Commissioner Murman quoted in this Tampa Bay Business Journal article on Big Brothers, Big Sisters:
Big Brothers Big Sisters HQ relocation built on donated services
Jan 7, 2015, 2:04pm EST Updated: Jan 7, 2015, 2:43pm EST
Deputy Editor- Tampa Bay Business Journal
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is moving its national headquarters office to Tampa’s Westshore business district with key donations from Parkway Properties, ROF and The Beck Group.
The move is a small win for economic development officials looking to bring a large corporate headquarters to the region, but BBBSA has big name recognition.
BBBSA is moving from Dallas on the heels of former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio being named CEO of the nonprofit organization last year.
“This community is going to help Big Brothers Big Sisters of America thrive and it will thrive here long after my tenure,” Iorio said at an event announcing the move.
The relocation is expected to generate about 20 new jobs in BBBSA’s first year in Tampa, according to Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp. CEO Rick Homans.
“There is going to be such a spillover effect,” Hillsborough County Commission Chair Sandy Murman. She said Tampa Bay can expect conferences as well as visits from executives across the country who serve the organization’s board.
Bloomin’ Brands CEO Liz Smith is the chair of BBBSA’s board this year.
Parkway donated 6,900 square feet of space in Westshore’s Corporate One for five years. The Beck Group donated buildout. ROF donated furniture and designed the new space.
This is one step in Tampa Hillsborough EDC’s stated goal of recruiting a major headquarters to the region. BBBSA is small in size, but has better than 90 percent name recognition nationally, Homans said.
