Discovery Point Child Care expands
Salim and Andrea Karnaby are taking over as owners of The Discovery Point Child Care Center in Trinity, according to a news release from Trevellino Keller.
It is the second location for the couple who opened their first Discovery Point Child Care Center, at 1812 Crossings Blvd., in Odessa in 2010.
Former owners of the Trinity day care center, Nancy Fields and Cheri Livernois, have retired.
Fields joined the Discovery Point team in 1989 in Snellville, Georgia. She worked in corporate-owned centers before opening her own Discovery Point center in Odessa. Livernois became the center’s director, and later, a co-owner of the day care center, located in the Trinity area, at 2132 Duck Slough Blvd.
Discovery Point has nearly 50 day care centers in the southeast United States, and plans further expansion into Florida in the next year, according to the press release.
For information, visit DiscoveryPointFranchise.com.
Rotary breakfast
The Rotary Club of New Tampa will have its weekly breakfast Aug. 11 at 7:15 a.m., at the Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club, 5811 Tampa Palms Blvd., in New Tampa.
Guest speaker will be Dr. Norin Dollard of the University of South Florida. She will discuss the Kids County Project.
The cost is free for first time guests, and $12 thereafter.
For information, contact Jennifer Cofini at (813) 907-7800, ext. 212 or .
Uncle Maddio’s happy hour
The North Tampa Chamber of Commerce will host Uncle Maddio’s August 2017 Happy Hour on Aug. 16 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Uncle Maddio’s, at 3949 Van Dyke Road in Lutz.
The restaurant will offer $1 off any pizza, and a buy-one, get-one free for house wine and draft beers.
The event is free, but RSVP for a headcount by Aug. 15.
For information, call the chamber at (813) 563-0180, or email .
Chamber awards dinner
Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce/Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce will have a joint “Soaring to New Heights Dinner & Awards” banquet Aug. 18 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Hilton Garden Inn-Tampa Suncoast Parkway, at 2155 Northpointe Parkway, in Lutz.
The two chambers recently merged their organizations to serve Trinity, Odessa, Lutz and Land O’ Lakes.
The cost is $60 per person. Corporate tables for eight people are available for $500.
A cocktail hour, with cash bar, will be from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. The dinner and awards begin at 7 p.m.
For information, visit WesleyChapelChamber.com, call (813) 994-8534, or email .
Businesses help Faces of Courage
Pasco Ladies Care, a small business bazaar to benefit Faces of Courage, will be held Aug. 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, at 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.
Small businesses run by women will sell items, or provide information, to attendees. The event is free and open to the public.
A portion of proceeds from sales will be donated to the nonprofit organization, Faces of Courage.
The cost to business participants who sell items will be $10. For others, not selling items, the cost will be $50.
Faces of Courage hosts camps year-round for people with cancers and blood-related illnesses.
For information, email Tiffany Dodge at .
Lunch N Learn
A Lunch N Learn Business Forum is scheduled for Aug. 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce Don Porter Boardroom, at 6013 Wesley Chapel Blvd., Suite 105.
Guest speaker will be Kelly Mothershead, of Fitness Transformation Studio & Salon. She will teach a CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) class. Students will receive an American Heart Association certification card.
The cost is $20 including lunch. Registration is needed, as seating is limited.
For information, visit WesleyChapelChamber.com, or call (813) 994-8534.
SCORE workshop
Pasco Hernando SCORE will have a workshop on “How to Really Start Your Own Business” Aug. 22 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes.
The free workshop will provide information on how to start a business, key issues of starting a business, insurance, legal requirements and information sources.
SMARTstart workshop
The Pasco Economic Development Council will host a 10-week SMARTstart CO.STARTERS workshop for small business owners and entrepreneurs beginning Sept. 7 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, 2810 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.
The sessions will be on Thursday evenings including a celebratory meeting in the 10th week. Participants will equip seasoned and aspiring entrepreneurs with the insights, relationships and tools needed to turn ideas into action, and passions into sustainable and thriving endeavors.
The cost is $295 for 10 weeks of instruction and materials.
Participants must register online no later than 4 p.m., Sept. 1.
To register, visit SmartstartPasco.com.
SMARTstart roundtable
The SMARTstart Entrepreneur Roundtable will meet Aug. 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., at The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, at 6013 Wesley Grove Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.
Entrepreneur Roundtables bring small business owners and early-state venture founders together on a monthly basis for an exchange of information. Groups typically include six members to 10 members from diverse industries, in a confidential setting, to share the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, and how it affects life at work and home.
Participants have the opportunity to attend two meetings to decide if the roundtable is the right fit for them and their businesses. Thereafter, the annual cost is $150.
Participating in the roundtable is free for SMARTstart business incubator members.
For information, visit SmartstartPasco.com, or call (888) 607-2726.
SCORE grant writing workshop
Pasco-Hernando SCORE Chapter 439 is presenting a workshop on grant writing.
This interactive seminar will explore the truths, the how’s, and the why’s of grant writing. Participants will learn about the key steps in the process of grant writing, matching their needs invariably as not-for-profits with the goals of grantors.
The session will cover many issues regarding grant writing, including:
- Understanding the application process
- Finding out who’s eligible
- Sources of funding
- Where proposals fail
The session will be Aug. 22 from 5 p.m. to 6:50 p.m., at Spring Hill Branch Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive in Spring Hill.
For information, contact Barbara Sweinberg at or (727) 842-4638.
Pasco award and trade show
The Pasco Economic Development Council will have its Annual Awards & Trade Show Aug. 31 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Saddlebrook Resort Grand Pavilion, at 5700 Saddlebrook Way in Wesley Chapel.
The awards recognize top companies in Pasco County that excel in technology, innovation job creation, growth, capital investment and community development.
In evaluating nominees, the Pasco EDC looks at job creation, increased capital investment and contributions to the community through civic involvement between January 2016 and June 2017.
Industry awards are given in the following categories: small (1-20 employees); medium (21-100 employees); large (101 or more employees); and startup/new within past 24 months.
About 600 community and business leaders attend the annual awards gathering.
Space is limited, and early registration is encouraged. Please RSVP by Aug. 23.
Reservations are $85 per person, or $60 per person for Pasco County staff only.
Sponsorships range from $500 to $5,000, with five benefit levels.
For information, visit PascoEDC.com, call (813) 926-0827, ext. 226, or email .
Microloan program
The Pasco Economic Development Council can help small business owners through its SMARTstart Microloan Fund.
These loans are targeted at small business owners who may not qualify for traditional financing, but who have a sound plan to grow their business. Microloans can be used for working capital, inventory, supplies, furniture, fixtures, machinery and other equipment.
Funds can’t be used to buy real estate or to refinance an existing debt.
The microloan fund seeks to increase job opportunities and build the economy. In particular, it can aid business owners who have difficulty accessing credit, such as women, minorities, veterans and disabled individuals.
For information, call the Pasco EDC at (813) 926-0827, or visit SmartstartPasco.com.
