Business Digest

Grand re-opening at Copperstone
Copperstone Executive Suites, 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, will host a grand re-opening March 19 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The building is under new ownership and management.

There will be food, drinks and giveaways. Guests can enter to win four free hours of meeting room space.

For information, call (813) 298-7363.

Carrollwood Bar Association changes name
The Carrollwood Bar Association has changed its name to the North Tampa Bar Association to better reflect the area in which its members live and work, according to a news release from the organization.

The North Tampa Bar Association’s mission is to serve its members and the residents of the North Tampa area by fostering respect for the law, by advancing the competent and ethical practice of the legal profession, and by providing programs to its members that will enhance their practice and enrich their experience in the legal profession.

The organization has contributed to area charities since its inception. Last year, it assisted Elves for Elders and Community Food Pantry.

For more information, visit NorthTampaBarAssociation.com.

Brightway Insurance now in Lutz
Brightway Insurance Agency, Westchase, has moved from Tampa to 1577 Dale Mabry Highway, Suite 100, in Lutz, according to a news release from the company. The insurance provider has also rebranded as Brightway, The Lutz Agency.

The company provides a broad array of insurance choices.

Dade City Chamber breakfast
Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley will be the featured speaker at The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting March 19, at 37411 Eiland Blvd., in Zephyrhills. Networking starts at 7 a.m., and breakfast is served at 7:30 a.m.

RSVP and prepayment are required no later than March 14 at noon. Go to DadeCityChamber.org/chamber-breakfast, to reserve your spot.

Hobby Lobby grand opening
Hobby Lobby is scheduled to have its grand opening festivities March 18, between 8:45 a.m. and 10 a.m., with a ribbon cutting ceremony planned for before 9 a.m., when the store will open for its first day. The store is at 25675 Sierra Center Blvd., in the Cypress Creek Town Center in Lutz.

NetFest 2019
NetFest, a networking festival presented by the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., is set for April 4 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at The Epperson Lagoon by Metro Places. The event gives business and community leaders a chance to network and have fun. The cost is $40 for Pasco EDC investors and guests, and $50 for others. For more information, call (813) 926-0827, or email .

WOW-Too
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.

North Tampa Bay Chamber briefing
The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce has an economic development briefing on the fourth Thursday of each month, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The group meets at Hunter’s Green, 18108 Longwater Run Drive in Tampa. For more information and to register, visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com.

NetFest 2019
NetFest, a networking festival presented by the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., is set for April 4 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at The Epperson Lagoon by Metro Places. The event gives business and community leaders a chance to network and have fun. The cost is $40 for Pasco EDC investors and guests, and $50 for others. For more information, call (813) 926-0827, or email .

County supports Gran Fondo
The Pasco County Commission has approved a sports event sponsorship agreement with Haute Route LLC, relating to the Gran Fondo Florida event. This year, the cycling event is scheduled to take place on March 23 and March 24 in San Antonio. The agreement calls for awarding up to $4,800 to support the event, which will be based on a rate of $12 per night per room, based on the actual number of room nights generated by the event in Pasco County.

The gran fondo format differs from other bike races, because it’s not a “start to finish” race. Instead, there are timed segments throughout the courses, which are used to calculate a rider’s competitive time.

Kevin Barber appointed
The Pasco County Commission has confirmed the recommendation from the Pasco-Hernando Workforce Board executive committee and has appointed Kevin Barber, representing Iron Workers Local 397, to the Pasco-Hernando Workforce Board.

Planning Commission terms
The Pasco County Commission has approved a resolution that specifies that the county’s Planning Commission will be appointed through staggered terms. The initial terms range from one year to three years, and two-year terms after the expiration of the initial terms. Members may be reappointed and member vacancies will be filled using the same manner as the original appointment. The resolution also establishes the annual election of a chairman and vice chairman for the planning board.

East Pasco Networking Group
Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano and Madonna Wise will be the featured speakers at the March 12 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.

Pasco Schools job fair
Pasco County Schools is hosting a Spring Job Fair on March 7 from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at River Ridge High School, 11646 Town Center Road in New Port Richey.

The district has openings for teachers, maintenance workers, bus drivers and other positions.

Applicants can get on-the-spot interviews and prizes for participating.

Positions are available at the elementary, middle, and high school levels in various areas, including:

• Food and nutrition services
• Plant manager
• Intermediate elementary teacher
• Child care assistants
• Registrars
• Sports coaches
• Licensed practical nurse
• Custodian
• Bus drivers

For more information about the Job Fair and to register, visit PascoHires2019.eventbrite.com.

Visit Pasco.Tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx, to view job listings.

North Tampa Bay Chamber briefing
The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce has a development briefing on the fourth Thursday of each month, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $15 if members prepay and $20 for members at the door; for non-members, the cost is $25. The group meets at Hunter’s Green, 18108 Longwater Run Drive in Tampa.

Zephyrhills Toastmasters
Zephyrhills Toastmasters is hosting an open house March 12 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Microtel Inn and Suites, 7839 Gall Blvd., in  Zephyrhills. The organization helps individuals develop public speaking and leadership skills. Food will be provided. For more information, contact Zain Nensey at (813) 951-3248 or .

Hobby Lobby now hiring
Hobby Lobby is accepting applications for new store temporary setup help, with an opportunity to work full- and part-time positions in floral, crafts, art, custom frames, hobbies, fabrics and cashiers. Apply in person at Hilton Garden Inn Tampa Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills Room, 26640 Silver Maple Parkway, Wesley Chapel. Applications are being accepted Feb. 19 through Feb. 22, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Job fair set at Porter Campus on Feb. 26
The third annual Metro Job Fair is set for Feb. 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. The job fair will be in the Building B conference center.

Employers from the public and private sectors, health care, hospitality, manufacturing and construction interested in promoting open and future positions will have the opportunity to meet with job seekers from the community and PHSC students seeking employment.

The job fair is open to anyone looking for a job. Job seekers also may have opportunities for on-site interviews with potential employers.

To attend, job seekers must preregister for the event at tinyurl.com/yd2b2gps.

 Who is your customer?
Learn how to identify your customer in this seminar, which is part of the Pasco Economic Development Council’s SMARTstart Entrepreneur Education Series. This session, called “Who is My Customer?” helps businesses identify the “right kind” of customers for their specific business model.

The free session will be on Feb. 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Dade City Entrepreneur Center, 7838 Meridian Ave., Suite No. 309, in Dade City.

To register, go to the events calendar on the PascoEDC.com website.

For more information about the entrepreneur center, call (352) 437-4861.

Central Pasco Chamber community affairs
Pasco County’s Program Administrator for the office of Economic Growth, Melanie Kendrick, will be the guest speaker and give an update on the county’s mapping of Census Designated Places for the 2020 Census. The meeting will be Feb. 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., at the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, 1903 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Suite 16, in Land O’ Lakes. The meeting is free and all are welcome.

North Tampa Bay Chamber development briefing
The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce has a development briefing on the fourth Thursday of each month, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $15 if members prepay and $20 for members at the door; for non-members, the cost is $25. The group meets at Hunter’s Green, 18108 Longwater Run Drive, in Tampa.

East Pasco Networking Group
Todd Vande Berg, director of planning for the City of Zephyrhills, will be the featured speaker at the Feb. 26 breakfast meeting of the East Pasco Networking Group. The meeting, which starts at 7:30 a.m., will be at IHOP, 13100 U.S. 301 in Dade City.

Small businesses’ share of U.S. economy dips slightly
While small businesses create two-thirds of net new jobs, and drive innovation and competitiveness, their overall share in the U.S. economy has gradually declined, says a new report released by the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy.

The report says that small businesses account for 44 percent of U.S. economic activity.

U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) is the market value of the goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States.

Across the 16 years from 1998 to 2014, the small business share of GDP has fallen from 48 percent to 43.5 percent. Over the same period, the amount of small business GDP has grown by about 25 percent in real terms, or 1.4 percent annually. However, real GDP for large businesses has grown faster, at 2.5 percent annually.

The full report, “Small Business GDP, 1998-2014,” and a summary of the research, are available on SBA’s Office of Advocacy’s website. The office has sponsored research on small businesses’ contribution to GDP since 1980.

North Tampa Bay Chamber business breakfast
Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning will be the featured speaker at the North Tampa Bay Chamber’s business breakfast meeting on March 5 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. Cost is $15 for pre-registered; $20 at the door; $25 invoiced; and $35 for non-members. For more information, visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com.

North Tampa Bay Chamber monthly coffee
The North Tampa Bay Chamber has a monthly coffee social at the Hilton Garden Inn Suncoast Parkway, 2155 Northpointe Parkway in Lutz. There is no fee to attend the gathering, which is from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., on the first Thursday of every month.

Xtreme Adventures adds U-Haul services
Xtreme Adventures has signed on as a U-Haul® neighborhood dealer to serve the community of Lutz, according to a news release from U-Haul Company of Florida.

Xtreme Adventures, at 24810 State Road 54, will offer U-Haul trucks, trailers, towing equipment, moving supplies and in-store pick-up for boxes. Normal business hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily.

To reserve U-Haul products at this dealer call (813) 948-0715, or visit tinyurl.com/y2jgyhhp.

Land O’ Lakes Music Festival Bands & Brews
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce is presenting the Land O’ Lakes Music Festival, Bands & Brews, on March 23 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.  The musical lineup features Solar Exposure, Peace of Woodstock, Stonegrey and Bearded Brothers. There will be vendors and food trucks, too. Admission is free. Parking is $10.

Staff member retires from property appraiser’s office
The Pasco County Property Appraiser’s office has announced the retirement of William “Fu” Trinh, a Cobol programmer, who provided outstanding support to the appraiser’s team, according to a news release from the office.

Zephyrhills Chamber business breakfast
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce has its monthly business breakfast on the first Monday of each month at Golden Corral, 6877 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills. The admission is $8 for members and $10 for visitors. The next breakfast will be March 7 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza now open
Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza opened on Feb. 4 at 25456 Sierra Center Blvd., across the street from the Tampa Premium Outlets, in Cypress Creek Town Center. This is the restaurant chain’s first Tampa area location. It features fast, artisanal pizza.

The restaurant has an interactive open kitchen format that allows guests to customize one of the menu’s personal signature pizzas – or create their own – all for around $8, according to a news release.

The 2,600-square-foot restaurant has indoor seating for 70 and outdoor patio seating for 40.

It is open from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., daily.

The Lutz franchise location, owned and operated by the Millennial Restaurant Group, created 50 local jobs.

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

Financing opportunities with the SBA
Learn how to apply for a Small Business Administration loan and find out about other SBA programs at this free seminar presented by the Pasco Hernando SCORE chapter. The session will be on Feb. 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Hugh Embry Branch Library at 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City.

Employers wanted for job fair
Pasco-Hernando State College, Metro Development Group, CareerSource Pasco Hernando and the North Tampa Bay Chamber are seeking employers to take part in the third annual Metro Job Fair set for Feb. 26 from 9 1.m. to 1 p.m., at PHSC’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. The job fair will be in the Building B conference center.

Employers from the public and private sectors, health care, hospitality, manufacturing and construction interested in promoting open and future positions will have the opportunity to meet with job seekers from the community and PHSC students seeking employment.

Priority will be provided to employers with open positions.

For employer participation information, contact Eric Theodore, PHSC coordinator of LIFE and career services, at (813) 527-6725 or .

The job fair is open to anyone looking for a job. Job seekers also may have opportunities for on-site interviews with potential employers. To attend, job seekers must pre-register for the event at tinyurl.com/yd2b2gps.

Jon’s Carports & Sheds now offers U-Hauls
Jon’s Carports & Sheds, at 3161 Gall Blvd., has signed on as a U-Haul® neighborhood dealer to serve the Zephyrhills community. The company will offer U-Haul trucks, trailers, towing equipment, moving supplies and in-store pick-up for boxes. Normal business hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday. Reserve U-Haul products by  calling (813) 377-2519 or visiting tinyurl.com/ycgbs27l.

FWC collecting comment
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has temporarily paused its aquatic herbicide treatment program throughout the state to gather public comment regarding the FWC’s aquatic plant management program. The agency will have several public meetings to gather community input about the program. Specific dates and locations of these meetings will be announced shortly. Comments can also be sent to .

East Pasco Networking Group
Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley will be the featured speaker at the Feb. 12 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.

Central Pasco Chamber
Rena Romano will be the featured speaker at the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce’s general membership meeting on Feb. 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Plantation Palms Golf Club, 23253 Plantation Palms Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. Romano will talk about “Accountability and Leadership Skills to Succeed in Business.”

The cost for the luncheon meeting is $20 for members who RSVP by the Thursday before the meeting, and $25 for non-members and members at the door.

For information, call the chamber at (813) 909-2722.

North Tampa Bay Chamber membership luncheon
Holly Lisle, director of development for Pepin Academies Foundation, will be the featured speaker at the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce’s monthly membership luncheon on Feb. 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 10050 Robert Trent Jones Parkway in Trinity. The cost is $15 for members and $25 for non-members.

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.

Dade City Chamber breakfast meeting
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting will be on Feb. 19 at 7 a.m., at The Green Door on 8th, 14148 Eighth St., in Dade City. RSVP and pre-payment are required, and must be received no later than noon on Feb. 14. RSVPs are required for everyone, even those on a 12-month pre-pay offer. The speaker at this meeting will be Johnathan McKeen-Chaff, of McKeen-Chaff Music Inc. & Amelia Foundation. For more information, visit DadeCityChamber.org/chamber-breakfast.

Free business seminars
To find out about other free seminars and resources available through Pasco-Hernando Score, visit PascoHernando.score.org.

Who is your customer?
Learn how to identify your customer in this seminar, which is part of the Pasco Economic Development Council’s SMARTstart Entrepreneur Education Series. This session, called “Who is My Customer?” helps businesses identify the “right kind” of customers for their specific business model.

The free session will be on Feb. 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Dade City Entrepreneur Center, 7838 Meridian Ave., Suite No. 309, in Dade City.

To register, go to the events calendar on the PascoEDC.com website.

For more information about the entrepreneur center, call (352) 437-4861.

Insurance firms form partnership
Chris Black Insurance, a Lutz-based independent insurance firm, has formed a partnership with Insurance Seguros of America Ricketts LLC, located in Wesley Chapel.

The merger became final in October.

Chris Black Insurance was founded in 2008 with the mission to provide customized insurance packages for their clients across the state of Florida.

Tina Ricketts founded Insurance Seguros of America Ricketts LLC,  in 2011. Ricketts has developed a strong expertise in the transportation (trucking) insurance industry and will continue to serve her clients as a commercial risk advisor with Chris Black Insurance.

With expanded carrier access and compounded support resources, both firms are looking forward to the opportunity for growth in the transportation insurance segment throughout the southeastern United States.

“We’re extremely excited to have Tina join our team,” Chris Black, managing partner at Chris Black Insurance. “Tina has an excellent reputation in the community as a dedicated risk advisor, and has a passion for helping Spanish and English-speaking families and businesses protect what’s most important. Our broader array of insurance carrier partners will open new opportunities for existing and future clients while allowing us to continue providing best-in-class products and services.”

Insurance Seguros of America Ricketts will inherit the Chris Black Insurance name.

Lutz rents decreasing, but remain high
Zumper has just published its first Tampa Metro Report for 2019, which covers 17 cities in the metro area — highlighting the most/least expensive cities and cities with the fastest growing rents.

This month, Lutz ranked as the ninth-most expensive city to rent.

The price of one bedroom units fell 2.7 percent to $1,080, while two bedroom units decreased 3.3 percent to $1,170.

East Pasco Networking Group
Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley will be the featured speaker at the Feb. 12 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.

North Tampa Bay Chamber economic development
Cheryl Flood, executive director of the Florida State Fair Authority, will be the speaker at the North Tampa Bay Chamber’s economic development briefing on Jan. 24 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Hunter’s Green Country Club, 18101 Longwater Run Drive in Tampa.

The North Tampa Bay Chamber has economic development briefings on the fourth Thursday of each month. The charge is $25 for nonmembers; $20 for members at the door and $15 for members who prepare. For more information, call Grace Martin at (813) 994-8534.

Apartments at Wiregrass Ranch
A pre-application meeting was set between a representative for an applicant named Encore and Pasco County’s planning staff on Jan. 14, regarding a proposal for 300 walk-up apartments with at-grade parking and resident amenities in Wiregrass Ranch.

Saltgrass Steakhouse
Representatives for Saltgrass Steakhouse were scheduled for a pre-application meeting with Pasco County’s planning staff on Jan. 15. The proposal calls for a 8,133-square-foot restaurant on a 1.7-acre parcel at Cypress Creek Town Center, which is at State Road 56 and Interstate 75.

Saltgrass Steakhouse is an American restaurant concept with more 50 locations across the country, according to the company’s website. The company is based in Houston, and is owned by Landy’s Inc.

Central Pasco Chamber
Rena Romano will be the featured speaker at the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce’s general membership meeting on Feb. 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Plantation Palms Golf Club, 23253 Plantation Palms Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. Romano will talk about “Accountability and Leadership Skills to Succeed in Business.” The cost for the luncheon meeting is $20 for members who RSVP by the Thursday before the meeting, and $25 for non-members and members at the door. To contact the chamber, call (813) 909-2722.

SBA loans
Learn how to apply for a Small Business Administration loan during this free seminar on Feb. 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Hugh Embry Branch Library, 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City. The seminar, offered by the Pasco-Hernando chapter of SCORE, also will cover various SBA assistance programs that are available.

Applying for a business loan
During this workshop, participants will have a chance to find out how to meet the individual loan requirements for their needs, which can range from business start-ups, to mature businesses, to purchase of existing businesses. Sources for loans ranging from $5,000 to $5 million will be covered, as well as business plans to accompany the applications. The free session, offered through the Pasco-Hernando chapter of SCORE, is set for Feb. 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. It will be at the New River Branch Library, at 34042 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel.

$15 an hour starting salary
Employees at the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office who are hired after Jan. 5 will receive a starting salary of $15, according to a news release from the office.

Any current employee who is receiving less than that amount also will be boosted to at least the new wage, the release added.

“In 2013, starting salaries were only $9.25 an hour,” Tax Collector Mike Fasano said, in the release. “Our jobs are complicated and require in-depth training and experience. When I learned that people, especially those who have loyally served this organization for many years, were making so little, I knew I had to make it a priority to increase their wages.”

“Over the past 5-plus years, we’ve been able to raise the starting salary by 62 percent,” Fasano noted, in the release.

For more information regarding the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office and the services it provides, visit PascoTaxes.com.

New SMARTstart program manager
The Pasco Economic Development Council has appointed Daniel Mitchell to run the economic development agency’s in Central Pasco and East Pasco county.

Mitchell comes to the position after having owned and operated two businesses. He also has a background in the finance industry as a certified financial planner and continues to attend the College for Financial Planning in the Masters of Arts program, according to a release from Pasco EDC.

“I am looking forward to using my skills and entrepreneurial experience to help people launch and grow their business in Pasco County. My goal is that these businesses are more than a driver of profit and job growth – but are also a catalyst to a fulfilling life for the entrepreneur and a diversified economy for all of us in Pasco.” Mitchell said, in the release.

His primary focus is to develop a portfolio of early stage entrepreneurs in Pasco who understand how to develop their products and services in collaboration with their customers. Mitchell will also take the lead on the CO.STARTERS program and the Food Hub Task Force, which has been created to develop a plan to create an agricultural value chain model to conserve, sustain, and create food and food-related partnerships that grow and create jobs as an economic development model in depressed and vibrant communities.

Sprouts to open in New Tampa
Sprouts Farmers Market has announced plans to open a store at Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and Hunter’s Green Drive. The store also plans to add stores in Seminole and Stuart, and those stores are in addition to previously announced several other locations, including one in Trinity.

Fostering business growth and success
This free seminar teaches companies how to understand and strengthen the team responsible for shaping, executing and fostering your business’s growth and success. It is being offered on Jan. 30 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at 37837 Meridian Ave., No. 309, in Dade City. Go to PascoEDC.com for more information.

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, Trinity, Florida 34655.

Allstate owners help domestic violence survivors
Tampa-area Allstate agency owners recently joined Allstate volunteers across 15 states to secure Allstate Foundation Helping Hands® grants to benefit 35 nonprofit organizations, including a $6,000 grant for Sunrise of Pasco County. The nonprofit serving domestic violence survivors will use the funding to further their programs, such as economic empowerment and outreach services, according to a news release.

Allstate volunteers empowered local community members to donate critical supplies, such as clothing, housewares and personal care items.

“With one in four women experiencing domestic violence in her lifetime, this is an issue affecting every community, including Tampa,” Lisette Fernandez, an Allstate agent in Lutz, said in the release. “We’re proud to dedicate our time and collect much-needed resources to support these vital local organizations and the survivors they serve. We care about helping survivors and their families break the cycle of violence in their lives.”

The supply drive was part of a multi-state effort of The Allstate Foundation benefitting 35 participating domestic violence nonprofits in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia. The volunteer efforts raised $340,000 in grants for the nonprofits.

Sunrise of Pasco County is one of thousands of organizations this year to receive Allstate Foundation Helping Hands grants secured by Allstate agency owners and financial specialists for their volunteer efforts. The grants support organizations addressing domestic violence, youth empowerment, disaster preparedness, hunger and other causes.

Participating area Allstate agency owner volunteers include:  Mary Jo Chamberlain, Stefanie Cubbedge-Wiggins, Sebastian Dealmenara, Lisette Fernandez,  Michael Lia, Naomi Taylor-Kenney and Ryan Toombs.

To learn more about The Allstate Foundation Helping Hands Grants and all the ways Allstate volunteers put their Helping Hands to work in local communities, visit AllstateFoundation.org.