Highlights of Economic and Business Growth in the Tampa ...( TAMPA BAY Fla. Sept. 25 /PRNewswi...)

TAMPA BAY, Fla., Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/-- News briefs concerning the economic and business growth in the Tampa Bay Region from the Tampa Bay Partnership:

Tampa Bay Diamond Manufacturer to Double In Size

Diamond maker Gemesis Corporation recently broke ground for a planned expansion of its Sarasota headquarters and manufacturing plant. After consideration of other locations, the firm decided to remain in Sarasota and expand its existing facility from 30,000 to 60,000 square feet as well as increase its number of diamond-growing machines by 175 percent. Gemesis Corporation is the world's largest producer of gem quality, fancy color laboratory-grown diamonds. Gemesis Corporation plans to eventually employ 120 workers to make 50,000 diamonds a year. (Contact: Britta Schlager, 941-907-9889 x102, bshlager@gemesis.com.)

Study Reveals $3.4 Billion Economic Impact from Tampa Bay Medical Products Industry Cluster

The medical products industry in the Tampa Bay region contributes a total direct economic output of $3.4 billion and employs over 12,000 workers according to a study commissioned by the Florida Medical Manufacturers' Consortium, with support from Pinellas County Economic Development and Tampa Bay Partnership. "The Medical Products Industry Cluster in Tampa Bay and Florida," conducted by the University of South Florida Center for Economic Development Research, sought to quantify the economic impacts of the Medical Products Industry Group in Tampa Bay and Florida. The medical products group consisted of three segments -- pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device, with medical devices representing the largest segment with nearly 9,000 employees. Other key findings from the study include: total income is $889 million; Tampa Bay employment makes up 26 percent of Florida's total medical products industry employment; in just the medical devices segment, Tampa Bay employment makes up 33 percent of the
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