A superb business environment, excellent year-round weather, and a skilled and educated work force make Tampa and Hillsborough County a premier locale in the global marketplace. Today, the area's biggest industries are services, retail, manufacturing, finance, insurance and real estate.

Jobs have been created in everything from high tech to entertainment as the area's economy continually diversifies. The city is in one of those areas that has a good mix of industry.

Once perceived as a city filled with retirees, that couldn't be further from the truth today. In fact, the median age in Hillsborough County is 33.6 years. The area is packed with cultural events and social activities for people of every age group and walk of life. From ballet to baseball, everyone in this city is having fun. Tampa is top of the class when it comes to its educational system, which takes pride in encouraging diversity, community involvement and academic achievement. It is home to the third-largest school system in Florida and is the largest employer in Hillsborough County.

Tampa holds its own in terms of livability against metropolitan hot spots like Atlanta and Seattle, and even though it does it on a slightly smaller scale, the advantages are evident. Quality of life and low cost of living give this city by the bay the edge over larger more expensive areas. Tampa offers professionals a great variety of opportunities and has plenty of room for future growth.