The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Business Digest

Business Digest 09/18/2019

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(Courtesy of Andy Taylor/Pasco County)

Bubba’s breaks ground
Bubba’s 33, 26340 Silver Maple Parkway in Wesley Chapel, had a ceremonial groundbreaking for its first restaurant in Florida. A December opening is expected. Shown here from left: Adam Thomas, marketing director for Experience Florida’s Sports Coast; Crista Demers-Dean, Bubba’s 33 marketing director; Jeff Dean, Bubba’s 33 managing partner; Mike Moore, vice chairman of the Pasco County Commission; and, Hope Allen, CEO of the North Tampa Bay Chamber.

New craft brewery coming
Double Branch Artisanal Ales (DBAA) is expected to open in December at 5956 Wesley Grove Blvd., in The Grove at Wesley Chapel, according to a news release from the company. The locally owned and operated brewery will provide a gathering place, a tap room of beers brewed on premise and food. The brewery and taproom also will provide a local option for events, entertainment and nightlife.

The brewery’s name relates to the original name for Wesley Chapel, which was named Double Branch, after twin creeks that ran through the Boyette land grant, the release says.

The brewery will operate out of an 8,400-square-foot space in the Mainstreet area of The Grove, combining a 2,100-square-foot production brewery; 1,900-square-foot tap room, a 550-square-foot outdoor patio; and, an 1,850-square-foot event space.

The principal members of Double Branch include: Shashank Mishra, of Wesley Chapel, owner and president; Ryan Clark, of Lutz, owner and managing partner; Cody Guyer, of Wesley Chapel, owner and head brewer; and Sam Guyer, tap room manager.

Marketplace grand opening
Vintage Marketplace, at 5155 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills, will celebrate its grand opening Sept. 21 at 11 a.m. The 5,000-square-foot store features a wide variety of vendors. The event will feature refreshments and special offerings. Store hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 3  p.m., on Sunday.

Free class for insurance agents
A free five-hour law and ethics continuing education class will be offered for insurance professionals Sept. 20 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at SpringHill Suites Marriott, 16615 Crosspointe Run in Land O’ Lakes. Register by going to Pasco.PaulDavis.com, or RSVP to .

East Pasco Networking
Bill Cronin, president/CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., will be the featured speaker at the East Pasco Networking Group breakfast on Sept. 24. The group meets from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at IHOP, 13100 U.S. 301 in Dade City. For more information, call Nils Lenz at (813) 782-9491 or Vicky Jones at (813) 431-1149.

Economic briefing
Jamie Wilson, DBA vice president of government relations, will be the featured speaker at the North Tampa Bay Chamber’s economic development briefing on Sept. 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Hunter’s green 18101 Longwater Run Drive in Tampa. He has served as vice president of government relations for Moffitt since 2007. His responsibilities include local, state and federal government relations. To find out more and to RSVP, visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com.

Recession concerns
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell 1.6 points to 103.1, remaining within the top 15 percent of readings, according to a news release.

Job creation accelerated, positive earnings trends improved, and quarter-on-quarter sales gains remained strong, the report said.

However, optimism slipped because fewer owners said they expect better business conditions and real sales volumes in the coming months, according to the report.

“In spite of the success we continue to see on Main Street, the manic predictions of recession are having a psychological effect and creating uncertainty for small business owners throughout the country,” NFIB President and CEO Juanita D. Duggan, said in the release. “Small business owners continue to invest, grow and hire at historically high levels, and we see no indication of a coming recession.”

For the full report, go to NFIB.com.

Franchise opportunities
Learn about franchises and how to select the right one for you at this free seminar called “Opportunities in Franchises,” presented by Pasco-Hernando SCORE. The session will be on Sept. 30, at the SMARTstart West Pasco Entrepreneur Center, 4532 U.S. 19 in New Port Richey.

Chamber awards gala
The 20th annual North Tampa Bay Awards Gala, set for Nov. 7, will honor local businesses, volunteer civic organizations, and company leaders for contributions they make to the regional economy and the community. The event will be at the Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club, 5811 Tampa Palms Blvd., in Tampa, and will include a VIP Reception and dinner. A VIP Reception ticket includes an hour of networking, two drinks, passed appetizers, and entertainment. The $75 dinner ticket includes a three-course meal and the awards presentation. For more information, visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com.

Business Digest 09/11/2019

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East Pasco Networking
Bill Cronin, president/CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., will be the featured speaker at the East Pasco Networking Group breakfast on Sept. 24. The group meets from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at IHOP, 13100 U.S. 301 in Dade City. For more information, call Nils Lenz at (813) 782-9491 or Vicky Jones at (813) 431-1149.

Tampa ranks high for driving
The personal-finance website WalletHub recently released its report on 2019’s Best & Worst Cities to Drive in, and Tampa ranked fourth best on the list of the 100 largest cities. WalletHub used 30 metrics to compare the cities, including average gas prices, annual hours in traffic congestion per auto commuter, auto repair shops per capita and other factors. Orlando ranked as the second best, and Detroit, Michigan, ranked last among the 100 cities compared in the report.

County administrator to speak
Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles will talk about “The State of East Pasco” during The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting on Sept. 17. Networking starts at 7 a.m., followed by breakfast at 7:30 a.m. The breakfast will be at Scotland Yards Golf Club, 9424 U.S. 301 in Dade City. Reservations are required. Contact Jo Uber at or online at DadeCityChamber.org, to reserve your seat.

Credit Union helps Thomas Promise
The Suncoast Credit Union Foundation granted The Thomas Promise Foundation $10,000 to help the organization fulfill its mission of providing meals to food-insecure children. This is the third time in a row that the credit union provided a $10,000 grant. This latest grant donation will provide more than 20,000 meals.

Membership breakfast
Andrew Fossa, director of emergency management for Pasco County, will be the featured speaker at the Wake Up Greater Pasco Membership Breakfast. Fossa plays a pivotal role in directing resources and protecting citizens in the event of a natural or manmade disaster. The event is set for Sept. 20 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at Seven Springs Golf & Country Club, at 3535 Trophy Blvd., in Trinity. Cost is $20 for members and $30 for non-members.

Land O’ Lakes Brochure Exchange
The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce is presenting a business card and brochure exchange on Sept. 12 from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., at Pizza Villa, 21501 Village Lakes Shopping Plaza in Land O’ Lakes. Come for networking and lunch, with a special pricing lunch menu.

Chamber board members sought
The North Tampa Bay Chamber has four positions open on its board of directors for the 2020 fiscal year. The nominator and the nominee both must be members in good standing. Board members serve three-year terms. The chamber is seeking representatives from specific sectors of the membership: Financial/insurance; restaurant/hospitality; and sports/recreation.
For more information, reach out to the chamber office at .

‘Catch the Buzz’ spelling bee
The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce Chamber Ambassadors is presenting the 17th annual “Catch the Buzz” Spelling Bee on Sept. 12 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., at the Event Center (formerly known as the Verizon Event Center), 8718 Trouble Creek Road in New Port Richey. Proceeds from the event will benefit Take Stock in Children, and the Florida Department of Education will match the donation. For more information, email .

Using the Internet for business
The Pasco Hernando chapter of SCORE is presenting a free business seminar, “How to use the Internet in your business,” on Sept. 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the New River Branch Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Zephyrhills.

Pasco government actions
The Pasco County Planning Commission:

  • Approved a special exception request by Chancey Road Christian Church Inc., for a recreational vehicle site to accommodate five RVs that will be used by visiting clergy and staff, in conjunction with church operations. The 4.48-acre site is on the north side of Chancey Road, about 200 feet west of Lanier Road.

The Pasco County Commission:

  • Approved a rezoning request by JLP Property Investments to allow 22 single-family detached dwellings within the Boyette Oaks Phase II Master Planned Unit Development (MPUD), on a 24.08-acre site that is about 1,600 feet west of the Boyette Road and Wells Road intersection, about 1,800 feet east of Interstate 75 and approximately 5,500 feet north of State Road 54. The MPUD was originally approved in two phases. Phase one has been completed and phase two had expired.
  • Approved a rezoning request by Joshua LLC, to allow an office and warehouse for an irrigation contractor on a .576-acre lot, on the south side of Warder Road, approximately 450 feet wet of Emmaus Cemetery Road. The applicant agreed to deed restrictions, limiting the use to the office and warehouse.
  • Approved a bid by Right Way Elevator Maintenance Inc., for $102,600 for an elevator project at the Pasco County Historic Courthouse in Dade City.
  • Approved an agreement between the county and The Groves Community Development District for the county to exercise traffic control jurisdiction. The traffic control will be provided by the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and, if deemed necessary by the county or Sheriff’s Office, The Groves CDD will pay for traffic control costs.

Business Digest 08/28/2019

By

(Courtesy of Richard K. Riley)

Credit Union sponsors chamber breakfast
Chris Del Cotto, left, Suncoast Credit Union’s service center manager, gave a presentation at the monthly business breakfast of The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce. He is shown here with John Moors, executive director of the Dade City chamber. The breakfast, held at Kafe Kokopelli, was hosted by Suncoast Credit Union. Three other speakers talked about ‘business wins.’ They were Taylor Kelly, of Raymond James Financial Services; Kyle Verbeek, of Maronda Homes; and, Richard Hayes, Digital Lightbridge.

(Courtesy of John Smith Subs)

New sub shop opens
Jon Smith Subs had its grand opening on Aug. 15, in The Shoppes of Ballantrae Village, 17790 State Road 54, Unit 104, in Land O’ Lakes. Beyond serving subs at the restaurant, the business also offers catering options. ‘It’s an honor to have such wonderful support from the local business community, as well as the residents of the area,’ Jonathan Gilpin, franchisee of the Jon Smith Subs Lutz, said in a release.

 

 

 

 

North Tampa Bay Chamber awards gala
The 20th annual North Tampa Bay Awards Gala, set for Nov. 7, will honor local businesses, volunteer civic organizations, and company leaders for contributions they make to the regional economy and the community. The event will be at the Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club, 5811 Tampa Palms Blvd., in Tampa, and will include a VIP Reception and dinner. A VIP Reception ticket includes an hour of networking, two drinks, passed appetizers, and entertainment.  The $75 dinner ticket includes a three-course meal and the awards presentation. For more information, visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com.

Women-n-Charge
Women-n-Charge will meet Sept. 6 from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Plantation Palms Golf Club, 23253 Plantation Palms Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. The featured speaker will be Jim Howard, of Trinity Security Allies, on the topic of “Situational Awareness.” The meeting includes lunch, a presentation, and time to network. The cost is $15 for members and $18 for guests who RSVP by Monday prior to the meeting. Tuesday and after, the cost is $20 for members and $23 for guests. Please register at Women-n-Charge.com/meetings/. For more information or to RSVP, call (813) 600-9848, or email .

Free business seminars

  • How to really start your business, Sept. 9 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at SMARTstart Dade City Entrepreneur Center, 15029 14th St., in Dade City.
  • Creating a successful business plan, Sept. 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes.
  • How to use the Internet in your business, Sept. 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at New River Branch Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel.

These sessions are free, but space is limited. Register at PascoHernando.score.org.

New U-Haul location
Cahills Motorsports at 8820 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills, is now offering U-Haul products and services.

County purchases equipment
The Pasco County Commission has approved the purchase and installation of playground equipment for an accessible playground the county is creating at the Wesley Chapel District Park, 7727 Boyette Road. The equipment will be purchased from Game Time Inc., utilizing an existing U.S. Communities Contract, for an amount not to exceed $324,774.49.

Zephyrhills chamber breakfast
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce has its monthly business breakfast on the first Thursday of the month at 7 a.m., at the Golden Corral, 6856 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills. Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco is the scheduled speaker. The cost is $8 for members and $10 for visitors.

New Dollar General location
Dollar General opened a new location at 8965 County Road 54 in Zephyrhills, with a grand opening celebration on Aug. 24.

Business Digest 08/21/2019

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Alchemy & Ashes anniversary
Alchemy & Ashes, which has been in business seven years, is celebrating its one-year anniversary at its current location, 24836 State Road 54 in Lutz. The celebration, which will include gifts for the first 50 guests, raffle prizes and a local trunk show, is set for Aug. 24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

New clerk will speak
Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki-Alvarez-Sowles will be the featured speaker at the East Pasco Networking Group breakfast on Aug. 27. The group meets from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at IHOP, 13100 U.S. 301 in Dade City. Alvarez-Sowles was selected to replace Paula S. O’Neil, who retired in July. For more information, call Nils Lenz at (813) 782-9491 or Vicky Jones at (813) 431-1149.

Entrepreneur series
This session, presented by SMARTstart, a program of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., is called “Personal budgeting and Credit for Entrepreneurs.” It is being offered on Aug. 28 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the SMARTstart East Pasco Entrepreneur Center, 15029 14th St., in Dade City. Go to PascoEDC.com and click on the events tab, to register.

Free course for insurance agents
A five-hour law and ethics continuing education class is being offered free for insurance agents on Aug. 30 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at SpringHill Suites Marriott, 1615 Crosspointe Run in Land O’ Lakes. A free lunch will be provided. RSVP to .

Tampa house flippers do well
WalletHub, a personal finance website, has released findings of its 2019 Best Places to Flip Houses report, which compared more than 170 cities across the country. Tampa came in No. 6 on the list — and was the only Florida city to hit the top 10. To view the full report, go to tinyurl.com/y5aaxbyk.

Free business seminars

  • How to really start your business, Sept. 9 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at SMARTstart Dade City Entrepreneur Center, 15029 14th St., in Dade City.
  • Creating a successful business plan, Sept. 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes.
  • How to use the Internet in your business, Sept. 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at New River Branch Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel.

These sessions are free, but space is limited. Register at PascoHernando.score.org.

Women of Wesley Chapel
Women of Wesley Chapel (WOW) meets from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., on the first Friday of each month, at Beach House Assisted Living and Memory Care at Wiregrass Ranch, 30070 State Road 56, Wesley Chapel. The group is the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce’s women-only networking group. The cost is $5, which includes breakfast and networking. To RSVP, call (813) 994-8534, or email . Prepayment and registration is strongly encouraged.

New manufacturing website
If you’re trying to find out more about manufacturing in Hillsborough County, there’s a new website that may be helpful to you. Visit MadeInHillsborough.org to find out more.

Women-n-Charge meeting
Women-n-Charge, a networking group for women, will hear a presentation from Jim Howard, of Trinity Security Allies, on “Situational Awareness.” The meeting will be on Sept. 6 from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Plantation Palms Golf Club, at 23253 Plantation Palms Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. The cost is $15 for members and $18 for guests by Monday prior to the meeting, Tuesday and after the cost is $20 for members and $23 guests. Register at Women-n-Charge.com/meetings. For information or to RSVP, call (813) 600-9848, or email .

Zephyrhills Chamber breakfast
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce has its monthly breakfast meeting on the first Thursday of the month, at 7 a.m., at the Golden Corral, 6877 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills. Admission is $8 for members and $10 for visitors.

Pasco County Commission approvals:

  • An application by ANT of Florida, LLC/Bubba’s 33 for the sale of beer, wine and liquor for on-premises consumption in conjunction with the operation of a restaurant on the south side of Silver Maple Parkway, about one-fourth mile east of Interstate 75.
  • An application by Carmel Friendship Baptist Church Inc., for a change in zoning from a master-planned unit development to a neighborhood commercial district on the 11.17-acres on the northeast corner of Boyette and Wells roads.
  • An application by Dwight and Joyce Hopkins Revocable Trust to change the zoning of agricultural and general commercial district to a general commercial district on 7,41 acres at the northwest corner of Old State Road 54 and Old Cypress Creek.
  • An application by KW Realty Fund III, LLC et al./Starkey Ranch Heart Pine Business Park for a conditional use for the sale of beer and wine only for on-premises consumption in conjunction with the operation of a retail center in a master-planned unit development district at the northeast intersection of State Road 54 and Heart Pine Avenue in Odessa.
  • An application by Berge O. Khandjian and Paul O’Grady to change zoning from low density residential to multifamily high density, on 48.8 acres on the east side of Old Pasco Road, about 600 feet north of Oakley Boulevard.

 

Business Digest 08/14/2019

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John Smith Subs grand opening
Jon Smith Subs, in Lutz, will have its grand opening this week and will offer some special deals for customers. The sandwich shop is in The Shoppes at Ballantrae Village, 17790 State Road 54, Unit 104, in Lutz.

The store’s celebration will be on Aug. 15, beginning at 10:30 a.m., with a ribbon cutting with the Carrollwood Area Business Association at 11:30 a.m.

Kurt Browning to speak
Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning will be the featured speaker at The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting on Aug. 16 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at the Seven Springs Golf & Country Club, 3535 Trophy Blvd., in Trinity. Fees are $20 for members and $30 for others.

To order your ticket, email .

‘Reverse trade show’
Pasco County’s purchasing department is inviting local vendors who would like to do work with the county to attend its “reverse trade show.”

The free event is on Aug. 26 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes.

“This is a great opportunity for business owners to learn how agencies throughout the county purchase goods and services, and how they can participate in future solicitations,” Pasco County Purchasing Director Stacey Ziegler, said in a news release announcing the event.

Representatives from more than a dozen county departments, the county’s Constitutional Offices, local municipalities and others are expected to be there.

To register, send an email to .

Free job search boot camp
TampaBay-Job-Links will offer a free job search boot camps on Aug. 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., hosted by the Nonprofit Leadership Center, 1408 N. Westshore Blvd., Suite 140, in Tampa.

The event is intended to help people kick their job search into high gear. Topics will include conducting self-assessments, creating a professional brand, enhancing interview skills, networking, strengthening resumes, targeting companies and other skills needed to be successful when searching for a job. Lunch and snacks will be provided. Space is limited. RSVP by Aug. 18, by calling (813) 344-0220, or by emailing .

WOW-TOO
WOW-TOO will host three local nonprofit organizations to share information about what they do. The meeting will be Aug. 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., at Holiday Inn Express-Trinity, 2125 Corporate Center Drive, Trinity. Cost is $5, cash or check only, at the door.

Economic development briefing
Scott Himelhoch, vice president of land acquisition for Taylor Morrison, will be the featured speaker at North Tampa Bay’s Economic Development Briefing on Aug. 22 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com.

Free business mentoring
If you need free, individual, confidential small business mentoring, chances are that Pasco Hernando SCORE can help. Visit PascoHernando.org to request a mentor.

Award finalists named
Award finalists have been announced for the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.’s 33rd annual Awards and Trade Show. These are Pasco County businesses that have demonstrated exceptional growth by capital investment and employees, innovation in technology, and good corporate citizenship in their communities.

The nominees were interviewed and scored by the Pasco EDC awards committee.

Here are the finalists, for the six awards that will be presented.

  • AdventHealth Wesley Chapel
    • Airprompt AC/Electric
    • American Consulting Engineers of Florida LLC
    • Architectural Signage & Printing
    • Bay Tech Industries Inc.
  • Connected Cities
  • Design & Construction Innovations
  • Gulfside Healthcare Services
  • Hudson Bowling Supply Inc.
  • Medical Center of Trinity
  • Millian-Aire Enterprises Corp.
  • The Point Distillery
  • Trxade Group Inc.
  • Welbilt
    The trade show will feature about 50 exhibitors. The event generally attracts more than 600 business and community leaders from through Pasco County. This year’s event is set for Sept. 5 at Saddlebrook Resort and Spa. To reserve your spot, go to PascoEDC.com, and click on events.

Spelling bee sponsors needed
The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce is seeking sponsors for the 17th annual Ambassadors “Catch the Buzz” Spelling Bee. The event will be held on Sept. 12, beginning with a team registration and cocktail hour at 5 p.m., and followed by the Spelling Bee from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event will be at The Hive (The Event Center), 8718 Trouble Creek Road in New Port Richey. Teams are forming and sponsorships are available.

Email , or call (727) 842-7651 for more information.

The event benefits the chamber and Take Stock in Children.

AT& T opens new stores
AT&T has opened two new stores in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

One is at 14446 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, and the other is at 18455 N. U.S. 41 in Lutz.

The new stores are open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Business Digest 08/07/2019

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Zephyrhills Chamber award nominees
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce will host its Membership Appreciation & Community Awards celebration on Aug. 22 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Here’s the list of the 2019 Awards in Excellence Nominees:

Small Business: Bob’s Tire and Auto; Commando’s Pizza; Palm Tree Acres MHC; PuroClean of Zephyrhills; Sittin Pretty Pet Parlor; SONG Printing; Zephyrhills Brewing Company

Large Business: AdventHealth Zephyrhills; Culver’s of Zephyrhills; Golden Corral; K & K Glass; Ryman Construction; Sonny’s BBQ of Zephyrhills; Suncoast Credit Union

Innovative Business: AdventHealth Wellness Center; Elite Soccer Skills Academy; Hemp & Coffee Exchange; Premier Community Health Care; The Academy of Spectrum Diversity; Zephyrhills Executive Office Suites

Economic Development Champion: Beth Aker, Meals on Wheels; Kern’s Family Construction;  Ron Oakley, Pasco County Commission; Steve Spina, retired city manager; Sam Turgeon, Zephyrhills Executive Office Suites

Diamond Award: East Pasco Wheels on Meals; East Pasco YMCA; Elks Lodge BPOE 2731; Pregnancy Care Center; The Academy of Spectrum Diversity; The Church at Chancey Road; The Samaritan Project; The Thomas Promise

Citizen of The Year: Sam Abraham, Moose Lodge; Beth Aker, East Pasco Meals on Wheels; Katy Boyd, AdventHealth Wellness; Lee & Russ Heffelfinger, ABC Pizza; Randy Light, PuroClean; Cliff McDuffie, Zephyrhills Lodge 198; Cliff Moffett, Military Museum; Donna Moyer, Elks Lodge

Leadership in Government: Danny Burgess, executive director the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs; Ken Burgess, Zephyrhills City Council president; Gail Hamilton, CRA director; Bob Hatfield, staff member for U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis; State Rep. Randy Maggard, District 28; Steve Spina, retired Zephyrhills city manager; Gene Whitfield, Zephyrhills Mayor; Zephyrhills City Council & Steve Spina.

Leadership in Youth: Eleanor Cornelius, booster president; Pin Chasers Zephyrhills; Rotary Club Noon; The Academy of Spectrum Diversity; Charla Vande Berg. RBSMS; West Zephyrhills Elementary; Zephyrhills Lions Club; Zephyrhills Little League

Community Service: Tammy Dester, Academy of Spectrum Diversity; Miriam Hansford, AmeriLife; Donna Moyer, Elks Lodge; Rod Rehrig, Marine Corps League; Anna Stutzriem, Main Street Zephyrhills

Chamber Member of the Year: Beth Aker, East Pasco Meals on Wheels; Vicky Jones, Palm Tree Acres; PuroClean of Zephyrhills; Rod Rehrig, Marine Corps League; San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union; Tampa Type & Print

Ambassador of the Year: Beth Aker, East Pasco Meals on Wheels; Cheryl Hinton, Pregnancy Care Center; Randy Light, PuroClean; Tim and Pam Proctor, Sisel

For more information about the banquet, go to ZephyrhillsChamber.org. For more information or to RSVP, call (813) 782-1913.

ABC Fine Wine & Spirits grand opening
ABC Fine Wine & Spirits at 11868 State Road 54 in Trinity will have a grand opening celebration on Aug. 8 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The store will offer a wine-tasting event, for $10, which features tastings of more than 50 wines and spirits. It also will give customers 10 percent off on their purchases that night.

Upcoming ribbon cuttings
The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce has announced the following ribbon cuttings:

  • Mr. Electric of Land O’ Lakes, 2604 Cypress Ridge Blvd., Suite 102, Wesley Chapel; Aug. 14 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Nerds to Go, 19651 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, Aug. 15 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Morningstar Storage of Wiregrass, 28999 Anise Drive, Wesley Chapel, Aug. 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Olympus Pools, 21859 State Road 54, Lutz, Aug. 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Business Digest 07/31/2019

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Women-n-Charge meets Aug. 2
Women-n-Charge, a networking group for women, will meet Aug. 2 from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Plantation Palms Golf Club, 23253 Plantation Palms Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. The meeting’s theme will be “Summer of Networking, One to One Table Style.”

Members will spend 2 minutes each sharing information and answering questions about their business to other women at their table.

For information on the cost and to register, go to Women-n-charge.com/meetings/. For more information or to RSVP, call (813) 600-9848, or email .

Quality Inn replaces Ramada Inn
The Quality Inn, at 6815 Gall Blvd., has replaced the Ramada Inn, according to a news release from Tina Glinkowski, director of sales.

The bedding and furniture in guest rooms has been replaced, and the new operator will continue to update the property. Features at the hotel include free wireless Internet, an outdoor pool, a 24-hour business center, a free continental breakfast, and meeting space.

Some rooms in the hotel are pet-friendly, for which there is an extra charge.

Fairy hair extensions offered
Fairy House Studio at 1418 Julie Lagoon Road in Lutz is offering fairy hair extensions.

Fairy hair is a lightweight reflective thread that is woven into your hair to create a magical sparkly look. Fairy hair is great for all ages and can be used on all types of hair, long or short, curly or straight, treated or colored. Fairy hair lasts from a few days to months.

The studio is operated by Nataly India.

For more information call or text (813)728-4325, or visit FairyHairByNatalyIndia.com.

New U-Haul location
San Ann Truck Rentals at 30904 State Road 52 is now offering U-Haul products and services.

New breakfast place
Breakfast Station has opened at 21519 Village Lakes Shopping Center Drive, in the Village Lakes Shopping Center in Land O’ Lakes. The restaurant serves a wide assortment of breakfast and lunch choices, with selections such as the Depot Breakfast, Railroad Yard Omelets, the Depot Melt, and many others.

For a full menu and other information, visit BreakfastStationCentral.com.

Common Grounds Pitch series
Interested in pitching your startup idea? You might want to check out the Common Grounds Startup Presentations hosted by the Pasco Economic Development Council’s SMARTstart program.

Two businesses each will make their pitch on Aug. 14 at 10 a.m., at the SMARTstart East Pasco Entrepreneur Center, 15029 14th St., Dade City.

To sign up to make your pitch and for more information, go to PascoEDC.com, and click on the events tab.

Women of Wesley Chapel
Women of Wesley Chapel (WOW) meets from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., on the first Friday of each month, at Beach House Assisted Living and Memory Care at Wiregrass Ranch, 30070 State Road 56, Wesley Chapel. The group is the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce’s women-only networking group. The cost is $5, which includes breakfast and networking.

To RSVP, call (813) 994-8534, or email . Prepayment and registration is strongly encouraged.

Recruiting speakers for Business week
The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce is planning ahead for the 27th annual Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce Business Development Week, which will be Jan. 27 through Jan. 31, 2020. The chamber is now making an open call for potential conference speakers. This year’s conference theme will be “Visualizing your success in 2020.”

If you’re interested in becoming a speaker for the conference, submit a presentation proposal to The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce by Aug. 2. Some examples of presentation topics are: Increasing sales; Improving customer service; Increasing the use of technology in your business; Networking; Motivating employees; Improving cash flow; and, Human Resources. Potential presenters may choose other business-related topics, too.

For more information on how to submit your presentation, visit GreaterPasco.com.

Recent ribbon cuttings
These are recent ribbon cuttings that were on The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce’s July’s calendar:

  • Life’s Treasure Thrift Store, 4910 Allen Road, ribbon cutting and open house on July 26
  • CBD Store Land O’ Lakes, 7902 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in the Connerton Publix Shopping Center on July 29
  • Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, in Trinity. The medical center has added a new vascular robotics program. The event was set for July 30.

East Pasco Networking
Cheryl Hinton will be the featured speaker at the East Pasco Networking Group breakfast on Aug. 13. The group meets from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at IHOP, 13100 U.S. 301 in Dade City.

For more information, call Nils Lenz at (813) 782-9491 or Vicky Jones at (813) 431-1149.

Business Digest 07/24/2019

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(Courtesy of Sam Turgeon)

Sunlight Realty moves, offers space
Sunlight Realty has moved into Zephyrhills Executive Offices, at 5344 Ninth St., in Zephyrhills, and is leasing out 15 offices, according to a news release from Sam Turgeon, who owns the office complex, along with his wife, Winifred. They envision the office spaces available for lease being used by small businesses and start-ups. For more information, contact Sam Turgeon at (203) 623-7794 or at .

Aquarium names new vice president
Grant Martin has been named the new vice president of development for The Florida Aquarium. Martin previously served as the president of the capital campaign at the Tampa Bay History Center. The announcement comes as the aquarium increases its visibility in their conservation efforts and business growth, according to an Aquarium news release. “Grant’s arrival will allow us to broaden our donor engagement and deepen our connection to the community, both crucial to furthering our organization’s mission of conservation and education,” Roger Germann, president and CEO of the aquarium, said in the release.

Credit Union has new location
The San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union has moved to a new location at 38149 Sprocket Way, which is near the Dade City Publix, according to a credit union posting released by the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce. The credit union’s new location boasts a new building, expanded drive-through lanes and a drive-through ATM, which accepts deposits. The credit union’s former location will become an operations center for the credit union. For more information, visit SACFCU.org, or call (352) 588-2732.

Tampa ranked among top places to live
WalletHub, a personal-finance website, released its rankings for the Best Big Cities to Live In, and Tampa was ranked No. 15, out of the top 20. Virginia Beach, Virginia, ranked No. 1 and Boston, Massachusetts, ranked No. 20. No other Florida city ranked in the top 20 on the list.

The data set considerations included the quality of the public school system, job opportunities, and median annual property taxes, according to a release from WalletHub.

Temporary hold on mini-warehouses
The Pasco County Commission has adopted a temporary moratorium on consideration of any new mini-warehouse applications along the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor. The moratorium is expected to last no longer than 120 days, but could increase to 180 days — upon the board’s approval of an extension. Board members have made it clear they want staff to finish its work within the 120-day window. The board is seeking greater control over where these types of projects are located, with the idea to preserve frontage along the corridor for job-generating businesses. Mini-warehouses tend to have few employees, said board members Mike Moore and Kathryn Starkey, who pushed to give time for staff to research new standards before any additional mini-warehouses are approved in the corridor.

Recruiting speakers for Business week
The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce is planning ahead for the 27th annual Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce Business Development Week, which will be Jan. 27 through Jan. 31, 2020. The chamber is now making an open call for potential conference speakers. This year’s conference theme will be “Visualizing your success in 2020.” If you’re interested in becoming a speaker for the conference, submit a presentation proposal to the Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce by Aug. 2. Some examples of presentation topics are: Increasing sales; Improving Customer Service; Increasing the use of technology in your business; Networking; Motivating employees; Improving Cash Flow; and, Human Resources. Potential presenters may choose other business-related topics, too. For more information on how to submit your presentations, visit GreaterPasco.com.

Grow Financial helps Thomas Promise
Grow Financial Federal Credit United donated $5,000 to the Thomas Promise Foundation through the Grow Financial Foundation, according to a news release from the Thomas Promise Foundation. The grant will provide enough money to assemble 10,000 meals for food-insecure students in Pasco County, Joe Simmons, executive director for The Thomas Promise Foundation, said in the release.

Commercial leasing workshop
Learn the best practices for leasing a commercial space at a free workshop presented by Gilit Kontny, of Berkshire Hathaway, on July 24 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The class is being offered as part of the SMARTstart Entrepreneurship Education Series, at the East Pasco Entrepreneur Center, 15029 14th St., in Dade City.

Sprouts to open in Trinity
Sprouts Farmers Market is set to open in Trinity, at 8840 Strength Ave., on July 31. The store is planning a ribbon cutting before doors open at 7 a.m. Numerous festivities are planned at the new 30,000-square-foot store. Visit Sprouts.com for more information.

Free business mentoring
If you need free, individual, confidential small business mentoring, chances are that Pasco Hernando SCORE can help. Visit PascoHernando.org to request a mentor.

SBA seeks research proposals
The Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy has announced new funding opportunities for small business research. It is currently seeking research proposals in six areas: bank formation, cybersecurity, population dynamics, entrepreneur demographics, veteran entrepreneurship, and miscellaneous small business topics. Proposal submissions are due to by Aug. 16. For more information, go to FedBizOpps.gov.

Business Digest 07/17/2019

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(Courtesy of America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses)

New vision store opens
America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses is now open at Cypress Creek Town Center, 25605 Sierra Center Blvd., in Lutz. The town center is off State Road 56, west of Interstate 75. The store carries a wide selection of designer eyeglass frames, contact lenses and eyeglass accessories. It also offers a free eye exam by an optometrist, with two pairs of eyeglasses for $69.95.

 

Barre3 opens in Wesley Chapel
Barre3 had a ribbon cutting on July 12, at 1940 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in the Shoppes at New Tampa, in Wesley Chapel, with free giveaways, drinks and snacks. Barre3 is a full-body balanced workout combining strength conditioning, cardio and mindfulness.

O’Reilly Auto Parts opens in Lutz
O’Reilly Auto Parts has opened a new store at 15215 N. Nebraska Ave., in Lutz, and has a grand opening that runs through July 30. As part of its celebration, the store has provided $200 to Idlewild Baptist Church’s food pantry.

O’Reilly is a specialty retailer of automotive aftermarket parts, tools, supplies, equipment and accessories. It was founded in 1957 by the O’Reilly family, and the company operates more than 5,300 stores in the United States.

Suncoast Chiropractic opens in Lutz
Suncoast Chiropractic opened, with a celebration last month, at 18857 State Road 54 in Lutz. John Camacho, DC., offers a variety of services. The event drew a large crowd, and North Tampa Chamber of Commerce joined in the ribbon cutting festivities.

During a previous North Tampa luncheon, Hope Allen, the chamber’s president and CEO, said she wouldn’t miss the celebration. “He had the dream to open up his own practice. He has done the majority of the work himself,” she said, adding, “We thank you for investing in our community.”

Veterans job fair
DAV and RecruitMilitary are hosting a hiring event for veterans, transitioning military personnel, National Guard members, Reserve members and military spouses. The event is on July 18 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Drive in Tampa.

Workshop on commercial leasing
Learn the best practices for leasing a commercial space at a free workshop presented by Gilit Kontny, of Berkshire Hathaway, on July 24 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The class is being offered as part of the SMARTstart Entrepreneurship Education Series, at the East Pasco Entrepreneur Center, 15029 14th St., in Dade City.

East Pasco Networking Group
Roxxy Geisenheimer, executive director of The Samaritan Project, will be the featured speaker at the East Pasco Networking Group breakfast on July 23. The group meets from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at IHOP, 13100 U.S. 301 in Dade City. For more information, call Nils Lenz at (813) 782-9491 or Vicky Jones at (813) 431-1149.

Counseling Center’s new location
The Counseling Center of Tampa Bay recently closed a long-term lease in the Bridgewater Professional Park, 4913 Van Dyke Road in Lutz. The new location is next to the center’s previous 1,200-square-foot office next door. Hold-Thyssen, a commercial real estate firm, closed the multi-year lease.

Coffee First
Network before work at Coffee First, on the fourth Tuesday of each month, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., at the First National Bank of Pasco, 23613 State Road 54 in Lutz.

Women of Wesley Chapel
Women of Wesley Chapel (WOW) meets from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., on the first Friday of each month, at Beach House Assisted Living and Memory Care at Wiregrass Ranch, 30070 State Road 56, Wesley Chapel. The group is the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce’s women-only networking group. The cost is $5, includes breakfast and networking. To RSVP, call (813) 994-8534, or email . Prepayment and registration is strongly encouraged.

Free business mentoring
If you need free, individual, confidential small business mentoring, chances are that Pasco Hernando SCORE can help. Visit PascoHernando.org to request a mentor.

Pasco zoning approvals
A number of zoning or use requests have been approved by the Pasco County Commission during recent meetings. The approvals include:

Central Pasco

  • Request by SDG Acquisition LLC to allow a maximum of 65 single-family residences on a 39.5-acre parcel, on the north side of Collier Parkway/County Line Road, approximately 550 feet west of Livingston Road

Wesley Chapel

  • Request by Tampa Premium Outlets LLC/Aloha for a conditional use to allow the sale of beer and wine, for on-premises consumption, in conjunction with a courtyard kiosk for outdoor sales and service. The 120-square-foot sales kiosk is within a 76,721-square-foot outdoor courtyard area, at 2300 Grand Cypress Drive, Unit 56.

East Pasco

  • Request in the Boger Ranch Master Planned Unit Development, in the Villages of Pasadena Hills Village F, to allow 215 single-family detached dwellings on approximately 85.8 acres. The proposed development is located on the northwest corner of the intersection of Curley Road and Tyndall Road, approximately 2 miles south of State Road 52.
  • Request in the Evans Parcel Master Planned Unit Development, in the Villages of Pasadena Hills to allow 117 single-family residential dwelling units and 100,000 square feet of non-residential development on approximately 39 acres, at the southwest corner of Handcart and Kiefer roads, about 3.10 miles south of State Road 52.

Business Digest 07/10/2019

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Brewery owner joins tourism board
Mike Bishop, owner of Big Storm Brewery, has been selected to fill a vacancy on the Tourist Development Council. Bishop will serve for a four-year term, running through June 2023. The board is made up of nine members.

Economic board opening
The Jobs and Economic Opportunities Committee is seeking new volunteer members to take part in the committee that oversees the use of Jobs and Economic Opportunities Trust Fund portion of the Penny for Pasco.

Responsibilities of JEOC members include ensuring Penny for Pasco spending meets the requirements to promote projects creating new jobs and economic growth. The committee consists of nine members, appointed by the Pasco County Commission, representing diverse knowledge and expertise from each of the following areas: finance/banking, agriculture, real estate, manufacturing and other private industries.

Anyone interested in serving on the JEOC is asked to submit a letter of interest and resume to Economic Growth Manager David Engel at: .

Applications are being accepted through Aug. 2.

The Committee meets, at minimum, on a quarterly basis and presents annual updates to the BCC. Each member of the committee serves a two-year term.

East Pasco Networking
Leja Apple, a professional actress and model, and former Miss Pasco, will be the featured speaker at the East Pasco Networking Group breakfast on July 9. The group meets from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at IHOP, 13100 U.S. 301 in Dade City. For more information, call Nils Lenz at (813) 782-9491 or Vicky Jones at (813) 431-1149.

Zephyrhills chamber breakfast meeting
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce will have its business breakfast on July 11 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., at Golden Corral, 6855 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills.

Coffee First
Network before work at Coffee First, on the fourth Tuesday of each month, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., at the First National Bank of Pasco, 23613 State Road 54 in Lutz.

Power Gals with a Latin Twist
This networking group for women meets the first Friday of each month from noon to 2 p.m., at Bahama Breeze, 25830 Sierra Center Blvd., in Lutz.

Power Gals
The next meeting of this no-obligation networking group for women is July 18 at 11 a.m., at Pizza Villa,  21501 Village Lakes Shopping Center Drive in Land O’ Lakes. For more information, call Karla Arita at (813) 408-2038.

Pasco offers matching program
Experience Florida’s Sports Coast, the destination management organization for Pasco’s County’s tourism efforts, has launched a Marketing Matching Sponsorship Program. The program aims to support special event organizers and events that have the potential to attract tourists to the county. The sponsorship program provides up to $5,000 in funding to expand the overall marketing reach to visitors outside the Tampa Bay region.

For more information, call Experience Florida’s Sports Coast at (727) 847-812-8129, email , or visit bit.ly/FSCMarketingMatching.

Chamber goes global
Hope Allen, the president and CEO of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce was invited to take part at the 2019 U.S. Global Leadership Coalition Summit in Washington D.C. The summit brought together hundreds of state leaders together to discuss the importance of global development and diplomacy for local success, according to a posting on the North Tampa Bay Chamber’s website.

On the website, Allen told chamber members: “I was absolutely honored to be on the elite list of attendees, as there were only 13 other leaders from across our state that were invited to be a part of this annual event.”

The chamber executive also said the summit involved high-level networking, foreign policy briefings, and an opportunity to meet members of Congress. Allen said she “quickly learned that The North Tampa Bay region has not only received the attention of fellow Floridians, but also families, individuals and policymakers of all generations at a national level.”

Pasco planning wins award
Pasco County Planning and Development has received its fourth award related to Connected City: America’s First Smart Gigabit Community Built From the Ground Up.

The latest accolade is the Florida Counties Foundation 2019 County Government Best Practices Award, recognizing Pasco County’s outstanding achievements in creating new, efficient and effective solutions to challenges facing local governments, according to a Pasco County news release.

The project also has received awards from the American Planning Association, Florida Chapter; The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council and the American Planning Association Florida Chapter Sun Coast.

Hillsborough offers new special events grant
The newly appointed Cultural Assets Commission of Hillsborough County has recently announced the Special Events Partnership Grant program. This grant program seeks to expand and support special events aimed at placemaking and community-building outcomes, and to promote the county’s economic and community prosperity goals.

The new Special Events Partnership Grants are project-specific grants with two funding categories: “Pilot Effort” and “Next Level.”

The Pilot Effort category is intended for events that are new or have not occurred for more than three years and the maximum amount awarded under this category is $50,000.

The Next Level category is intended for events that are well-established, and seek to grow and enhance event offerings above and beyond current levels to significantly increase attendance, community-wide impact and appeal. The maximum funding amount under the Next Level category is $100,000.

Examples of eligible events include: Art festivals, local food festivals, film festivals, river celebration events and local community historic events.

Applications must be submitted by Aug. 2.

For more information, email .