Straight from the Top!

We are fortunate enough to have a very significant amount of military relocation business in this market. But our contract to handle the military buyers is far more than just a job to me. As a father of a soldier, and someone who has many, many military friends in this area, I have a true warm spot in my heart for them, their families, and the many sacrifices they make in service of our country.

MacDill Air Force Base has a huge economic impact on our company and the entire Tampa Bay area as well. With well over 17,000 active duty, civilian employees, and guard and reserve members, they touch every community in the Tampa MSA area. Add to that over 46,000 retirees and surviving spouses and the financial impact is estimated to be in the billions.

What’s more important is the impact that can’t be measured in dollars. The impact that all those people have on our daily lives is beyond measure. I feel privileged to be able to serve on the Military Affairs Committee with the Chamber of Commerce, the “Friends of MacDill”, and to have worked on the CENTURY 21 Shaw Realty Soldiers on the Front Program, where we send packages to the front line soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I know that many of the military members live here in the Valrico, Fishhawk, and Riverview area. There are quite a few in the Apollo Beach and Ruskin area who just take a short boat ride across the Bay to work, as opposed the longer route on the expressway. I know an impact study is underway for a “water ferry” to connect the South Shore area directly to MacDill. I sincerely hope this goes through just for the sake of our military members who live in the area. A ten to fifteen minute ferry ride across the bay would not just be a commute, but a very enjoyable commute.

God Bless Our Troops!!!