Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By B.C. Manion

How do you make your business grow?
That was the crux of the second annual Economic Gardening Conference held last week in Pasco County.
It turns out there are lots of resources that companies may find useful in their quest to expand, but the sources of help are often scattered – and many business owners may be unaware of them, speakers at the conference said.
One source of help for businesses is known as the GrowFL program. It targets second-stage companies – which are defined as growth companies that are beyond the startup stage and are poised to expand.
The GrowFL program is administered by the Florida Economic Gardening Institute at the University of Central Florida and is funded by the Florida Legislature.
GrowFL offers presentations that bring leaders of second-stage businesses into a confidential setting where they can learn from their peers.
It also offers CEO Roundtables, which brings groups of entrepreneurs together for collaborative problem-solving sessions on issues important to their companies. These sessions also are held in a confidential setting and are led by a trained facilitator.
Besides offer technical help, GrowFL also supports referral networks and events  that can lead to new business relationships and clients.
The economic gardening approach is practical, said John Hagen, president and executive director of the Pasco Economic Development Council.
The traditional economic development model was to identify employers who could provide a substantial number of jobs and use enticements to lure them to a community.
Hagen said it makes sense to concentrate more resources on nurturing local businesses to help them flourish.
Individually, they don’t produce as many jobs – but collectively, they can be a powerful source of economic development. Instead of relying on a small number of large employers, a community can develop a broad base of small companies that are thriving.
In essence, the GrowFL model asks: “How do we take our current economic base and extract as much growth as possible?” Hagen said.
“That is what we need,” said Pasco County Commissioner Pat Mulieri, who attended the meeting. “The entrepreneurial spirit is what made our country great,” she said. “For many years, we always wanted the big guys.”
Besides helping individual companies to succeed, the community becomes more attractive to companies that are looking to relocate, Hagen said.
Economic activity begets economic activity, he said.
“You want to go into a place where things are happening,” Hagen said. That sends a message. It tells companies: “This is a safe place to invest because other people are doing it.”
Steve Quello, founder and president of CEO Nexus, facilitated a panel discussion at the conference featuring three Pasco CEOs who have been benefitted from GrowFL.
The panelists were Don Morrison, president and owner of Designer Golf Company and Site Essentials; Anthony Gaeto, CEO, president and co-founder of Web Direct Brands and Peter Buczynsky, president and co-founder of PharmaWorks.
All three men, whose companies are in Odessa, talked about using GrowFL programs to help them leverage their resources to find new markets or to make better business decisions.
Morrison said he has benefitted from insights gleaned from discussions with other CEOs.
The person at the top of a company often doesn’t have anyone else inside the company to bounce ideas off of, Morrison said. In peer discussions it becomes clear that top executives are often grappling with the same kinds of issues, he said.
Company CEOs often can learn from each other because they come from varied industries and offer different perspectives, Quello added.
Low-interest loans also are available for those who qualify. To get the details on loan requirements and restrictions, go to www.BBIF.com or call (407) 649-4780.
GrowFL is just one of many resources available to businesses, but company leaders are often so immersed in the day-to-day challenges of their company that they don’t have time to explore sources of potential help, speakers said.
In Orlando, there’s a one-stop for entrepreneurs needing help. It is called the Disney Entrepreneur Center, and it brings together myriad resources to help businesses.
Closer to home, the PEDC is planning a virtual network to tie various resources together to help business owners seeking assistance.
Members of the website’s core group are the five local chambers of commerce, SCORE, the Pasco-Hernando Work Force Board, the Small Business Development Center, the Pasco Library System and the PEDC.
That’s only the beginning, though.
Hagen wants the Pasco Enterprise Network to be open-ended.
The idea is that anyone seeking help could open any door and be led to the right resource, Hagen said.
“There are a lot of resources out there that tend to operate independently,” Hagen said. “We want to create a business ecosystem.”
Hagen said he expects the website to be up and running within 90 days.

//GrowFL at a glance
To qualify for the GrowFL program, companies must meet these qualifications:
Employ 10 to 100 people
Have gross revenues ranging from $1 million to $50 million
Be a company focused on growth, with increases in the number of employees or gross revenues during at least three of the past five years
Operate in one of these sectors: manufacturing; finance and insurance services; wholesale trade; information industries; professional, scientific and technical services; management services; and administrative support services.
For more information, visit www.growfl.com.

Here are some websites that may be useful for business owners:
www.pascoedc.com
www.BBIF.com
www.disneyec.com
www.flevc.com

By Kyle LoJacono

Parents and scouts would have had to cancel a camping trip the weekend of Oct. 23 without the help of Alex Murphy and Club Connerton in northern Land O’ Lakes.

Cub Scout Pack 323, based in Land O’ Lakes, had scheduled the trip from Friday to Saturday to work on various achievements, shoot off rockets the children had made and end the day with a campfire. Unfortunately for the group, the site they were assigned to was double booked.
The other group “made the area less than desirable for a Cub Scout trip,” said Pack 323 cub master Bryan Gifford. “The parents decided to call it off because of the environment. I went into scramble mode and sent a text to Alex at Connerton at 1:30 in the morning. She got right back to me and said to show up in the morning.”
Murphy is Club Connerton’s activities director. She said the space was available and did not want to turn down the group, especially because Gifford is a member of the club.
“We want to support the whole community and create the sense of community in the area,” Murphy said. “A lot of those families are residents or attend Connerton Elementary and it feels great to be able to help a worthy organization.”
The trip was the first outing for Pack 323 for the year and Gifford was worried the experience would end some of the kids’ time in scouting.
“We had 55 kids going on the trip and I was afraid that some would drop out because of this,” Gifford said. “The kids were all excited because it was our first of the year and without Connerton’s help, we might have lost some scouts. It’s amazing to live in a community where people will help a youth group in a pinch.

“They took a situation that would have had 160 disappointed people and made them 160 happy people,” Gifford continued. “We didn’t spend the night there, but we were able to shoot off the rockets and have a good time.”
Gifford’s youngest son Dakota, 6, is a Tiger Cub in the group. He said he likes camping for the hiking, skits and campfires.
“It was fun,” Dakota said of the Connerton trip. “I liked chasing the rockets.”
Gifford’s older son Skyler is a Webelo scout in the group also. Pack 323 has 88 registered scouts and meets at Myrtle Lake Baptist Church, 2017 Reigler Road off SR 54 in Land O’ Lakes, each Monday at 7 p.m. Anyone interested in joining the group can show up at any meeting or e-mail Gifford at .

By B.C. Manion

Opening a restaurant has always been Miguel Aban’s dream.
His desire to create tasty dishes began with growing up around his mother’s cooking and the cooking of his friends’ moms, he said.

As he grew up, he developed his culinary abilities by working at Beth Israel Medical Center, where he learned to prepare Kosher foods and he later worked as a chef for Filk International in Greenwich, Conn.
Miguel loves to prepare and share good food and used his cooking skills to woo his wife, Marie.
Now, he hopes the foods he prepares will entice people to visit the Dade City restaurant he and Marie opened in July.
Called De Limin Cafe, the restaurant at 14016 7th St. is unpretentious in appearance, and openhearted in nature.
The owners explain the vibe they’re trying to create on their menu’s colorful cover: “The word “lime” as a verb means to hang out with friends, pass the time and talk.”
All are welcome, all kinds of foods are served and no one will pressure patrons to eat quickly and leave, Miguel and Marie said.
They pride themselves on offering French Creole, West Indian, American, Caribbean, Italian and other foods.
Appetizers, for example, include pholourie balls, West Indian saltfish cake, a Caribbean and American sampler and Jamaican beef patty.
Wraps and sandwiches include a jerk chicken wrap, a blackened fish sandwich, a veggie wrap or a chicken and broccoli wrap.
Entrees, labeled as the “main feast” on the menu, come with rice, fried plantains, vegetables and a house salad. Choices include curry chicken, griot, curry lamb and stew fish.
The restaurant also serves Kosher red snapper, lamb and chicken, Miguel said.
Its pasta dishes are lasagna, fettuccini and penne — all featuring homemade noodles and special sauces.
One of the restaurant’s most popular dishes is intended to be shared by two. It’s called the “Melting Pot,” and features shrimp, scallops, lobster, black clams and chicken — cooked in coconut milk and curry sauce.
Natalie Merten, who lives in Ridge Manor, came to the restaurant last week because her daughter, son-in-law and grandson had eaten there and enjoyed it.
She brought a couple of friends from Alabama along with her.
Doris Piland, of Rogersville, Ala., was impressed by the array of food choices. “It’s a great menu. It’s got a great variety,” she said.
Opening a restaurant is always a risky proposition, especially during a recession, but the opportunity arose and the couple decided to go for it.
They repainted the restaurant’s walls, put up some new curtains and reupholstered the chairs.
And, they put together a menu featuring a wide selection of choices.
But they said they are able to prepare a much broader array of foods. If someone requires vegetarian dishes or needs gluten-free foods, they can accommodate those needs, they said.
Both owners love good food and want patrons to leave their restaurant feeling satisfied.
They hope that freshly prepared foods, generous portions, reasonable prices and a friendly atmosphere will help them build a following.
The restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. until the last patron leaves on Friday and Saturday.
If patrons come in when they’re getting ready to close, they’ll stay open to serve them, Marie said.
They want their restaurant to have a welcoming ambience.
“We open our restaurant to anyone. Come formal or come casual. Come anyway you want,” Miguel said.
“We give everybody a chance,” Marie said. “We believe in all traditions.”
For more information about the restaurant or its menu call (352) 245-4350 or go to delimincafe.com.

By B.C. Manion

When Ilene and Del Aitchison opened the DogShirtStore in August, they knew the 700-square-foot space they moved into wouldn’t be large enough to meet their long-term needs, but they wanted to get into the Tropical Village Plaza.
They knew that The Breakfast Nook in the plaza attracted lots of traffic and they wanted to be near the popular restaurant.

The couple expects to be in a new space by the middle of November. It won’t be next to the Breakfast Nook, but the shop will have larger quarters – a 1,200-square-foot space, just a few suites down. Their shop’s new home will be Suite H of 1532 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., just off US 41, between County Line Road and SR 54.
DogShirtStore needs a larger space because it is adding a pet groomer. It also is retaining a photographer, who will be available by appointment and will work special events.
There’s no hiding the shop owners’ affection for their three miniature schnauzers — Lili, Ivie and Trooper. The dogs’ photographs are on proud display in the store.
The shop owners figure others are similarly smitten by their pets and the shop sells lots of items to express that kind of affection.
There are canine treats: ginger pup hearts, pizza teddy bears, doggie donuts and bow wownies. There are doggie diaper bags and dog toys.
The shop offers custom-made T-shirts – allowing patrons to pick out whatever kind of design that they want and have it applied to whatever kind of shirt they choose.
It also offers a number of T-shirts, ball caps and bumper stickers bearing catchy phrases coined by shop owners.
“Get a long, little doggie. Dachshund,” says one bumper sticker that shows the image of a Dachshund. “The Therapy Dog will see you now,” says another.
“In Dog We Trust (Humans? Not so much)” reads one T-shirt. And, in a tip of the hat to feline fanciers, another T-shirt reads: “My husband said it was him or the cats. Guess I’ll need a lawn service.”
Coming up with original ideas is the fun part, Del said. “I love it when people come into the store and just laugh.”
Ilene and Del had never envisioned themselves as owners of a pet accessory shop.
They began heading down that path three years ago, when they set up an online custom T-shirt business.
That business evolved from a T-shirt that Del had designed and Ilene had worn to a fly ball tournament. There aren’t many shirts that cater to that market, Ilene said.
When people saw her shirt, it drew rave reviews and she and Del decided to begin designing, making and selling T-shirts.
At first, it was just a business they carted around to different shows. Then it branched into an online company.
Along the way, Ilene got laid off from a job where she’d work for 13 years and then she got sick. Del quit his job as a graphic artist to take care of her.
Meanwhile, the demand for their custom-made shirts kept growing. So, they decided to branch out and open up their own shop, which opened on the same day as the East-West Animal Hospital, which is in the same plaza.
Besides selling retail items, the store also offers dog-training classes, led by Paula Salter. The shop also raises money for some animal support groups by donating a portion of its proceeds from specifically designated items.
For operating hours and to find out more about items available at DogShirtStore, call (813) 428-6999 or go to www.DogShirtStore.com.

By Shannon Edinger

The Lutz Patriots take pride in their mission statement — “to encourage patriotism in the community” — as they gather in front of the Old Lutz School every Friday to wave their American flags to drivers on US 41.  Veterans Day on Nov. 11 is a reminder that America would not be where it is today without its soldiers.

Barbara Mueller and Karen Williams co-founded the Lutz Patriots in March 2003 to instill a sense of patriotism in the community.  One of the original Lutz Patriots, Bruce Hockensmith, is an Army veteran who fought in Germany from 1965-1968 during the Vietnam era.  He started with the Bayshore Patriots years ago, but after reading about the two women in Lutz, he decided to join the Lutz Patriots since it was closer to his home.
The group was large at first, but it has become smaller over time.  About 7-10 people, mainly retired, come out on a weekly basis. Hockensmith says the group is more sociable because it is relatively small.  “It’s a good group to be around,” Hockensmith said.
The Lutz Patriots are a grassroots community organization.  They send care packages to the troops about four times a year.  The care packages contain miscellaneous items such as food and toiletries, and typically weigh about 50-55 pounds. Donations are always welcome.  The Lutz Patriots are hopeful to receive donations from the community before Nov. 20, when they will ship care packages to the troops.
Hockensmith stresses that the Lutz Patriots are not political.  The focus is patriotism.  “Most people who drive by will honk, flash their lights, or wave flags out their sunroofs.  About 75 to 80 percent are doing something positive or showing support,” Hockensmith says.  “We had a protestor a year ago who thought we were a political organization, but when he realized we just wanted to bring awareness to the public, he stopped protesting.”
Hockensmith devotes his Friday afternoons to the Lutz Patriots.  He knows the care packages they send can brighten the day of any soldier.  Hockensmith relives his time in the army when he says, “They live for mail call.”  He knows that if receiving letters and care packages in the mail boosts their spirits for a couple hours, it is all worth it.  “They do what they do for their country, not for recognition.”  Hockensmith says that when soldiers are recognized for their service from people they do not know, they are rewarded with the recognition that they modestly did not ask to receive.”
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the purpose of Veterans Day is to honor veterans for their patriotism, love of their country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.  The Lutz Patriots show patriotism by flag waving and sending care packages to soldiers.  Hockensmith said patriotism is doing what you can for your country, on Veterans Day and every other day.
While the Patriots have no plans specifically for Veterans Day, look for them back on the highway the following day, when their Friday afternoon tradition continues.
For more information: www.lutzpatriots.com.