Tampa Bay Business

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The Tampa Bay region is clearly one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the nation. The business mix today consists of a great deal of light industry, some heavy industry, corporate headquarters, banking headquarters, clothing, medical supplies and computers and electronics. Hillsborough County's Port of Tampa, the Nation's 7th largest port, is diversifying into more general cargo and cruise ships. Tampa International Airport is as much a cargo hub as a passenger terminal. Tampa continues today to function as the supply and shipping center of the seven county Tampa Bay Area. Manatee County's Port Manatee bills itself as the closest U.S. port to the Panama Canal. Tropicana, one of the largest citus suppliers to the United States and Canada is located in Manatee County. Until recently Polk County was the world's largest phosphate supplier. The Florida Citrus Mutual headquarters and Publix supermarkets, the largest food chain in Florida, are both located in Polk County. Pasco County's Lykes-Pasco processing plant is the world's largest poultry and beef processing plant. Completion of Interstate 75 through Hernando County connects this largely agricultural area with rapid industrial growth in the Tampa area. In Pinellas County there is more light industry manufacturing than in neighboring Hillsborough County. Tourism is a multi-billion dollar business. Sarasota County is home to Ringling Circus. Sarasota County has become home to a growing base of environmentally sensitive commerce. "If you can't be clean, you can't be here".