Central Pasco Chamber forecasts bright future

The economic downturn has been challenging, but there are bright spots, said Kathy Dunkley, executive director of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce.
The East Pasco Campus of Rasmussen College, a 25,000-square-foot building now under construction on SR 54 near Sunlake Boulevard, will bolster area businesses, she said.
Those attending classes or working at the college will frequent the nearby businesses, Dunkley said. “That’s going to give them an economic boost.”
College officials chose the location purposefully because of its proximity to Interstate 75 and the Suncoast Expressway. It also is near Sunlake Boulevard, which will provide a straight shot into Hillsborough County, once the road is extended. And, it is directly across the street from a 72-acre site that T. Rowe Price eventually expects to use for an office complex for up to 1,600 employees. The timeline for the project remains uncertain.
When it comes to turning the economy around, small businesses will lead the way, said Dunkley, who has been at the helm of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce for 12 years.
The chamber works with small businesses to encourage them to share ideas and learn from each other, Dunkley said. They also have the benefit of some pro bono help from seasoned professionals, she said. One of those is Lorraine Lane, the chamber’s immediate past president, who offers her expertise to help area businesses, Dunkley said.
“She makes them think differently,” Dunkley said.
The idea is to help each other to achieve success.
“It’s going to take the whole community to work together,” she said.
For more information about the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce call (813) 909-2722 or visit http://www.centralpascochamber.com.
-B.C. Manion