Melanie McCann joins SMARTstart
Melanie McCann has joined the Pasco Economic Development Council’s SMARTstart team. She will be assisting West Pasco entrepreneurs from the Holiday entrepreneur center, which will be opening this year at the new AmSkills building. She also will work on upcoming events.
Fifth Third Bank opens new location
Fifth Third Bank has opened a location at Collier Commons. It is the first of seven branches it plans to open in the Tampa Bay area this year, with more to follow in 2024, according to a news release.
The 3,150-square-foot financial center features the new Next Gen design, focusing on an open environment and equipped with the latest technology.
It is located at 22850 State Road 54, in Land O’ Lakes.
Grand opening festivities were set for Feb. 2 (after The Laker/Lutz News deadline). Festivities were expected to include a ribbon-cutting with the North Tampa Bay Chamber, food, attendance by elected leaders, giveaways, and appearances by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleaders and the team mascot, Captain Fear.
Digital literacy efforts
Spectrum representatives, Florida Sen. Danny Burgess and members of the community had a celebration on Jan. 31 at the Lewis Abraham Lacoochee Boys & Girls Club, according to a news release.
During the celebration, which included a barbecue dinner, Spectrum presented a $10,000 grant to expand high speed broadband to the club.
The event also featured three student winners in an essay contest.
The club is at 38724 Mudcat Grant Blvd., in Dade City. Spectrum’s grant is intended to support digital literacy efforts in Dade City.
USDA launches pilot library
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched its pilot Cattle Contracts Library, on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Cattle Contract Library webpage, according to a news release.
The pilot library’s aim is to increase market transparency for cattle producers.
This library will provide new disclosure to the industry and public regarding the key terms, conditions, and volumes under which cattle are contracted, bringing sunshine to practices in what is now the largest part of the cattle market, the release says.
This will empower cattle producers to negotiate better terms, more carefully monitor risks relating to marketing preferences and pricing practices, and ultimately take better advantage of market opportunities to produce cattle that the market demands.
The initial release of the library will allow users to browse a range of terms and information contained in active contracts used for the purchase of fed cattle. In addition to active contracts in use, the library will provide information on terms most commonly used in cattle contracts, such as base price determination, base price adjustments and selling basis options; contract specifications for such things as quality, yield, breed, weight, delivery, financing, profit/risk-sharing, and more (where present in a contract); and the full range of premiums and discounts used in final price determination, the release says.
For more information, visit www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/livestock-poultry-grain/cattle-contracts-library.
Small business health care
Learn about your options for choosing a health insurance package for your small business during this Pasco-Hernando Score Webinar on Feb. 9 from noon to 1 p.m.
Danette Wilson, a Pasco-Hernando Score volunteer, will lead the webinar which will cover details you need to consider when selecting health care coverage.
Depending on your business characteristics and employee makeup, one form of health insurance benefit will fit your needs better than another. The webinar also will review the types of coverage available when leaving your current employer. Medicare will be covered, too.
To register for the event, go to Score.org/pascohernando.
Utilizing YouTube
Whether you are creating video ads on Facebook or uploading promo videos on YouTube, video helps drive customers to your business. This webinar presentation will give you some basic ideas of how to incorporate videos in your marketing plan. Professor Greta Kishbaugh, president of BizDynamic Group, will present the webinar on Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. To register, go to Score.org/pascohernando.
Grow Pasco
SMARTstart will present its third annual Grow Pasco on March 4 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Hyatt Place Tampa Wesley Chapel, 26000 Sierra Center Blvd., in Lutz (but in an area that’s generally considered to be Wesley Chapel).
The cost is $45, which includes a continental breakfast and lunch.
The event includes 15 breakout sessions aimed at engaging everyone from budding entrepreneurs to established business leaders.
The keynote speaker for the event is Dr. Edmondo Robinson, the chief digital officer at Moffitt Cancer Center. He will discuss a broad array of uses for technology in the areas of predictive analysis, product development, consumer engagement and business operational efficiencies.
To register for Grow Pasco, visit the Pasco Economic Development Council’s website at PascoEDC.com, and click on the events tab.
Commerce and Connections
The North Tampa Bay Chamber has its Commerce and Coffee from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., every fourth Tuesday of the month, at Raining Berries, 25595 Sierra Center Blvd., in Lutz. Bring some business cards and make some connections in a social, no-agenda atmosphere.
