wants to make Tampa their home,” said Bobby Harris, CEO of BlueGrace Logistics. “This partnership helps make that a reality. We couldn’t be more excited to further our investment in expanding in this market.”
Bill Johnson, president & CEO of Enterprise Florida said, “Our expansive, multi-modal infrastructure not only supports nearly 20 million residents but close to 100 million annual visitors to our state. It’s a compelling reason for great companies like BlueGrace Logistics to have a presence in Florida and we’re happy they’ve decided to locate here.”
The broader wholesale trade, transportation and logistics industry employs more than half a million Floridians. Nearly every major global logistics integrator already has a presence in the state, including the headquarters of top logistics companies. The state’s logistics & distribution industry is poised to grow further with the Panama Canal expansion in 2016, and the numerous infrastructure developments and upgrades underway around the state.
The project was made possible through strong partnerships between Enterprise Florida, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Hillsborough County and the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation.
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Jesse Panuccio said, “Tampa continues to be a leading market in Florida’s economic resurgence and we are pleased to see that BlueGrace Logistics recognizes the potential for growth in this area. These additional 100 jobs will provide even more opportunities in the Tampa area and contribute to Florida’s thriving private sector.”
“BlueGrace Logistics is a prime example of the kind of innovative, high growth local company that we will work hard to retain in Hillsborough County,” said the Hon. Sandra Murman, Chair of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. “Three other states have offered BlueGrace attractive relocation packages and attempted to recruit them away from our region, but we are committed to keeping them here and giving them the support they need to achieve greater success and bring more jobs to our community.”
BlueGrace Logistics joins a growing list of companies headquartered in Hillsborough County that have recently made the decision to expand their workforce here, including Cognizant, Xcelience, ReliaQuest, BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Tribridge and Laser Spine Institute.
“BlueGrace Logistics is emerging as one of Hillsborough County’s great entrepreneurial success stories,” said Dr. Ronald Vaughn, Chair of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation and President of the University of Tampa. “In just six years, they have built one of the most progressive transportation and supply chain management companies in the country by developing superior technology solutions to serve the freight industry’s needs. Hillsborough County offers them the talent and pro-business environment they need to keep up their exceptional growth.”
The Individuals interested in open job opportunities may refer to the company’s website at http://www.mybluegrace.com/careers.
In February, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners approved a local incentive package of $60,000, supporting a commitment of $240,000 from the State of Florida through the Qualified Target Industry (QTI) program. The total QTI allocation of $300,000 will provide the company with support for up to 100 new, high-wage positions. The incentives, to be distributed over a period of six years, are performance-based, meaning funds are only paid after the jobs are created at the wages promised. The incentivized jobs will pay a minimum average wage of $54,664.
About BlueGrace Logistics
Founded in 2009, BlueGrace Logistics offers complete, customized transportation management solutions to customers across the United States. Based in Tampa, Florida with offices in Chicago, Baltimore and Salt Lake City, BlueGrace is a "hyper-growth" company with more than 7,000% growth since inception. BlueGrace launched its franchise program in 2011 as part of its strategic growth plan and currently has 55 franchise units across the U.S. The company offers freight services such as Less Than Truckload (LTL), Truckload Services (TL), International and Domestic Air Freight, Ocean Freight, Supply Chain Management, State-of-the-Art Technology, Service Desk Support, and Auditing Services. For more information, visit http://www.mybluegrace.com.
Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation is the lead economic development agency for Hillsborough County and the cities of Tampa, Plant City, and Temple Terrace. Established in 2009 as a partnership between the public sector and private corporate investors, the EDC works to develop and sustain a thriving local economy through the attraction, retention and expansion of high wage jobs and capital investment within targeted industry sectors.
The EDC exists because of the generous support of more than 100 corporations, the Board of County Commissioners of Hillsborough County, and the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace. To learn more, visit http://www.tampaedc.com.
Hillsborough County, Florida is the commercial and industrial heart of Tampa Bay. The fourth largest county in the state of Florida, Hillsborough is home to nearly 1.3 million residents, with thousands more arriving each year. Its strength is drawn from being one of the most advanced economies and having one of the most educated workforces in the state. Hillsborough County and its three municipalities --Tampa, Plant City, and Temple Terrace -- offer a competitive business environment and an abundance of regional assets including Port Tampa Bay, Tampa International Airport, and MacDill Air Force Base. County government is focused on creating economic prosperity for residents and businesses throughout the area. To learn more, visit hillsboroughcounty.org.
Michelle Bauer, Tampa Hillsborough EDC, +1 (727) 510-2524, [email protected]
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