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Leaders hope $20 million for Draper Laboratory is worth the cost

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By MICHAEL SASSO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 26, 2009

TAMPA - Luring Draper Laboratory cost $20 million, but local government leaders are hoping the millions spent to bring the research firm to Tampa will pay huge dividends.

Monday afternoon, politicians and business leaders turned out to celebrate Draper Laboratory's recent opening. The company started operating inside USF's Research Park on the university's Tampa campus in June.

So far, the lab has just 15 employees, but it could grow to as many as 100 within seven years, said Draper President James Shields.

Among other projects, Draper is studying how malaria reproduces inside the liver. Another project includes a belt that uses gyroscopes to promote balance, said Draper spokeswoman Amy Schwenker. It's also hoping to work with the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute to study tumors, Shields said.

Draper didn't come cheaply, though. The state kicked in about $10 million through its Innovation Incentive Fund, USF added $4 million and Hillsborough County put in $6 million. That comes to about $200,000 in public investment for each of its 100 eventual jobs.

Local leaders hope Draper's presence will bring in millions of research dollars into Tampa and attract other labs.

The research firm has opened a manufacturing facility in St. Petersburg that has about 20 employees but should grow to at least 65 people, Shields said. The St. Petersburg facility develops miniaturized electronic devices for soldiers, among other products, he said.

As in the Tampa project, Draper's St. Petersburg facility received public funding, including $5 million from the state and $2 million each from Pinellas County and St. Petersburg. Progress Energy and Draper also combined to add $1 million, Schwenker said.

Reporter Michael Sasso can be reached at (813) 259-7865.

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