By Halie LeSavage
USAA leaders and state officials gathered Tuesday, June 12 to break ground on the new USAA facility at Crosstown Center in Brandon. Ceremony speakers praised the project not only for expanding a business that serves local military families and veterans, but also for creating 1,200 new jobs in the Tampa area.
“We’re so excited about this building and what it means for job growth,” said Shon Manasco, USAA executive vice president, membership experience. Manasco spoke alongside Governor Rick Scott, Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Board Chairman and District 7 Commissioner Mark Sharpe, and USAA VP Communications Robert Hoyland before officially breaking ground on the new building.
Hillsborough County has pledged $729,000 toward the project, while the state will cover the remaining 80 percent. The company plans to spend $164.3 million in capital investment on the new facility by 2019. Although the building is in the early stages of development, USAA has already hired 100 new employees.
Hoyland regarded the new office as a “milestone in USAA’s long history in Tampa.” USAA has been in the Tampa area for over 40 years, growing from one small office with 36 employees to a current staff of more than 2,500 employees. Since 1997, USAA has donated 3.5 million dollars to nonprofit charities, while also contributing millions of dollars to the local and state economies.
The groundbreaking ceremony recognized outstanding work within the administration of USAA. Governor Scott awarded the Governor’s Business Ambassador Award to Shon Manasco for his work facilitating financial security for USAA customers.
“Tampa means a lot to USAA and we thank you for all your support,” Manasco said.
Speakers at the ceremony also took time to acknowledge the sacrifices made by the military families making up USAA’s 10 million members. Governor Scott stated, “I want to be sure that Florida is the most military and veteran friendly state in the nation.” “Anyone who protects our freedom deserves our gratitude,” he added. That gratitude has been translated, according to Manasco, into making a priority of hiring veterans of the U.S. armed forces.
“It’s not every day that we get to offer 1,200 jobs in our great state,” Governor Scott said. Further information on careers with USAA can be found at, www.usaajobs.com.
