Main Street accreditation
Main Street Zephyrhills Inc., has been designated as a Main Street America program for meeting rigorous accreditation standards, according to a news release from the Main Street Zephyrhills office. The performance of Main Street Zephyrhills Inc., is evaluated annually by the Florida Main Street Program, which works in partnership with the National Main Street Center to identify the local programs that meet 10 national performance standards, the release says.
Chambers joining forces
The Central Pasco Chamber and the West Pasco Chamber are joining forces, and the new name for the unified organization will be revealed at a “Come Together” mixer on May 8 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Springhill Suites Tampa North Land O’ Lakes, 16615 Crosspointe Run, Land O’ Lakes.
Home Health ribbon cutting
A ribbon cutting ceremony is set for May 9 at 9 a.m., at 1930 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., to celebrate the launch of Gulfside Home Health, a business line under Gulfside Healthcare Services, formerly known as Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care.
Pasco Kids First open house
Pasco Kids First is hosting an open house and ribbon cutting on May 10 from noon to 2 p.m., at its new East Pasco office in the Dade City Business Center, 15000 Citrus Country Drive, Suite 103. Pasco Kids First is a private, nonprofit organization serving families and children in Pasco County. The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce will hold the ribbon cutting at 1 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.
Tourist council opening
Pasco County’s Destination Management Organization is seeking an applicant for the Pasco County Tourist Development Council.
The position is voluntary. Council members serve for four-year terms.
The TDC typically meets monthly, alternating between New Port Richey and Dade City.
Applicants must live and be registered to vote in Pasco County and must be actively involved with the tourism industry, such as a hotel representative, attraction partner or something along those lines.
The TDC is an advisory council to the Pasco County Commission.
For more information, visit bit.ly/PascoTDC, or email Kolby Kucyk Gayson at .
Business workshop
The Pasco County Purchasing Department invites all local vendors interested in doing business with Pasco County to attend a vendor workshop on May 14 from 9 a.m. to noon, at the Pasco County Historic Courthouse, at 37918 Meridian Ave., in Dade City. The workshop will cover the ins and outs of doing business with the county. To learn more about the county’s purchasing department, visit bit.ly/PascoPurchasing.
East Pasco Networking
David West will be the featured speaker at the May 14 breakfast meeting of the East Pasco Networking Group. The meeting, which starts at 7:30 a.m., will be at IHOP, at 13100 U.S. 301 in Dade City.
Energy, maintenance costs lower in Pasco schools
The Florida Department of Education recently released a 2017-2018 cost comparison for energy and maintenance/operations costs among school districts. Based on that report, Pasco County Schools spent $8.3 million less than the state average.
Some of the reasons that the district’s costs are lower include setting thermostats at 76 degrees and controlling the air systems from a central location, and having fewer employees per square foot than average, according to a school district news release.
Hispanic entrepreneurs fare well
The growth rate for Latino firms has been two to three times the national average according to the website WalletHub. The website compared more than 180 U.S. cities across 24 key metrics, and found that Tampa ranked seventh among the top 20 cities.
WOW-Too (WOW of Trinity and Odessa)
WOW-Too started as Women of Wesley Chapel and was so popular that it expanded into Trinity and Odessa. The group meets on the third Wednesday of each month, from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., at the Holiday Inn Express Trinity, 2125 Corporate Center Drive in Trinity.
Chamber scholarships
The North Tampa Bay Chamber’s scholarship fund makes awards to local students, and this year the program will provide scholarships to students graduating from Cypress Creek, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch, Freedom and Wharton high schools.
The chamber’s goal is to present 20 scholarships, each in the amount of $500. It is still seeking sponsors for the program. Each sponsorship is $650.
The chamber has partnered with the career counselors at each campus where students apply by completing an application, including a short essay.
Sponsors have an opportunity to present a ceremonial check to the recipient.
Remaining event dates are Wiregrass Ranch, May 23 at 6 p.m.; and, Cypress Creek, May 28 at 9 a.m.
If you have additional questions regarding the program, email .
Paula O’ Neil to speak
Paula O’ Neil, the clerk and comptroller for Pasco County, will be the featured speaker at the KNOW (Knowledgeable Network of Women) meeting, set for May 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will be at Rosecastle of Zephyrhills, 37411 Eiland Blvd., in Zephyrhills. Call (813) 782-1913, or email to RSVP. KNOW is a personal and professional development program for business women in the Greater Zephyrhills region.
