Energy for Good: Economic Development

For more than 120 years, we’ve brought power to the Tampa Bay area.  

But we couldn’t do that without a robust, engaged workforce. We know that quality jobs are the seeds for broader prosperity. Workers who feel economically secure can spend their time outside of work on activities that strengthen social networks and communities. 

That’s why we’re intent on also powering economic development in our communities. Here are a few of our initiatives. 

Our youth programs gather STEAM

When a young girl pictures an engineer, what does she see? In partnership with Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry, we’re helping her see it could be her future self. 

Female engineers for TECO regularly volunteer to encourage middle school girls to explore careers in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math).  


A TECO engineer teaches middle school girls about careers in STEAM

It’s not just the students who get inspired. “It’s clear that the future is so bright,” said Lori Wilson, a Tampa Electric engineer. “I have such an amazing time getting to know each and every one of them. I hope they learn as much from me as I do from them.” 

Paid internships for college students & outreach 

We actively recruit college students for paid internships and reach out to kids who may or may not go to college to teach them what TECO has to offer. We’re passionate about giving the next generation of leaders a career foundation. Whether they become our employees or choose another company, it’s our communities that ultimately benefit. 

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Tampa Electric’s Tony Faison talks with students enrolled in Gentleman’s Quest of Tampa Inc. about career opportunities.

Our community outreach includes the importance of skilled trades. “Being a lineworker is a tough job, but it’s also very rewarding,” said Tony Faison, manager of distribution engineering and operations. He shares his experiences from his days as an apprentice to now, as a manager, leading a dedicated group of lineworkers, hoping to inspire the next generation of leaders.

Our inaugural PowerJAM

A new initiative showcases careers in the utility business for all education levels 

We know people are our power. So this year, we took our “show on the road” to an underserved area of Tampa to teach the community about the good people and careers at Tampa Electric. We had tours of our mobile command center, bucket trucks, lineworkers doing pole-climbing demos, and much more. The free, family-friendly, fun activities offered a great way for visitors to explore their career potential.   

More than 100 community members attended the event, and several interviewed for jobs. It was a great success, and we look forward to taking PowerJAM to more communities in the future! 


Our inaugural PowerJAM taught all age groups about the opportunities at Tampa Electric!

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