A new outlet mall is opening in Lutz, creating more jobs in the area.
On Thursday, the stores are holding a job fair, trying to fill about 800 new positions and Pasco County Development officials say the outlet mall’s impact extends beyond that.
Richard Gehring, who is the head of Planning and Development for Pasco County, says the Tampa Premium Outlets are the anchor for growth in Pasco.
The mall was actually approved years ago, but Gehring says it hit some bumps during the recession. It’s since made it’s comeback opening October 29.
Gehring says the new outlet mall is the catalyst to Pasco County’s growth, with it being the center of an entire re-vamp of the interstate corridor that will soon be Pasco’s central business district. He says it will bring more people, and more money to the area.
“All these things are early indicators it will make an anchor to attract more uses," said Gehring. "Their job fair is kicking off, hiring about 800 employees, we are a beneficiary, the county as a whole, of the sales tax revenue, so it will boost our sales tax."
The outlet mall is expected to create about 800 new jobs.
The job fair is being held at the Embassy Suites Tampa USF/Busch Gardens from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday.