Frontier Communications considers Tampa for new HQ

Tampa could be the home to one of the largest fiber internet providers in the U.S. as Frontier considers where it will build a new HQ. 

Frontier Communications Parent Inc. (Nasdaq: FYBR) has submitted a proposal to the city council of Dallas, Texas, stating the company could spend $7 million to renovate and upgrade the existing facility, or Frontier would consider developing a new HQ in Tampa. 

“Frontier will either retain these jobs in Dallas, as well as make Dallas its new headquarters, or relocate jobs and the headquarters function to Tampa,” Frontier said in a memo to the city, requesting a zoning designation. 

Frontier representatives were not immediately available to provide a comment. 

In a prepared statement, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said, “Frontier would thrive in Tampa, and we’d love to welcome them to America’s best city.” 

The submitted memo did not indicate specifics for the potential Tampa site. Tampa Bay Economic Development Council and the City of Tampa representatives said they could not comment about specific negotiations or engagements with prospective companies. 

The company is currently based in Connecticut within a 1.4 million-square-foot office park in Fairfield County. 

Earlier this month, Dallas city officials approved the resolution accepting an application from Frontier for an Enterprise Zone Project designation for a possible HQ renovation.

Frontier currently has 638 Dallas-based employees. With the approved designation, Frontier could apply for a rebate of state sales and use tax refunds on qualified expenditures of up to $2,500 per job created or retained. 

The program requires that each nominated project retain a minimum of 500 jobs. Over 600 jobs would be retained/consolidated at the project site. These jobs were previously filled by remote workers in Dallas, and will return to either a full-time or hybrid basis. 

Frontier executives said they have committed to having 25% of their new hires be residents of an enterprise zone, economically disadvantaged individuals, or veterans.

Although the city officials approved the request, Frontier has yet to make an announcement of its final decision between the two peer cities. 

In recent years, Tampa has climbed to the top of numerous lists, being named among the best places to work and to source a strong tech talent pipeline.