TAMPA, Fla. — To lure a major company headquarters to Tampa Bay requires a robust transit system, according to a local CEO during a presentation to real estate professionals, The Tampa Tribune reported.

John Sykes, the founder of Sykes Enterprises, a global organization with 50,000 employees in 70 countries, told the group, that "without effective transit, the goal of local leaders to draw a new corporate headquarters here will be nearly impossible to achieve."

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In addition to bringing in jobs, the city must invest in infrastructure with light rail, said Chuck Sykes, now head of his father's company, according to the report.

Chuck is working with to lure a Fortune 500 headquarters by pursuing a $1 billion development plan to transform a portion of the downtown Tampa area into a new community with offices, residences, retail and hotels.

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