Xcelience to Expand Headquarter Operations in Tampa

TAMPA, Fla., March 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Governor Rick Scott announced the expansion of Xcelience, an international contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) servicing the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Xcelience will expand product development services and manufacturing operations in Tampa, creating 100 new jobs and retaining another 100 jobs. Xcelience will also invest $9 million in the region as part of the expansion.

Governor Scott said, "We are proud to announce that Xcelience is adding 100 new jobs in Florida because we know that every new job helps a family in our state. We are glad that Xcelience has continued to invest and expand in Florida, and it is announcements like this that are helping our state become the global destination for jobs."

Xcelience will increase capacity in their manufacturing facilities with a 6,000 square foot expansion at their 5415 W. Laurel Street location.  In addition, Xcelience will expand its pharmaceutical development labs in a new 71,000 square foot headquarters at 4910 Savarese Circle in Tampa to support future company growth. The positions will include staff for pharmaceutical development, manufacturing, quality assurance and packaging. 

"Tampa is a great place to build a base of scientific capabilities," said Derek Hennecke, President & CEO of Xcelience. "The warm climate attracts a stable workforce, and the government at all levels is eager to help us grow and prosper. Our location puts us just a mile from the airport, making it easy for out of state clients to find us. Exciting things are coming down the pipeline for Tampa, for Xcelience, and the exciting new medical treatments we are developing with our clients."

Xcelience provides preformulation, formulation development, analytical services, GMP manufacturing, small-scale commercial manufacturing, and global clinical supplies packaging and logistics to help companies move a drug into clinical trials. The company continues to be recognized as a leader in the industry and will be receiving six Leadership Awards at next week's Life Science Leader CMO Award Reception in New York.

"Hillsborough County offers the workforce talent, lifestyle, and culture of innovation that global companies like Xcelience need to thrive," said the Hon. Sandy Murman, Chair of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. "We are committed to supporting their growth and appreciate their investment in our community."

"Xcelience's expansion of their global headquarters here is a testament to Tampa as a top life sciences and manufacturing destination," said City of Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn. "The word is out about our city as a great place for science and technology professionals to live, work and play – and that excitement is driving the growth of key innovation sectors."

Florida's manufacturing sector ranks among the top 10 nationally with more than 18,200 companies employing some 317,000 people statewide. In 2014 the sales tax on manufacturing equipment was temporarily eliminated, and this year Governor Scott is working with the Florida Legislature to permanently eliminate it. Also, Florida has established itself as a premier location for life science clusters, and is home to world-renowned biomedical research institutes and nearly 1,000 biotech, pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

Secretary of Commerce and Enterprise Florida President & CEO Bill Johnson said, "Today we celebrate Xcelience's expansion in the state of Florida, and applaud their creation of 100 new jobs. Florida has become a well-known destination for both manufacturing and life sciences companies, and Florida's pro-business climate will allow the state to become even more competitive."

This project was made possible by the close partnerships between Enterprise Florida, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, CareerSource Florida and the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation.

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Jesse Panuccio said, "Xcelience's expansion is another positive chapter in Tampa's economic turnaround the last few years. The Scott administration will continue to support pro-growth policies that help the manufacturing and biotech sectors thrive in Florida. Successes such as these move us closer to our goal of making Florida the best state in which to live, learn, pursue a career, and start or grow a business."

"Successful companies such as Xcelience know their current and future competitiveness in the global marketplace is linked to their ability to maintain a highly skilled workforce," said CareerSource Florida President & CEO Chris Hart IV. "The training funds we are providing from CareerSource will help ensure employees at this expanding biotech business have the right skills at the right time to prosper."

Xcelience joins an increasing number of life sciences and manufacturing industry companies that have decided to expand in Tampa and Hillsborough County, including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Covidien, HealthPlan Services, Synergy Health, Smart Science Labs, and LifeLink.

Rick Homans, President & CEO of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation, said, "Xcelience is another prime example of a locally headquartered company with a global reputation whose growth is helping to shape Hillsborough County's economic future. The strength and diversity of our manufacturing, life sciences, and technology sectors are attracting more world class companies and talent to Tampa each year."

Individuals interested in open job listings may refer to the company's career website at http://www.xcelience.com/careers/.

In January, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners and the Tampa City Council approved a combined local incentive package of $100,000, supporting a commitment of $400,000 from the State of Florida through the Qualified Target Industry (QTI) program. The total QTI allocation of $500,000 will provide the company with support for up to 100 of the 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 $56,000.

In addition, the State of Florida will provide Xcelience with $135,000 in Quick Response Training (QRT) program funds for the reimbursement of training costs for new employees and $585,000 in sales tax exemptions for the purchase of qualified manufacturing equipment as well as machinery and equipment used predominantly for research and development.

Xcelience offers a suite of services enabling clients to partner with a single CDMO for all of their clinical outsourcing needs. Services include preformulation, analytical services, formulation development, GMP manufacturing, small-scale commercial manufacturing, and clinical supplies packaging and logistics. Xcelience takes pride in delivering the highest standards in science and service with an emphasis on quality, cost and speed.

The 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.  Working with C-level executives, site selection consultants, commercial real estate professionals, and other influential decision makers, the EDC provides customized, confidential relocation services to domestic and international companies interested in growing within Hillsborough County.

The Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation exists because of the generous support of nearly 100 corporations, Hillsborough County, and the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace.

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SOURCE Xcelience

Related Links

http://www.xcelience.com