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Pasco EDC

Conveyor Consulting and Rubber Company expands

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Conveyor Consulting and Rubber Company in Pasco County, which opened in Pasco County in 2014, is constructing two new facilities at One Pasco Center, near Interstate 75 and State Road 52.

The company is investing $2 million to construct a 20,000-square-foot building and a 12,000-square-foot building at One Pasco Center business park, according to an announcement from Pasco Economic Council Inc.

The expansion also includes new manufacturing capabilities for conveyor parts and systems.

“Our company continues to grow, and we are expanding to meet the demand of our clients. Adding to our capabilities to include manufacturing is very exciting,” Ron Fernandes, president of Conveyor Consulting and Rubber Company, said in a release.

“I really appreciate the Pasco EDC and Pasco County staff helping us keep the momentum going by expediting permitting and offering us mobility fee waivers. They are committed to helping businesses grow in Pasco,” he said.

Fernandes looked at numerous locations; however, he found One Pasco Center to have the direct access to major highways he needed to quickly and efficiently distribute to his clients, and provide easy access for business-to-business sales, the release adds.

“I want to congratulate Ron Fernandes and his team on their expansion. The I-75 and SR 52 interchange is rapidly developing, and I think he will find it the perfect fit,” Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley said, in the release.

Bill Cronin, president/CEO of Pasco EDC also weighed in: “The Pasco EDC is always excited to help our current businesses expand and find ways to grow in Pasco County.

“Our road network in Pasco provides a unique transportation network across the county and region. Conveyor Consulting and Rubber Company chose their location because it provides them with quick access for distribution. I am thrilled they were able to remain here and continue to grow with us.”

Published October 07, 2020

Amazon plans $40 million investment in Pasco

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The Pasco Economic Development Council has announced that Amazon plans to invest $40 million in Pasco County.

The company is planning a new 110,000-square-foot facility in Lutz, according to a Pasco EDC news release.

The facility will be located on a portion of the Hayman-Fuentes property near the northeast corner of State Road 54 and the Suncoast Parkway, according to Lauren Miceli, marketing and communications manager for Pasco EDC.

“This new facility will add hundreds of direct and indirect jobs to Pasco County,” Bill Cronin, president/CEO of Pasco EDC, said in the economic development agency’s release.

The new delivery station in Lutz “will power Amazon’s last-mile delivery capabilities to speed up deliveries for customers in Pasco County,” according to an Amazon news release.

“Delivery stations enable Amazon Logistics to supplement capacity and flexibility to Amazon’s delivery capabilities,” the company release says.

The Lutz delivery station is expected to open in 2021, according to Amazon.

Local officials are delighted by Amazon’s decision to invest in Pasco.

“Amazon’s jobs are unique in the sense that some will work directly for the company and others can essentially open their own business and work as a third party with them. It’s a great opportunity for our residents to start their own small business,” Cronin added.

“The county and Pasco EDC have worked hard to create mixed-use neighborhoods and attract a variety of industries to Pasco,” Pasco County Commissioner Mike Wells said in the Pasco EDC release. “Amazon putting their trust that Pasco is the right place for them shows that our team’s hard work is paying off and we welcome them to our community.”

Amazon’s delivery stations offer entrepreneurs the opportunity to build their own business delivering Amazon packages, as well as independent contractors the flexibility to be their own boss and create their own schedule delivering for Amazon Flex.

Amazon has more than 150 delivery stations in the United States.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore reacted to the news, in an Amazon release that announced the company’s upcoming Tampa Bay plans.

“I am thrilled to welcome Amazon and the additional jobs this facility will bring to our community,” Moore said, in the release. “This is another example of Pasco County government and the Pasco Economic Development Council working together to make Pasco County the premier place for business.”

In addition to its planned Lutz facility, the company also has announced a new fulfillment center in Temple Terrace, which is expected to create 720 jobs. That, too, is expected to launch in 2021.

Amazon currently operates seven fulfillment and sortation centers in the state, in Jacksonville, Davenport, Orlando, Miami, Ruskin and Lakeland, according to a company news release.

Amazon’s new operations facility in Temple Terrace will span more than 600,000 square feet on the ground floor. Employees at the site will work alongside innovative technologies to pick, pack and ship smaller customer items, such as books, electronics, small household goods and toys, the Amazon release says.

Amazon will hire for roles in human resources, operations management, safety, security, finance and information technology.

Amazon offers a minimum starting wage of $15 per hour. Its full-time employees also receive full medical, vision and dental insurance, as well as a 401(k), with a 50% company match, beginning on Day 1.

To learn more about Amazon, visit Amazon.com.

Published August 12, 2020

 

Soule Company plans expansion

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An economic incentive from Pasco County is supporting the expansion of a manufacturing business in Compark 75, off Wesley Chapel Boulevard.

Soule Company plans to construct a 100,000-square-foot building on a 7.7-acre parcel, at  26543 Wild Fern Circle. The new facility represents an $8 million investment, according to Pasco County figures.

The structure will be built next to the company’s existing 62,000-square-foot building, in the industrial business park.

Soule Company, based in Compark 75, plans to add a new 100,000-square-foot building. (Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.)

Soule Company has two divisions: One fabricates packaging products made to customer specifications; the other fabricates disposable foam positioning products for the medical community.

The professional packaging division distributes a full line of packaging and shipping supplies, including corrugated boxes, poly bags, strapping, stretch films, tapes, among others.

The medical division works closely with medical entities to design, develop, manufacture, and distribute products that assist in patient care, recovery, and healing.

The Pasco County Commission approved an economic incentive package worth $177,172 at its Aug. 4, to support the company’s plans.

The new manufacturing building will generate 25 full-time jobs, according to David Engel, the county’s manager of the office of economic growth.

The incentive package includes $50,000 for creating the 25 new jobs; a five-year reimbursement of tangible taxes, which totals $107,171; and, an employee training grant of $20,000 for Pasco-based employees, Engel said.

“The project will generate $4.69 million annually in gross county product, so the return on investment is very substantial,” Engel said, in recommending approval of the agreement.

Jennie Sammurr, who oversees business retention and expansion for the Pasco EDC, told commissioners “the Soule Company is a perfect example of why we have the BRE (business retention and expansion) program and why we do what we do.

“The Soule Company was incorporated in the state of Florida in 1956. This company has been very resilient, has overcome many economic climates that have been challenging — and have continued to grow and expand. Our small businesses are the backbone of our economy, our local economy and they are the backbone of our business community.”

When the Pasco EDC staff met with Jerry Flatt, the company’s CEO, they learned that the company has been considering an expansion for several years, Sammurr said.

“Their company manufactures packaging and shipping supplies and now they’ve added a medical division that allows them to service many of our health care facilities in the area, but also in the Southeastern United States,” she said.

The company has been located in Pasco County since 2001.

Flatt addressed commissioners, via a remote video feed, during the board’s hybrid remote-live meeting.

He told board members: “We’ve grown to the point that we need to add an additional facility.

“We do a lot of packaging with different companies, different manufacturers, both in Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough county. We even sell some product on the East Coast of the state of Florida,” he said.

The company’s medical division has grown exponentially, Flatt said.

“We have new contracts with a number of groups purchasing organizations,” he said.

“We’re looking to increase our business. We supply patient-positioning products that are manufactured out of foam. These are used in surgery applications, for positioning the patient, and that part of our business is really growing.

“So, we decided to put up a new building, and we appreciate the help that you all are offering, to be able to accomplish that,” Flatt said.

“In putting up that building, our medical division will move out of our existing building, which will allow more growth for packaging and allow the growth we need on the medical side,” he said.

He expects the company to hire 10 new employees in the first year, and up to 25 within the third year of opening the facility.

Commission Chairman Mike Moore congratulated Flatt on the company’s success.

Commissioner Jack Mariano thanked the CEO for choosing to expand the company in Pasco.

“We’re delighted to have you,” Mariano said.

Published August 12, 2020

Peaceful protesters call for justice

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Dozens of peaceful protesters stood in front of The Shops at Wiregrass on the rainy evening of June 6 — joining the chorus of voices across America calling for the end of police brutality and systemic racism.

Those gathered in Wesley Chapel were there to speak up in the aftermath of the May 25 death of George Floyd.

Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, knelt on Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, according to a video that went viral and national news reports.

Jasmine Sanchez, Elijah Sanchez, Isaiah Sanchez and Kimberly Morin raised their voices during a protest at the corner of State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. (B.C. Manion)

Chauvin initially was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, but  Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison later added a second-degree murder charge against Chauvin. The three other officers — Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane — were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, news reports say.

Protesters in Wesley Chapel walked from the main street of the mall — which had been closed at 3 p.m., by management — out to the intersection of State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

Greg Lenners, the mall’s general manager, said the decision to close was made in an abundance of caution.

“Obviously, we value the beliefs and the opinions of the community,” he said. “It’s just that we have the obligation to protect the safety of the businesses and our employees, and customers,” he added.

So, protesters made their way to the area in front of the mall, which is public property.

They carried signs with messages such as “Silence is Violence,” “Amplify Black Voices,” ”Justice for George,” and “No Justice, No Peace.”

They stood under umbrellas, wore rain ponchos, or simply got drenched.

This protest and others across Tampa Bay came on the same day a second memorial service was held for Floyd, in Hoke County, North Carolina, where he was born. A third, and final service will be held on June 9 in Houston, where Floyd grew up.

Many at the Wesley Chapel event said it was their first protest.

“We feel like this is the time,” said Susan Boyle, who was there with her 16-year-old daughter, Emma. “I’ll cry if I talk.”

She paused for a moment and said, “It’s something black people have experienced all their lives. We really have to say something. White privilege – there’s a huge part of the population who have no idea what’s going on.”

Wesley Chapel resident Tonya Reavis, 52, and several family members walked with a small group that left the mall area and headed to the intersection in front of the mall.

“We’re just tired,” Reavis said. “We’re here showing our solidarity. We want equal pay, equal justice. Every equality. We just want to be treated as human, not three-fifths of a human.”

Tre Moore, 23, who stood next to Reavis, held a sign that said: “Love Black Lives Like You Love Black Culture.”

“We’re peacefully protesting injustice, and against racism,” Moore said.

Protesters stood on the side of the road at the intersection of State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, chanting slogans to try to raise awareness for the need to take action to end systemic racism.

Protesters alternated chants, repeating phrases including: “We want justice. We want justice. We want justice.” And, “Say their names. Say their names. Say their names.” And, “Black lives matter. Black lives matter. Black lives matter.”

Cars streaming by beeped their horns. One motorist shouted to the crowd: “I support you.”

Some protesters told The Laker/Lutz News they’d heard about the plan to gather through social media.

Jenifer Pepen, who lives in Live Oak, said it was important to be there.

“I’ve been a supporter of the Black Lives movement for many years now. It was time to come out. George Floyd’s death, I think, punctuated what is really centuries of systemic racism and injustice and brutality, in this country.

“It’s important to not be silent, in moments like this,” she said.

“Even in New Tampa/Wesley Chapel, it’s important to show that black lives matter, and come out. Even on a rainy day.

“The system needs reform. It needs reform in the suburbs. It needs reform in the inner cities. It needs reforming everywhere.

“It’s a system that affects the lives particularly of black and colored communities, but it is a system that impacts all of us, and we really all should be involved in reforming it,” she said.

She advocates the passage of laws to ban chokeholds and knee-holds, and also calls for improved training.

“I believe de-escalation needs to be something that is a part of training in the police departments across the United States. We’ve unfortunately seen the complete opposite in many situations, as these protests have been carried out throughout the United States.

“I also believe that the purging and the suppression of the records that detail the violence and brutality of bad police officers needs to stop. They need to be held accountable. They need the full weight of justice, when things happen. I think police unions play a role in that, as well.

“I also believe every city, every county, needs to reevaluate their budget, as it pertains to how we fund police departments,” she said.

“I don’t think that police departments that have been found to brutalize the community should be receiving funds. I think those funds should be much better allocated in the education system, the health care system, in places where we make positive impacts in the communities of color.

Tonya Reavis came to join the protest, held in front of The Shops at Wiregrass, in the early evening of June 6. ‘We want to be treated as human, not three-fifths human,’ she says.

“I also think it’s absurd that taxpayers are the ones that have to pay for the civil lawsuits that are brought against police officers, who brutalize families, brutalize communities.

“We should consider, if I am being perfectly frank, taking it out of certain pension funds,” Pepen said.

Kimberly Morin, who lives in Meadow Pointe, explained her motivation for attending the protest this way: “I am very much against the brutality that is in the police force today, the inhumane way they treat not only citizens, but most black citizens.”

She suggests these reforms: “More training for how to handle situations, not to restrain with their knees on their necks, and not to draw guns on unarmed people for no reason.”

Jasmine Sanchez, who lives in Aberdeen, off State Road 54, came to the protest with her sons, Isaiah and Elijah.

“This is not their first protest,” Jasmine Sanchez said. “Their first protest was for Trayvon Martin.”

Martin was 17 when he was fatally shot by George Zimmerman. Zimmerman acknowledged shooting the teenager but claimed self-defense and was acquitted of second-degree murder, according to news reports.

Isaiah Sanchez explained why he wanted to be at the Wesley Chapel protest.

“I came out today for racial equality, for government change and for justice for all those we’ve lost to police,” Isaiah Sanchez said. “I’d like see reforms in police de-escalation, and the equality of all races in all walks of life — if you’re gay, if you’re black, or you’re white, or you’re Asian. If you’re Hispanic.

“Everybody gets equal treatment,” he said.

His brother, Elijah, added: “I came out here today to bring justice to all of the fallen black people, and just make all of the people who made the black families suffer — they need to pay. They need to be in jail.”

Jasmine Sanchez said she’s sensing a growing awareness.

“You’re seeing everybody coming together for this,” she said. “This group is so diverse. It shows a connectedness that I have never seen before.

“I think a lot of people just didn’t realize what was going on. You live in a quiet community.

“You don’t realize what’s going on in the next neighborhood, in the next city. It’s very easy to become closed off in your own little world.

“Thank God for social media. The information is spreading,” she said.

Others speaking out:

The Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.
Bill Cronin, president and CEO of the Pasco EDC, issued a statement that reads in part: “Today, many of our friends, our families and our neighbors are suffering for many difficult reasons.

“We continue to support everyone in our community who feels they are treated unfairly and that their voices are not being heard.

“We are saddened by all of the recent violence taking place around the country and for all of those affected by it, along with all of those impacted by the global pandemic.

“Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it…and no reaction is still a reaction. For this reason, Pasco EDC is reacting by publicly reaffirming its commitment to the equality of all.”

The statement goes on to offer specifics on the organization’s commitment to equal opportunity, diversity and fairness.

Benedictine Sisters of Florida
The Benedictine Sisters of Florida extend their condolences to the family and friends of George Floyd whose death is a grave violation of the values of justice, equality and peace. Our prayers are with those suffering through this tragedy and the aftermath of the demonstrations and civil unrest. We acknowledge the inequities that once again have been exposed and raise our voices praying for good people to come together to “be the change” that will bring peace, compassion and justice to our communities.

This statement, according to the Sisters, was adapted from the original by Sister Beverly Raway, OSB Prioress, at St. Scholastica Monastery in Duluth, Minnesota.

The Archdiocese of St. Petersburg
Bishop Gregory Parkes, of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, issued a statement, which says in part:

“The manner in which George Floyd died is an atrocity to the humanity and dignity that each person has as a child of God. As a Church, we stand in solidarity with peaceful protesters who demand justice and respect for black individuals who have suffered the effects of racism for generations.

“As is stated in the 2018 USCCB Pastoral Letter, Open Wide Your Hearts: ‘Racism arises when—either consciously or unconsciously—a person holds that his or her own race or ethnicity is superior […] When this conviction or attitude leads individuals or groups to exclude, ridicule, mistreat, or unjustly discriminate against persons on the basis of their race or ethnicity, it is sinful. Racist acts are sinful because they violate justice. They reveal a failure to acknowledge the human dignity of the persons offended, to recognize them as the neighbors Christ calls us to love (Mt 22:39).’

“As Bishop of this local Church, with sincere concern for the souls of all within our Diocese, I urge all people of goodwill to seek peace, unity and just changes that will affirm the dignity of all lives, regardless of color, status, age or stage of life. I also urge an end to violence and destruction that victimizes communities and destroys hope.”

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis
In a June 5 newsletter, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis shared the results of a survey he did on the issue of “the civil unrest that we’ve seen throughout Tampa Bay and around the nation.”

The congressman said he frequently sends out surveys to get feedback from constituents.

“However, last week I was surprised by how an issue that appears in the media to elicit such division actually garnered more consensus than any other survey I’ve sent to date.

“The vast majority of my constituents who responded to the survey on civil unrest indicated that they want to see our Constitutionally guaranteed right to peaceful protest protected, they want action to stop the illegal activity that is occurring (rioting, looting, arson, etc.), and they believe that there are systemic racial issues in our criminal justice system that must be addressed immediately.”

Bilirakis goes on: “These lawless actions by a relatively small group of people silence the cries of those who are hurting and detract from meaningful change.”

At the same time, Bilirakis recognizes the difficult work of law enforcement.

“Our law enforcement community is comprised of men and women who bravely place themselves in harm’s way to protect us. Their jobs are dangerous, complex and ever-evolving. “We must always support them as we work to find solutions for how to come together as one nation under God.”

Kathy Steele contributed to this story.

Published June 10, 2020

$2 million in grants aim to help Pasco businesses

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The Pasco Economic Development Council Inc. (Pasco EDC), received more than 1,400 applications, before cutting applications off, for a grant program aimed at providing $2 million in assistance to small businesses.

Pasco EDC partnered with Pasco County to provide this relief grant program for small businesses affected by coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Penny for Pasco revenues will be used to provide the relief.

Besides creating a global medical crisis, COVID-19 has caused an economic meltdown, as businesses have been shuttered to prevent potential spread of the deadly virus.

Bill Cronin, president and CEO of the Pasco EDC, outlined the emergency business program during an April 21 virtual Pasco County Commission meeting.

Cronin explained the idea was to provide up to $5,000 grants to eligible small businesses — based on a first-come, first-served basis.

If every business received $5,000, that would provide grants for 400 businesses, Cronin said.

Commissioner Jack Mariano praised the grant program.

“To actually find out a way to help the small businesses, especially in this tough time, I think is phenomenal,” he said.

But, Mariano asked if smaller grants could be given. Some small businesses might not need the entire $5,000, and more could be helped if they don’t.

Cronin responded: “You do need to make sure that it’s able to make an impact. At $5,000, you can actually cover a rent payment or a mortgage payment, or at least something the landlord would be willing to take. Right now, we’ve identified there is $2 million to use for this fund.”

Commission Chairman Mike Moore agreed with Cronin that the grant should be large enough to make an impact.

Commissioner Ron Oakley observed: “Those 400 small businesses are going to go in a hurry, I think.”

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said: “I’m very grateful for this effort.”

The board approved the emergency grant program on April 21 and, by 6 p.m., on April 22 the Pasco EDC stopped accepting applications.

The applications are being vetted and applicants will be informed of their status soon, according to a Pasco EDC news release.

Businesses must meet a number of requirements and cannot have more than 25 employees.

The review committee includes bankers and county staff.

No county commissioners are part of the committee, Moore noted, during the board discussion of the grant program.

Published April 29, 2020

There are resources available, in the wake of the pandemic

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As businesses and individuals cope with sudden losses causes by impacts of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), various agencies and organizations are stepping up to provide information about resources that can help.

The Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., has compiled a list of useful resources for the business community.

There also is useful information on websites maintained by Pasco and Hillsborough counties, and the Pasco and Hillsborough public school systems.

The local chambers of commerce also are offering information that may prove useful.

Here is a look at some of the resources available, as reported by the Pasco EDC:

  • The Business Damage Assessment survey assesses the impact of COVID-19 on Florida’s local businesses, including those in Pasco County. The survey, managed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), will evaluate businesses affected by COVID-19 and the impacts the virus has had on the local economy, so actions to implement economic relief programs for businesses can begin.
  • The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program is available to small business owners in all Florida counties statewide that experienced economic damage from COVID-19. These short-term, interest-free working capital loans are intended to “bridge the gap” between the time a major catastrophe hits and when a business has secured longer-term recovery resources, such as sufficient profits from a revived business, receipt of payments on insurance claims or federal disaster assistance. The SBDC Tampa Bay can assist companies through the process.
  • The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides low-interest, long-term disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters, to repair or replace uninsured/underinsured disaster damaged property. SBA disaster loans offer an affordable way for individuals and businesses to recover from declared disasters.

Helpful websites:
Chamber websites
PascoEDC.com
NorthTampaBayChamber.com
HillsboroughCounty.org
PascoCountyFL.net
CDC.gov
FloridaHealthCovid19.gov
FloridaJobs.org
SBA.gov
Pasco.k12.fl.us
SDHC.K12.fl.us

Published April 1, 2020

SMARTstart helps Pasco entrepreneurs get off the ground

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Ever wanted to create your own business or startup?

If you do, the Pasco Economic Development Council’s (Pasco EDC) SMARTstart program may be able to lend a hand, or two.

Essentially, the program is designed to assist entrepreneurs — through a combination of guidance, collaboration, funding, education and workspace opportunities.

Dan Mitchell manages the Pasco Economic Development Council’s SMARTstart program. (Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council)

SMARTstart program manager Dan Mitchell detailed many of those offerings, at last month’s Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting Seven Springs Golf Club in New Port Richey.

Mitchell told those gathered: “If you’re an entrepreneur somewhere in the startup phase, or first couple years, we probably have a program that can help benefit you at some point during that journey. You just have to ask.”

Pasco EDC is a private, nonprofit organization that promotes countywide economic development, and is partnered and funded by corporate and public investors focused on the economic vitality of Pasco County.

Through SMARTstart, it operates two business incubators. One is in Dade City and the other in New Port Richey.

Each offers its own set of unique features, along with affordable desk spaces and professional meeting spaces with Wi-Fi connections.

One of the newer features at the Dade City site, for instance, is an incubator commercial kitchen. It aims to help those looking to launch a food business beyond farmer’s markets and vendor fairs.

Operating at 15029 14th St., the facility features a six-burner range, a single-door refrigerator, a single-door freezer, an under-the-counter ice machine, shelving, and stainless steel work tables. Mitchell said it helps food entrepreneurs facilitate wholesale distribution “to grow to that next level.”

Pasco EDC’s location in West Pasco offers its own digital media studio for podcasting, recording commercials and so on. It comes furnished with a high-quality sound board, four boom mics, green screens and white screens, which can all be used.

In Mitchell’s words, it’s “super neat.”

SMARTstart also offers educational classes, workshops and coaching to aspiring entrepreneurs. The learning sessions cover such topics as cybersecurity, crowdfunding, YouTube and social media marketing. There also are monthly entrepreneur roundtables, often facilitated by retired corporate executives who share their expertise.

Mitchell underscored the value of sessions where fellow entrepreneurs brainstorm, receive mentorship, and discover they’re not alone in their problems or roadblocks of starting a business.

The Pasco Economic Development Council’s SMARTstart program assists entrepreneurs and small business owners through a combination of guidance, collaboration, funding, education and workspace opportunities.

“We know that being an entrepreneur is hard,” he said.

SMARTstart also opens the door for more business-to-business connection for startup entrepreneurs.

The Pasco EDC’s ongoing partnerships with local chambers of commerce, colleges and universities, CareerSource and others, Mitchell said, so it can help business owners make a variety of connections.

In other words, the Pasco EDC’s deep ties throughout the community gives entrepreneurs a chance to network with people they otherwise would never meet.

“We can’t force business to happen, but we can set the table,” Mitchell said.

SMARTstart even has a microloan business financing program, designed for those that can’t secure a loan from a typical bank.

Loans are available for up to $50,000, coming from a revolving fund that must be paid back eventually. To qualify, an entrepreneur or small business owner must demonstrate the experiences and resources to be successful, Mitchell said.

Microloan proceeds may be used for working capital, inventory, supplies, furniture and fixtures, or machinery and equipment.

The program has loaned out a total of $1.5 million to 57 businesses since being established about five years ago, Mitchell said.

The microloan program helps fill a needed niche in business financing, Mitchell said.

“If you’re a startup and the bank says, ‘Sorry, we’re not going to give you money, you’re brand new,’ come to us. We’ll talk to you, we’ll walk you through the process. You still have to have what it takes, but maybe it’s not what the bank is looking for, and just call me and we’ll talk about that,” Mitchell said.

Pasco EDC and SMARTstart also have other initiatives in the works.

They recently sponsored a free mobile application called Startup Space, for Pasco County-based entrepreneurs. It’s similar to a Facebook group, Mitchell said, but just for local entrepreneurs, where they can communicate with one another in real-time, seek advice, post business events and more.

He said of the app, “You can get a little more granular with your questions, and help each other out, ‘Hey, does anyone have a good CPA?’”

The Pasco EDC also is organizing a new event called, “Grow Pasco,” that will bring together about 200 entrepreneurs on May 9 at the Hyatt Place Tampa/Wesley Chapel.

The event’s keynote speaker will be Kevin Harrington, who’s credited with creating the television infomercial and was an original panelist on ABC’s “Shark Tank” hit television series.

The event also will have other guest speakers, panels, workshops and breakout sessions.

For more information, visit PascoEDC.com, or call (813) 926-0827.

Published February 05, 2020

The Edison Suncoast is going up in Pasco

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TPA Group, of Atlanta, has announced the details for The Edison Suncoast, a project under construction in the Northpointe Village development, off State Road 54, in Lutz.

The development consists of two three-story office buildings totaling 155,000 square feet.

Completion of the first 77,500-square-foot building is expected in the first quarter of 2020, and the schedule for the second building will be based on demand, said Barry Oaks, senior director for Cushman & Wakefield, the exclusive leasing agent for the project.

This computer-generated rendering offers a peek at what The Edison Suncoast will look like when it’s completed. Two loft-style buildings are being developed on a speculative basis. (Courtesy of Cushman & Wakefield)

The project is being built on a speculative basis, supported through a low-interest, partially forgivable loan from Pasco County, said Bill Cronin, president/CEO of Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.

The project is in response to an evolving market, Oaks added.

“Pasco County and surrounding areas have become more developed,” Oaks said. “We feel there’s an unmet need for office space.”

The project is situated on an 18.45-acre site at Suncoast Parkway and State Road 54, in Pasco County, about 30 miles northwest of Tampa’s urban core.

The submarket, known as the 54 Corridor, is considered the next residential growth pocket in the Tampa Bay area, according to material provided by Cushman & Wakefield.

Demographics show a 95.2 percent increase in population from 2000 to 2010, and the current population of 53,130 is projected to grow by 21 percent by 2022.

The location is central to an abundance of residential communities, high-quality retail and dining options, as well as two hotels. Its proximity to the Suncoast Parkway provides convenience to Tampa International Airport, as well as Tampa’s Westshore District and Downtown, according to Cushman & Wakefield.

The building design calls for large windows, to invite an abundance of natural light into the structure. There’s also an open design, allowing tenants a great degree of flexibility, Oaks said.

Amenities include a fitness trail, a third-floor open deck, and a permanent food truck driveway in the courtyard.

Oaks said leasing is just getting started, but noted there is considerable interest in the project and there are talks underway.

Being in the midst of substantial residential development is a plus, Oaks said, because “you’ve got rooftops — so you’ve got access to labor and you’re not having to sell a commute.”

Put another way, there’s “a healthy labor pool in your own backyard,” Oaks said.

The Pasco EDC’s Cronin said the county provided the loan because it wanted to activate the construction of speculative Class A office space.

The county has to turn down projects that are interested in coming here because it lacks sufficient Class A space, Cronin said.

“Class A, just by the nature of being Class A, is going to attract high-wage, high-impact jobs.

“Most of the office spaces we have here currently are kind of a high class B.

“Having a true Class A building is going to attract folks who have a little prestige with their name,” Cronin added, and those employers offer the kind of high-wage jobs the county wants to attract.

Published July 24, 2019

Collaboration creates connectivity

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The opening of the State Road 56 Extension between Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills has a personal benefit for Alora Butler, a student at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch.

She said the new road segment will cut her 30-minute commute to school in half.

Greg Lenners, general manager of The Shops at Wiregrass, expects to see an uptick in business, as the extension of State Road 56 over to the Zephyrhills area makes it easier for shoppers to get to the mall. (Christine Holtzman)

It also reduces the time that the Zephyrhills resident spends on the road, to get to leisure activities or do her banking in Wesley Chapel.

The new 6-mile stretch also makes life easier for her husband, too, as he makes his commute to work at a warehouse in Land O’ Lakes.

Butler is just one of the thousands who can now opt for a shorter, or less congested route, to and from the east side of Pasco County.

Kevin O’ Farrell, provost at the Porter Campus, near the intersection of State Road 56 and Mansfield Boulevard, said he thinks the new road will even help students perform better academically.

Less time in traffic means less stress, in O’ Farrell’s opinion. And, because of that, he said, students “are more mentally ready to engage in class, they’re ready to focus more on their coursework.”

Greg Lenners, general manager for The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive in Wesley Chapel, expects the mall to experience an uptick in business because of the better access for shoppers coming from the east.

Laura Zimmerman, who lives on Meadow Pointe Boulevard, is happy to have another option for traveling to Zephyrhills. (Christine Holtzman)

Patrons at the mall said they’re glad to see the new road connection.

“I think it will ease the congestion and offer other alternatives,” said Laura Zimmerman, who lives on Meadow Pointe Boulevard and travels frequently to Zephyrhills.

McKenna Alkishawi, who lives in Zephyrhills, said the new route is “definitely 100 percent” beneficial.

Another Zephyrhills resident — Brenda Maass — is happy there’s a new way to get to Morris Bridge Road, where she can then head north at the new intersection.

For Zephyrhills resident John Skidmore, the new connection makes it easier for both him and his mother to get to doctor appointments.

“It’s about time. It’s going to be great,” Skidmore said.

Brenda Maass, a Zephyrhills resident and retiree, now has an alternative route in State Road 56 to visit friends and shop in the Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes region. (Christine Holtzman)

Donna Pacheco, a Wesley Chapel retiree, is pleased to have a more convenient way to get to Zephyrhills, where she goes three to four times a week to visit her brother, son and grandchildren.

“It’s really about time that they did that (extended the road),” she said.

Bill Cronin, president/CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., sees other benefits that improved connectivity will create.

“You’ve got the (State Road) 56 extension. You’ve got the potential widening of (U.S.) 301 in the north of the county, as well as the alignment of Clinton Avenue and (State Road) 39, which now starts to make us look a little more connected to Polk and some of those areas that we can access.

“We end up being much more strategically located for distribution activity,” Cronin said.

Numerous sources said the project’s success hinged on the collaboration of elected leaders and staff at the state, county and city levels; private landowners; and involved citizens.

Melonie Monson, executive director for The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, said local efforts played a vital role in securing a four-lane road.

McKenna Alkishawi is a Zephyrhills resident who often travels into Wesley Chapel on her leisure time. The USF student said that the new State Road 56 extension will be ‘100 percent’ beneficial in cutting down her commute time. (Christine Holtzman)

“There were a lot of letters written to legislators, to city officials, to government officials — and everybody decided to work together,” Monson said.

Vonnie Mikkelsen, now president and CEO of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce in Oregon, recalls those efforts. “It didn’t come top down. It came grassroots up,” she said.

“Honestly, it was a question of: Why hasn’t this happened sooner?” Mikkelsen said.

She credited then State Rep. Danny Burgess for playing a leading role.

“He listened and he understood immediately,” she said.

But, he wasn’t the only one.

“Our local government officials, they understood the importance. Our airport manager at the time, understood the opportunity that it presented. The Pasco EDC (knew, too).

“Everybody really rallied around the idea, even in the context of the first answer being, ‘No. No way.’

“Quite honestly, we thought, ‘OK. That’s not the final answer,’” Mikkelsen said.

“What really sealed the deal were some conversations at the state level.

Kevin O’ Farrell, provost at the Pasco-Hernando State College Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, said the extension of State Road 56 will reduce commute times for students and staff traveling to the campus, near the intersection of Mansfield Boulevard and State Road 56. (Brian Fernandes)

“Lo, and behold, there was an opportunity. It required some innovative and creative thinking, and some collaborative partnerships at the local level to make it happen.”

Burgess, now executive director for the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, agreed: “The public-private partnership aspect, and the various levels of  governments that were involved in this, was really a huge success story, and an example of what can happen when everybody comes together for the common good of a community.”

The partnership resulted in a $22,750,000 loan for the third and fourth lanes of the project, with the loan to be repaid by private development partners through a mobility fee surcharge and a special assessment, if necessary.

The City of Zephyrhills agreed to reimburse the county for 10 percent of any loan shortfall paid for by the county. The contractor, Cone & Graham Inc., also agreed to include all costs associated with the design, permitting and construction, and other costs within the loan amount.

It’s a success that Burgess said he will savor.

“In the Legislature, and politics, in general, you know — in this line of work — you somewhat have to get used to defeats more than victories, if I’m going to be quite honest with you. You actually have to learn to live with that.

“But, then a victory like this happens. It’s validation. This is why you do what you do. You fight every day, because when you do something this big — this will have a profound impact on your community,” he said.

State Road 56 Extension

  • $59.7 million project
  • Runs from Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wesley Chapel to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills
  • Signalized intersections added at Morris Bridge Road and U.S. 301
  • Road design is curved, to minimize wetlands disruption
  • Amenities include: 10-foot multi-use path; 5-foot sidewalk; 7-foot-wide bicycle lanes on both shoulders

By B.C. Manion and Brian Fernandes

Published July 17, 2019

Incentives add jobs, boost economy

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When Pasco County spends money from its Jobs and Economic Opportunity Trust Fund, it’s getting a healthy return on investment, according to David Engel, manager of the Pasco County Office of Economic Growth.

Engel recently gave the Pasco County Commission an update on the county’s primary incentive programs.

Between 2015 and 2025, the county expects to collect $60 million for its Jobs and Economic Opportunity Trust Fund, through its Penny for Pasco tax revenues. Those projections are based on a 3.5 percent annual increase, Engel said.

So far, the county has spent $22 million of those funds — on a variety of programs aimed at boosting job opportunities and increasing the county’s economy.

Programs include job skills programs and incentives for targeted industries that are investing in Pasco County and expanding the number of jobs in Pasco.

Industries that have received incentives include Touchpoint, Welbilt, Mettler Toledo and others, Engel said.

Job skills programs include AmSkills, the Pasco-Hernando Work Force Board and various programs through Pasco EDC, Engel said.

“For every (incentive) dollar that the board awards, we’ve gotten $10 back in gains to the county,” Engel said.

With the jobs creation incentive, which has been around since 2011, the Pasco County Commission, awards incentives to industries that create high-paying jobs. High-paying jobs are defined as jobs paying at least 115 percent of the median pay in Pasco County,

“This is one of our most highly successful programs. We’ve created almost 1,300 jobs since 2011. For every job we create, it costs the county around $3,800. We’ve look at other JCI programs across the state,” Engel said.

By comparison, the incentives cost $5,000 to $9,000 a job in other counties they looked at, Engel said.

Pasco’s return on investment in this program “is extremely high,” Engel said, noting for every dollar the county has spent, it has received $30 in benefit.

He also noted that the future is looking bright, too.

“Our pipeline is robust and growing,” Engel said.

The master-planned unit developments approved by the board, particularly along the State Road 54 corridor, are beginning to focus on their employment centers, the economic growth manager said.

“So, we have a number of big projects coming in, consisting of hundreds of thousands of square feet of Class A office buildings. Right now, we have three to four Class A office buildings we are processing for incentive awards now. We’ll make recommendations to the board of County Commissioners in the next several months,” he said.

Projected revenue: $59.65 million in the Jobs and Economic Opportunities Trust Fund, over the life of the Penny for Pasco (2015 to 2025), assuming a 3.5 percent annual increase.
Expenditures to date: $21.8 million, includes operating expenses
Encumbrances to date: $34.7 million: Board-approved awards, excludes operating expenses

Published April 24, 2019