2 More Major Companies Make Move To Pasco County; 1,000 New Jobs

PASCO COUNTY, FL — Pasco County's award-winning Economic Development Council is attracting more major industry to the county.

The Pasco Economic Development Council announced that Ensurem is investing $500,000 in tenant improvements and office equipment to upgrade and convert 10,000 square feet of existing retail space off U.S. 19 in Port Richey. At full capacity, the facility will be home to 200 employees with salaries exceeding 156 percent of the average county wage.

“I would like to welcome the Ensurem team to Pasco County and specifically west Pasco,” said Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano. “The county has numerous initiatives to help bolster the west side of the county and a large economic development project like this shows we are moving in the right direction.”

Ensurem is an insurance broker and technology provider whose mission is to help people who are in or approaching retirement optimize their health care spend by providing them insurance solutions that fit their needs. The company offers Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and Medicare Part D prescription plans, as well as vision, dental, hospital indemnity and final expense insurance.

Alongside its force of nearly 100 licensed insurance agents available by phone, Ensurem also offers the tools to easily run quotes, compare rates and, in some case, enroll into plans on Ensurem.com.

“We’re proud to be a part of Pasco’s economic growth,” said Dave Rich, CEO at Ensurem. “We’re glad to offer them a location closer to home and excited for the opportunity to onboard even more exceptional Pasco talent.”

Ensurem was recently ranked No. 1 by Tampa Bay Business Journal Fast 50 for most growth between 2017-2019. Within these three years, the company had an 245,900 percent growth. In addition, the Business Observer listed it among Florida businesses as No. 271 on its Top 500 list, and No. 5 for revenue growth between 2018-2019 for its 314 percent increase.

“Ensurem’s new location is a win-win for west Pasco, the project helps repurpose long-vacant retail space while bringing high-wage employment opportunity to residents in the area,” said Bill Cronin, president/CEO of the Pasco EDC. “The company is rapidly growing, and people are taking notice. We are thrilled they chose Pasco County for their third location and can’t wait to continue building our relationship with them.”

On the heels of Ensurem coming to Pasco County, the Pasco Economic Development Council also welcomed Santander Consumer USA Inc. (Santander) to the county.

Santander is investing a minimum of $12 million of the approximate $22 million in tenant improvements and business personal property to upgrade and convert existing retail space off State Road 54 near the Suncoast Parkway. The company will create 875 new Florida jobs over the next five years, with salaries exceeding 115 percent of the average county wage.

“I am thrilled to welcome Santander to Pasco County and am looking forward to all the great jobs they are bringing,” said Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey. “This is a huge economic development win, and I am happy we are able to offer local incentives to assist in recruitment.”

Santander is a public, full-service consumer finance company focused on vehicle finance and third-party servicing. The company is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has additional locations in Texas, Arizona, Colorado and California. The company manages accounts for more than three million customers across all credit profiles.

“We are excited to expand our presence in Florida – a state with a favorable business environment where people are familiar with the Santander brand,” said Mahesh Aditya, Santander consumer president and CEO. “The Tampa Bay area is rich in talent, particularly in the customer service sector, and we look forward to offering future employees a dynamic and progressive place to grow their careers.”

Santander plans to grow its financial services customer contact operations with the development of a modern and efficient site that can accommodate future expansion. Factors the company considered when choosing its new location relied heavily on a strong employment base, viability of the labor market, recruiting opportunities, cost of living and local incentives that can accommodate the large project.

“Santander is an excellent addition to the business and professional services industry in Pasco,” said Cronin. “Not only are they making a significant investment in the county, but they also plan to upfit and modernize a prominent building that has been empty for years.”

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