WASHINGTON, DC -- The Department of Energy (DOE) announced today that it will award $2 million to the Pinellas Plant Community Reuse Organization (CRO) located at the department’s former Pinellas Plant near Tampa, Florida. 

“The department is proud to support the efforts of the Pinellas Plant Community Reuse Organization and the Young-Rainey STAR Center in bringing additional jobs to the department’s former plant,” Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham said.  “We will continue to work with the Pinellas Plant Community Reuse Organization and other community reuse organizations around the country to retain, expand or create jobs for workers affected by restructuring efforts.”

The grant will be used to help complete the infrastructure improvements at the Young-Rainey STAR Center.  These improvements are required to transform the former DOE plant into a high-tech manufacturing center with over 25 tenants.  The funds will be used to complete required roof repair on the main building -- a project that is critical to retain the anchor tenant currently leasing 60 percent of the space.  Funds also will be used to renovate space to provide modern office suites to better attract new tenants and other infrastructure improvements.  Once the renovations are completed, the space will accommodate an additional 250 employees with 96 percent of the STAR Center’s total available space being leased.

The Energy Department and the Pinellas Plant Community Reuse Organization have created or retained 3,038 new jobs, and estimate that 3,510 jobs will be created or retained by 2005.

At the time the DOE and its management and operating contractor left the plant on December 31, 1997, there were only 200 workers remaining.  As of May 1, 2003, there were approximately 1,500 employed at the STAR Center.  By the end of 2005, the Young-Rainey STAR Center will employ approximately 1,750.

A CRO is an organization recognized by the Energy Department that can apply for funding for programs that can modify the impacts of workforce restructuring at its facilities and reduce community dependence on the department’s activities.

Media Contact(s):
Jacqueline Johnson, 202/586-5806