| About Tampa Bay |
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| Welcome to Tampa Bay, an area
that encompasses three counties and is "home" to over 2 million
residents. It's a home filled with sunny beaches and bright
futures. It offers great business opportunities and low costs
for doing business. It's where Tampa Bay Buccaneers' fans cheered
their winning team on to Super Bowl glory in 2002 and their
favorite hockey team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, on to the 2004
Stanley Cup victory. It's also home to the "Number 1 Zoo in
the United States for Kids." |
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| It has the largest performing
arts center in the southeast. The largest science museum in
the south. And the cultural arts district in downtown Tampa
is expanding every day, with the recent addition of the Patel
Conservatory which helps both young and mature actors, artists,
musicians and performers perfect their craft. |
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| As a region, the commitment
to excellence in education is impressive, and is essential for
providing an educated, talented workforce for area businesses.
Tampa is also one of the most Literate Cities in America, ranking
16th in the country among cities with more than 250,000 residents. |
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| If you're looking for a great
way of life, it doesn't get better than Tampa Bay. There's no
state income tax. Low property taxes. And Tampa offers a lower
cost of living than other major southern cities, including Atlanta,
Orlando, Charlotte and Charleston. |
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| It's one of the few markets
in America with two major metropolitan newspapers. The #1 ranked
airport in the country. And Tampa is the only city in America
that celebrates the glory of being a pirate and all the festivities
that Gasparilla offers during one whole month each year. |
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| It's a region that attracts
millions of tourists each year, who appreciate its mild winter
climates, tropical summers, spectacular sunsets and beautiful
beaches. To those of us who choose to live here, these are every
day pleasures--not just vacation moments. We go fishing before
heading into the office. We walk on the beach at sunset. We
enjoy wearing shorts in January. And we are thankful, with each
and every sunny day, to have made the decision to live in Tampa
Bay. |
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| We have a healthy economy, as
well as some of the best healthcare facilities in the United
States, including H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research
Institute, two trauma centers, a medical school (which works
in conjunction with two major hospitals) and three hospitals
ranked as "America's Best Hospitals" by U.S. News and World
Report. |
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| Like most Americans, the residents
of Tampa Bay are proud of the men and women who serve in the
military. And we're honored that MacDill Air Force Base is located
here in Tampa. It's the headquarters for two major commands;
special U.S. Operations Command and U.S. Central Command. And
it's also where Coalition Village is located, comprised of representatives
from 65 nations who are working together to combat terrorism. |
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| If you're looking for a place
to start or grow your business, Tampa Bay is right for you.
In 2004, Florida was ranked #2 as one of the best places in
America for startups. And more and more companies are also relocating
their headquarters to Tampa, as well. We're the west coast anchor
of Florida's High Tech Corridor. And you'll find all the logistical
resources needed for import/export through Florida's largest
deep-water port, conveniently located in downtown Tampa. And
you can take advantage of the five major cruise lines that also
sail out of the Port of Tampa. The Tampa Bay MSA is also known
as a top growth market for manufacturing, especially for the
medical industry. |
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| You can choose to live in a
historic bungalow - or a high rise by the Bay. You might live
in a country club community - or a lakeside villa might be right
for you. Tampa Bay has a wide range of residential choices to
fit every budget and lifestyle. Just remember, the sunshine,
sunsets and gulf breezes are free! |
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| We invite you to explore all
the treasures of Tampa Bay. This guide is designed to help you
find the answers to all of your questions. We've included maps
throughout the publication to help you choose the right home,
school, health care resources and more. The more you find out
about Tampa Bay, the more we're certain you'll decide to make
this special region your home. We look forward to calling you
our "neighbor." |
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