In Tampa, 41,500 work for foreign-owned companies

By The Tampa Tribune
Published: November 08, 2011

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More than 41,500 employees in the eight-county area around Tampa work for foreign-owned firms according to a survey of foreign investment issued by the local economic booster Tampa Bay Partnership.

The United Kingdom owns the largest portion, followed by Canada, Germany and Japan. China has one: USAC Holdings, listed as a "facilities support services firm" in Polk County with less than 10 employees.

Most projects employ just a few workers. The Mont Blanc jewelry company mall is a Swiss-owned mall store and lists less than 10 workers. The German-owned Sysbase software firm employs less than 10 as well.

A few big firms do stand out, including Sweetbay, a Belgian-owned supermarket chain with more than 3,000 employees and Circle K, a Canadian-owned company that lists 1,000 to 2,000 employees.