It's A Done Deal; Moffitt Cancer Center Is Coming To Pasco County

PASCO COUNTY, FL — After more than a year of negotiations, the Pasco County Commission and H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute has finalized an agreement to build a 775-acre Moffitt campus in Pasco County, bringing 14,400 new jobs to the area.

Representatives from Moffitt and county commissioners celebrated the agreement at the county commission meeting Tuesday, in which Pasco County approved a $25 million incentive package and financing to lure Moffitt to the county. In addition, Pasco County will waive nearly $800,000 in impact and permit fees for Moffitt.

The county has agreed to extend Sunlake Boulevard and the Ridge Road extension east (currently under construction, which will connect the Suncoast Parkway interchange to Sunlake Boulevard.

The first phase will be a $60 million, 128,000-square-foot corporate business park. It will create 435 jobs and is anticipated to be completed in five years.

See related story: Pasco County Government Earns 2021 Top Workplaces USA Award

The project will expand Moffitt's clinical and research facilities as well as complement third-party research, product manufacturing, clinical providers and conferencing facilities. According to Pasco Economic Development Council CEO and President Bill Cronin, the campus will be a magnet for biotech and life sciences enterprises and innovation and will bring together new partners and collaborators.

“There is no question that Moffitt is a leader in research and delivery of life-saving cancer care. This campus will serve as catalyst for the life sciences industry for not only the region, but the state of Florida,” said Cronin. “The location on the Suncoast Parkway will serve as an anchor to the already robust corridor of life sciences cluster which has been rapidly developing over the last few years.”

The multi-year, multi-phase project will include more than 1.4 million square feet of research lab/office, light industrial/manufacturing, general office and clinical building space near the future intersection of Suncoast Parkway and the Ridge Road Extension.

“We are truly thankful for the funding support from the Pasco County commissioners,” said Dr. Patrick Hwu, president and CEO of Moffitt Cancer Center. “Moffitt’s world-class expansion campus in Pasco County will allow us to treat more patients, conduct more groundbreaking research and develop innovative partnerships all in support of our mission to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. We look forward to growing this partnership with Pasco County for years to come.”

“Moffitt will bring many benefits besides their financial investment to Pasco County,” said Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley. “This campus will be a talent magnet, provide treatment facilities and create substantial economic impact for our county and the region; none of this would be possible without our Penny for Pasco Program (which is financing the $25 million in incentives through the program's Jobs and Economic Opportunity Trust Fund.)

Artist's rendering courtesy of the Pasco Economic Development Council

Moffitt is one of only 51 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt’s scientific excellence, multidisciplinary research and robust training and education. Moffitt has been nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report since 1999.

Based next to the University of South Florida campus in Tampa, Moffitt's more than 7,000 team members serve patients from every state and more than 130 countries.

Among other things, Moffitt is known for its revolutionary immunotherapy work that uses the body’s own cells to fight cancer. It operates an internationally recognized immunotherapy program and recently established a “first-of-its-kind Contract Research Organization concentrating on accelerating immuno-oncology and cell therapy research in partnership with pharmaceutical and biotech companies.”

Moffitt has previously drawn biotech companies to the Tampa area and this trend is expected to continue in the new Pasco location with private-sector firms wishing to take advantage of Moffitt‘s research facilities.

“Moffitt is the leading cancer research and treatment center. It is an honor to have them put their trust in Pasco County and work with us to bring their expansion campus to our community,” said Pasco County Commissioner Christina Fitzpatrick. “This will not only be an economic asset, but it will create jobs and save lives. Moffitt will be bringing the best of the best. In return this will provide a better quality of life for all of our residents.”

The Florida Legislature passed a bill in 1981 to create Moffitt Cancer Center and the center officially opened in 1986.