In two years, Jake Austin climbed the ranks from project manager to director of business retention and expansion for the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp. During that time, he served as a liaison between the Tampa Hillsborough EDC and the City of Plant City. He oversaw twelve expansion projects that represented over 3,200 jobs and $170 million in capital investment.
Now Austin has returned to the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World as the CEO and president of the newly-formed Plant City Economic Development Corp.
LOCALLY GROWN
Despite going a traditional route after high school by joining the United States Air Force, like his brother, father and grandfather, Austin also has been an innovative millennial in his career.
He graduated from Lakeland High school in 2004 and became a staff sergeant for six years. He then went on to attend Western Kentucky University and received a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship and business administration.
“I wanted to own my own business, but I had no product and service in mind,” Austin says.
In 2012, Austin joined the Tampa Hillsborough EDC as a project manager, and in 2014, he became the director of business retention and expansion.
One of his main duties was to manage the successful growth of Plant City from his Tampa office. Austin saw more economic activity and potential in the eastern portion of Hillsborough County than anywhere else in the county.
With Plant City quickly approaching 40,000 people, it was time for the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World to take the spotlight — and Austin would play a bigger role than he had before.
THE RIGHT FIT
In June 2015, local business owners gathered to form the Plant City EDC to help attract new businesses to Plant City and retain and assist existing ones. The Plant City EDC passed its bylaws in September and held its first meeting Nov. 9, but it needed a CEO and president before the close of the year.
Board members were prepared to do a national search for a CEO and president. When Austin’s name came up in discussions, the board was surprised that someone so young had so much viable experience in the area.
“Whenever you hire someone there is going to be a learning curve,” Yvonne Fry, an executive committee member, says.
“But he really hit the ground running. It was such a win for us to have someone familiar with the area and who really loves the community as much as we do.”
Austin officially became CEO and president Nov. 30.
“It was important to have someone to understand the city and what its assets are, but who is also comfortable with Tampa and Lakeland,” Austin says. “I felt like I was the right fit.”
Austin will have his work cut out for him. At the Plant City EDC’s first meeting, local business owners announced expansion plans.
Hillsborough Title, the largest title company in Florida, is making a $5 million investment by constructing a 12,000–square-foot building on South Alexander Street. The project will bring 50 jobs to the area and about 100 in the next five to 10 years.
Recently, CEO of Hillsborough Title and Plant City native Aaron Davis was considering relocating to Tampa.
“I approached Aaron about the Plant City EDC and how we want companies here,” Austin says. “It made him think, and he ultimately decided not to leave Plant City. It was a huge win for us.”
Another project is the Lakeside Station Logistics Park, a 1,400-acre industrial business park on County Line Road, south of U.S. Highway 92. The landowner is in the process of selling off pieces of the park. Its development is projected to create 18,000 new jobs.
The park, along with Park Road and County Line Road, will be built up in the next five to 10 years.
“We live in our small town, and we love our small town,” Fry says. “Economic growth doesn’t mean that our city will lose its small-town charm … we’re looking to bring in high-wage jobs and positively impact life here.”
Abby Baker is a journalism student at Hillsborough Community College and an intern with the Plant City Times & Observer.