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SMARTstart

Giving entrepreneurs tools they need to succeed

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When guests arrived at SMARTstart @ The Grove last month, they found a space that’s well-equipped to help entrepreneurs launch a new business, and to help existing businesses grow.

The business incubator is at 6013 Wesley Grove Blvd., Suite 202, in the Grove at Wesley Chapel — a shopping, restaurant and entertainment complex that’s in the midst of a massive refresh.

Bill Cronin, president and CEO of Pasco Economic Development Inc., said all sorts of people will be making use of the new incubator — and who knows, one day a startup that began there could locate its corporate headquarters in Pasco. (B.C. Manion)

Bill Cronin, president and CEO of Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., spoke enthusiastically about the center’s potential.

“These doors that you walked through today, there’s going to be so many different companies — people, families, all different types of things are going to be coming through those doors in the future,” Cronin said.

The economic development expert noted that Pasco County has a pro-business environment, and welcomes not only companies that are transplanting from overseas, but also startup companies that are getting off the ground.

“You look at those big cities all over the United States and they’ve got headquarters — a lot of those headquarters didn’t move there. A lot of them started there,” he said.

The Pasco EDC and Pasco County have programs aimed at helping businesses that are in every stage of development, Cronin added.

Dan Mitchell, the EDC’s program director for SMARTstart, shared some statistics from last year’s activities with Pasco’s incubators.

“This is our third entrepreneur center,” Mitchell said. “Last year, even though we had to deal with the pandemic, through SMARTstart, we were able to help over 645 business owners with counseling sessions to help them with financial assistance, technical assistance and guidance that they needed.

Dan Mitchell, SMARTstart program director, welcomed guests to a ribbon-cutting and tour of SMARTstart@The Grove in Wesley Chapel last week. The goal is to help entrepreneurs to launch, or grow, their businesses.

“We served over 24 businesses in our incubators, actually helping them with workspace and guidance they need to launch their businesses.

“We have over 156 events, many of them were virtual. But we had 1,960 event participants at our SMARTstart events.

“This center is going to allow us to magnify that impact, because right now our two centers are on the far reaches of the county. We’ve got a New Port Richey Center and we’ve got our Dade City Center.

“The New Port Richey Center has a professional services feel to it. The Dade City Center supports our food businesses and food entrepreneurs.

“This center will allow us to have that impact be countywide, and have that impact the entire region as a whole,” Mitchell added.

Tracy Ingram, an entrepreneur who has been involved with Pasco’s incubators for about 10 years, offered his perspective on the opportunities they create.

“I work all of the way down to Sarasota/Manatee, all of the way up to Citrus, all of the way over to Orlando. I haven’t been able to see that level of commitment to the actual starting of companies,” he said.

Pasco has made a decision to help entrepreneurs launch companies, and provides support to help them nurture their companies so they can grow strong, Ingram said.

“Maybe you want to start a lawn service business or a bakery or something like that, maybe you’re starting an app for a dotcom company,” he said.

Pasco’s approach has been: “Can I help you where you’re at — versus trying to fit you into a mold and say, ‘No, you have to be this way.’”

Staff and board members of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., joined officials and staff from Pasco County, and entrepreneurs to celebrate the opening of SMARTstart@The Grove, a new business incubator.

Pasco EDC has helped entrepreneurs connect with business mentors to help develop companies, and CEOs to connect with their peers, to learn from each other’s experiences, Ingram said.

Mentors can help entrepreneurs find out if they have a business model that can succeed.

“Maybe you have a great widget, but does anyone really want it?” he said.

Or, perhaps you have a great idea, but don’t have a clue about how to secure financing and get it to market.

Mentors can provide guidance: “How do we take your energy and your enthusiasm and help put some meat on the bones, or put some structure underneath it, to really help you be successful.”

Ingram said he has benefitted from business mentors, and is now giving back.

“Some of the best advice I ever got is that no one really cares about your company, they care about what your product is going to do for them.

“How can I help you? If my product or company can help you, then how do I do that? That becomes this magic, when you start really looking from the customer perspective.

“You start looking at, how do I build something that people want, how do I reach that customer?” he said.

“Pasco County was the county that stood behind us. So, when we started looking at where we wanted to land, Pasco County was where we decided to land because the county was behind us. You don’t get that in every other county. You don’t get the county really stepping in to make sure entrepreneurs are successful,” Ingram said.

“There is so much value here for people who are out on their own. As an entrepreneur, you feel like you have to do it alone. But you realize, the truth is, you can’t.

“The truth is you can’t be an expert in everything.

“But if you can lean on a SMARTstart, or you can lean on an agency like this, that has a mentor network, that can help you in the areas where you’re not an expert, and allow you to be the expert where you’re an expert,” he said.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley assured those gathered: “The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners is very much committed to the entrepreneurship of our new businesses, and the fact that they can start their own business here in Pasco.”

Published March 03, 2021

Their stories — and foods — are varied

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A small group of entrepreneurs gathered recently to sell their goods at a drive-thru vendor fair at the University of Florida/Pasco County Extension’s One Stop Shop, at 15029 14th St., in Dade City.

Those wishing to make a purchase could swing by on Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., to order items and purchase them, from the comfort of their cars.

Hillbilly Farms prepares gluten-free foods. The company’s founders sold the storefront, but are still selling items prepared at an incubator commercial kitchen in Dade City. (Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council)

The idea was to support the small businesses, while providing a safe place to shop, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Participating vendors included Hillbilly Farms Bakery Shops, Charm City Eats, Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread, Superfood Bakeshop, and Chef Sweets of Luminous Concession.

The stories, shared by some small business owners taking part in the event, are as varied as the foods they sold.

Rhoda Mazerolle, of Hillbilly Farms Bakery, previously sold her gluten-free foods from a storefront that she operated with her husband. They have sold that store and have scaled down, but she continues to prepared wholesale foods at the SMARTstart commercial kitchen, at the One Stop Shop.

The commercial kitchen initiative is the result of a partnership between the Pasco Extension Office, which is part of the University of Florida Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences, Pasco County and Pasco County Economic Development Council Inc., with assistance from Welbilt, an industrial kitchen company.

Amy Henninger, of Charm City Eats, is a newcomer to the Pasco County area — moving here less than two months ago.

She said the commercial kitchen allows her food truck — which specializes in authentic Maryland cuisine — to operate.

Charm City Eats offers authentic Baltimore cuisine. The company was one of the vendors taking part in a recent drive-thru vendor fair at the One Stop Shop in Dade City.

Charm City Eats offers such foods as broiled crab cakes, slow-smoked pit beef, Baltimore fried chicken, hot chicken and hand-cut fries.

Getting into the food business is a big departure for her, she said, noting she used to run a copier company in Baltimore.

But, the pandemic has been a turning point, she said.

“I’m going to be turning 40 soon, and I was just sick of the corporate world, and quotas and nonsense, and stress and all of that. I just wanted to do something different and work for myself,” Henninger said.

Plus, her fiancé loves to cook.

Like Henninger, Mary Katherine Mason Souter — who owns Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread — was greatly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In fact, the entrepreneur said she’s had her shortbread business for years, but it was always a “very, very side hustle, hobby.”

It turned into a full-time career, she said, “100% because of COVID.”

The owner of Lanky Lassie’s estimates she’s baked about 5,000 pounds of shortbread since being laid off from her previous full-time job of doing interior designs and selecting furniture for hotels.

Before turning all of her attention to running a baking company, she did interior designs and selected furniture for hotels.

That came to a halt earlier this year, when she was furloughed in April, then laid off in July.

“Since April, I have made about 5,000 pounds of shortbread,” said the baker, who uses her maiden name, Mason, on her business documents.

Her company’s slogan — “Long legs, short bread” — is a reference to her height, of 6 feet.

She’s grateful for the SMARTstart kitchen.

“Without that kitchen, I would not be able to have my business because in order to be able to ship legally and sell legally online, you have to have your manufacturing license.

“The only way you can have your manufacturing license is to have your commercial kitchen, and it has to be inspected by the Department of Agriculture,” she said.

It turns out that the kitchen is just 2 miles away from where she lives in Dade City.

Dan Mitchell, Pasco EDC’s SMARTstart program coordinator, said “the drive-thru vendor fair was a way for our community to experience the new food businesses that have been developing at the incubator.”

It also gave entrepreneurs a chance to get some feedback and hone their skills, Mitchell added.

Whitney C. Elmore, director of Pasco County Extension, said she’s proud of the vendors who produce their foods at the incubator kitchen.

“They’ve persevered during the pandemic – some had lost their job as a result and we were there, along with Pasco EDC, to provide the resources they needed to start their business,” she said.

“Our vendors provide phenomenal products,” Elmore added, “We were excited to showcase them in a drive-through vendor fair at our One Stop Shop in Dade City.”

Published November 18, 2020

Check out this drive-up food fair

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You can indulge in locally baked goods and gourmet specialty items from the comfort of your car and help small businesses — during the drive-up SMARTstart Vendor Fair.

The event will be on Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the UF/IFAS Pasco Extension One Stop Shop, 15029 14th St., in Dade City.

Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread, Superfood Bakeshop, Chef Sweets – Luminous Sweets, Nutoriously Good and other local incubator businesses will be ready with their most popular offerings – ranging from shortbread to organic, gluten-free items packed with superfoods, according to a news release from Pasco County.

Just drive up and you’ll receive online menu access to place an order that will be delivered to your car.

The event is being co-hosted by UF/IFAS Pasco Extension and the Pasco County Economic Development Council Inc.’s SMARTstart program.

Published October 28, 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

Culinary experts share food business advice

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People who want to start a food business — or who already have one and want to make it more successful — received pointers during a SMARTstart program recently at Dade City’s One Stop Shop.

From left: David Robbins, Michael Blasco, Brian West, Shari Bresin and Chris McArthur contribute helpful advice during a seminar on starting a food business, on Nov. 20. (Brian Fernandes)

The free program, titled “Food is the Biggest Business,” was presented on Nov. 20 by the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.

Chef Jeff Philbin of the PPK company moderated the panel, which consisted of Michael Blasco of Tampa Bay Food Trucks; Chef David Robbins of the Harvest & Wisdom restaurant; Shari Bresin of the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences — Pasco Extension Office; Brian West of Publix Super Markets; and Chris McArthur, owner of Patriot Coffee Roasters.

The panelists took turns informing the attendees about the different aspects of the culinary world.

Building an establishment
“I think one of the most important things you could do is to vet your business idea,” said McArthur, of Patriot Coffee Roasters. “There is no substitute for having a good business plan. It is your road map to success.”

Those venturing into the food industry need an objective that’s both practical and detailed, he advised.

The coffee shop owner said he lost thousands of dollars in his company’s first year. That’s why it’s important for entrepreneurs  to surround themselves with mentors and like-minded businesspeople.

West, of Publix, said a company should understand consumer demand, in order to prosper.

“We’re not just looking for a product to put on the shelf. We’re looking for the products that our customers are after,” he said.

West said to remain competitive, a company must focus on at least two of these: quality product, customer service or pricing.

Monetary standpoint
The panelists also discussed the importance of the financial aspects of a business.

“If you’re not an accountant, don’t try to run your own books,” advised Blasco of Tampa Bay Food Trucks. “If you’re not a marketing person, don’t try to do your marketing. Understand what your strengths are and play to them.

“If you have the right accounting team with the right financials, they can show you how to put things in the name of your business and make sure you pay for things pre-tax,” he said.

Financial stability should be at the core of one’s own business, noting that some fail because they didn’t know how to handle their finances, West agreed.

However, good credit, a longstanding relationship with a bank and a solid income can boost the chance of getting a needed loan, Blasco said.

“They usually like to see a business plan that’s very thorough and very detailed, that shows you kind of know what you’re doing. They also like to see experience in the industry you’re going into,” he added.

When purchasing produce from farmers, be sure it’s of good quality, Blasco said. He also noted that while Dade City is known for citrus, because of citrus greening, peaches have become more popular for producing revenue.

The food truck industry
Blasco also offered his insights into the food truck business.

Food truck operators should never keep their food supplies at home, he said.

“It should be stored in a commercial kitchen or a commercial space that the health department or the Department of Business and Professional Regulation have access to.”

One space that’s now available for such storage is the recently renovated incubator kitchen at The One Stop Shop.

Food trucks have been allowed, since 2013, to operate outside of a commercial kitchen if it has the necessary resources, Blasco said. Those include: a fresh water supply, such as a well, that can be tested once a year, and a three-compartment sink in their truck, with hot water.

Blasco said it’s also a good idea for food truck owners to operate in different locations, to improve their livelihood.

Also, it’s important to buy a high-quality truck, he said.

These typically cost at least $40,000. If the truck is selling for $25,000, that’s probably a red flag that the truck is not up to par, he said.

Other food truck operators also can be a good source of support, he said.

“For the most part, it’s a pretty friendly culture. The other food trucks actually are really helpful. So you’ll find that networking with them makes a big difference,” Blasco said.

Healthier alternatives
Providing food that is better for one’s own health is also a key component in the culinary world.

There’s a growing trend with veggie burgers at various fast food chains, Bresin said, noting that consumers are not only vegans, but meat-eaters, as well.

“They’re (restaurants) seeing good results, they’re testing it and people are coming,” she added. “A lot of it is diet and lifestyle.”

Grocery stores, such as Publix, also are offering these alternatives, as well.

The food chain is marking tags on products that may be healthier than others, West said.

He also noted that Publix has been implementing in-store dieticians to offer customers advice on changing their diet and losing weight.

And, the term “organic” doesn’t necessarily apply to produce sprayed with pesticides, which businesses should disclose to their customers, Blasco said.

Chef Robbins said in addition to all of the practical advice, it’s important for entrepreneurs to understand why they got into the food business in the first place.

“Know truly what your motivation is, because at the end of the day, there’s going to be a lot of ups and downs — no matter how good you are, no matter how well-planned things are,” Robbins said.

Published December 04, 2019

Pasco opens first incubator kitchen

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An incubator kitchen has opened in Dade City, to promote economic development through food businesses.

The new facility is a collaborative effort between University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS)-Pasco County extension, the Pasco Economic Development Council, Inc.’s SMARTstart incubator program and Pasco County.

The kitchen was officially unveiled on Sept. 23, during a ribbon cutting at the Stallings Building, in Dade City.

Mark Richardson, Ron Oakley, Michael Anderson and Mick Hughes congregate inside the new incubator kitchen at Dade City’s Stallings Building. The kitchen is expected to support education and economic development.
(Brian Fernandes)

Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley, told those gathered, “This kitchen is going to do great things for Pasco County. It’s going to start those businesses off, and then they’re going to create jobs.”

The incubator will be operated in a renovated kitchen, where participants will  learn culinary skills and entrepreneurs will have a launchpad for new businesses.

Dr. Whitney Elmore said she had that vision in mind, when she first saw the building five years ago.

“Turning this corner out here on 14th Street, I saw this county-owned (Stallings)building sitting unused in a community that was, frankly, in need of resource development and economic opportunity.

“I saw this building’s potential to become an educational outreach center where members of the community, and all of Pasco County, could come for educational services and furthermore, empowerment,” Elmore said.

The Stallings Building, also now known as the One Stop Shop, was established in 1991.

It had been vacant when Elmore, the director for the Pasco Extension Office, came across it.

She has helped to establish the building as a hub for educational classes and food demonstrations.

The kitchen was not in a suitable condition for showing demonstrations, Elmore said.

The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences-Pasco County Extension, recently unveiled its new incubator kitchen at the Stallings Building in Dade City.

The renovation has been three years in the making, she added.

The $30,000-project included refurbishing the oven hood, installing a built-in grease trap and new ceiling tiles. There also is a pantry closet to store dry foods and other products.

Welbilt, a kitchen equipment company, donated a stove, oven, a three-compartment sink, stainless steel counters, an ice maker, a fridge and a freezer.

“Not only did they donate that kitchen equipment that you see in there,” the director said, “they helped us figure out what needs to go where, to optimize safety and to optimize utility of the different parts.”

And Welbilt is planning to do more, Elmore said.

Oakley said the project is a “public-private partnership, working together for the betterment of the community.”

After the ceremonial ribbon cutting, guests had the opportunity to tour the newly-built kitchen.

What sets the incubator kitchen apart from other commercial kitchens, said Elmore, is that it’s open to the public to stock and preserve food.

The kitchen can be a learning space and can serve as a stock room, for a culinary instructor about to teach a class.

The storage space can be used by food trucks, too.

Those using the kitchen for storage will pay a fee.

Dan Mitchell, manager of Pasco Economic Development Council’s SMARTstart incubator program, has been involved in the project, too.

SMARTstart offers memberships so people can take advantage of the kitchen.

“When we start a new entrepreneur [as] a member, we build an action plan for them,” Mitchell explained. “If they think it’s going to take them a year to launch, we meet with them once a month, we coach them, we hold them accountable and we help them get to that launch date.”

Elmore said the kitchen will help people develop skills to be culinary entrepreneurs. She also thinks it will be an incentive for migrant workers to stay within the region.

Elmore also believes the kitchen will give people healthier food options, which will lead to fewer chronic illnesses.

The kitchen could help reduce crime, too, she said.

“We know through many different models all across the nation, and all kinds of studies, that if you offer economic opportunity, job growth development [and] educational services, that you can cut down on the crime,” Elmore explained.

And with a community garden based outside the Stallings Building, the kitchen provides a convenient space for preparing one’s own produce.

Long-term plans include starting an educational program for single mothers to become businesswomen within the food industry, as well as adding new incubator kitchens throughout Pasco County.

“That’s our goal,” said Mitchell, “to knock down the barriers to entries to starting a business, and be that launching pad.”

Commercial kitchen incubator to open in East Pasco

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An incubator commercial kitchen is expected to begin operating in September at 15029 14th St., in Dade City.

The initiative is the result of a partnership between the Pasco Extension Office, which is part of the University of Florida Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences, Pasco County and the Pasco County Economic Development Council Inc., with assistance from Welbilt.

Welbilt, a global manufacturer of commercial restaurant equipment, has provided equipment for the kitchen. It contributed a six-burner range, a single-door refrigerator, a single-door freezer, an under-the-counter ice machine, shelving, and stainless steel work tables.

Welbilt Inc., has delivered the kitchen equipment for a commercial kitchen incubator at the One Stop Shop, in the UF/IFAS Cooperative Extension One Stop Shop Stallings Building at 15029 14th St., in Dade City. From left: Mick Hughes, Welbilt; Elizabeth Urquiola, UF/IFAS; Steve Flook, Welbilt; Dan Mitchell, Pasco EDC; and, Michael Anderson, Welbilt. (Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.)

“They have been working with us, very closely, as an excellent partner, and we do appreciate that donation of equipment from them,” Dr. Whitney C. Elmore, director of the Pasco County Extension Office, told members of the Pasco County Commission at a meeting last month.

“They’ve worked closely with us, with facilities from Pasco County, to retrofit an older commercial kitchen space in that building, which has been actually fantastic,” Elmore added.

The new kitchen “is going to open up a lot of opportunities for us and the community,” Elmore added. It will be operating out of the One Stop Shop, located within the Stallings Building in East Pasco.

Dan Mitchell, program manager for Pasco EDC’s SMARTstart Incubator Program, said the updated commercial kitchen will be used for community classes and by SMARTstart.

“It will be used for our members who might need to use it to launch their food businesses,” Mitchell said. “They’ll be able to do a little bit of production out of there, if they’re one of our incubator members, as well as collaborate with local growers, local chefs, other food entrepreneurs.

“So, it will really be a space that will hopefully foster some food innovation, some excitement around food business in Pasco County. There’s a lot of that bubbling under the surface,” he said.

For instance, the kitchen makes it possible for a family living in the area to lease a garden plot for free, grow some vegetables and make a product they could sell at a farmer’s market.

“Once a business needs to grow beyond a farmer’s market, we have all of our SMARTstart programs, like co-starters, our microloan program, and everything else to support entrepreneurs,” Mitchell said.

The Pasco EDC offers a host of programs aimed at helping businesses grow, at whatever stage they happen to be in, Mitchell noted. And, Pasco County has incentives aimed to attract high-wage jobs to the county.

The idea of creating the incubator kitchen resulted from talks involving a variety of stakeholders, including the Pasco EDC, the Extension Office and others, Mitchell said.

“What we noticed is there’s a lot interest in food businesses. There’s a lot of agriculture in Pasco County. There’s citrus, beef, kumquats, blueberries out East. Then out West we have some breweries and some seafood production. And, one of the things that we don’t have, however, is a good local distribution model, where food can get from these different producers to our local restaurants,” Mitchell said.

But, he added, “there’s not a good easy way for these people to connect.”

“It became apparent that it would be nice if we had some kind of food hub. So, the Pasco EDC decided to go ahead and host what’s called its Food Hub Task Force.”

The group meets monthly, with the aim of creating a model that will encourage food-related partnerships and generate jobs, he said.

The commercial kitchen opens the door to new possibilities, Mitchell said.

“If you produce the food in your own home, you’re not allowed to sell other than direct to consumer. If you produce in a commercial kitchen, you’re suddenly allowed to do a lot more,” he explained.

A ribbon cutting to celebrate the incubator kitchen is planned for Sept. 23 at 2:30 p.m.

Another event has been planned, as well, to help explore the possibilities the new kitchen is creating. That event is set for Nov. 20 and has been dubbed, “Food is the Biggest Business.”

“We’re going to have four or five food entrepreneurs that are already successful. Maybe a successful restaurateur, maybe a food truck guy, maybe a celebrity chef. Those types of people,” Mitchell said.

“It will be open to anyone interested in those types of businesses, from any direction,” he said, and, it will give people a chance to know others who share an interest in the food industry — from a variety of perspectives.

From there, who knows?

“It really comes down to each individual entrepreneur and what their dreams are,” Mitchell said.

But, whatever path they choose to pursue, chances are Pasco EDC will be able to help them along the way, Mitchell said.

Published July 10, 2019

Delivering business concepts in ‘bite-sized’ pieces

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A nationwide program for budding entrepreneurs is coming to Zephyrhills.

Co.Starters is a program aimed at teaching entrepreneurs how to start their companies and grow their business.

The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce will begin offering the program next month.

Adopted by more than a dozen entrepreneurial organizations in cities around the country, the 10-week program applies lean business modeling methods popular among high-growth startups and businesses of all kinds.

SMARTstart Business incubator director Krista Covey, who oversees the Co.Starters program in Pasco County, was the featured speaker at The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast on April 6.

In Co.Starters, weekly sessions are led by a trained coach in a small, supportive group setting.

The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce will offer a Co.Starters program in May. The 10-week course is aimed at teaching entrepreneurs how to start their companies and grow their business. It’s been adopted by more than a dozen entrepreneurial organizations in cities around the country.
(File)

And, enterprise-level concepts are introduced in “bite-sized pieces.”

“Each week is a different topic,” she added. “We talk about taxes. We talk about legal entity selection. We talk about everything.”

The program demystifies business concepts.

It uses easy-to-understand language and takes away the feeling of intimidation that some people feel when they’re venturing into the entrepreneurial world, Covey said.

The program largely helps potential entrepreneurs decide whether they want to pursue turning their idea into a business.

That’s critical, considering only about 20 percent of all companies last five years or more, Covey said.

The program also is open to existing business owners, who may look to “rethink” their existing business model.

“Some of the best things you can do to serve entrepreneurs is get them around other entrepreneurs,” Covey explained. “Get them collaborating, working together, sharing ideas.”

In Zephyrhills, the 10-week program runs from May 4 through July 6.

Classes will be each Thursday, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce office, 38550 Fifth Ave.

The program costs $295. Registration is due by 4 p.m., on April 28.

Similar programs will be offered later this year in Dade City, Wesley Chapel, Trinity and Land O’ Lakes.

Besides Co.Starters, other countywide resources are available for entrepreneurs and established business owners, Covey said.

One is the Pasco Enterprise Network (PEN), a collaborative effort of nonprofit agencies committed to ensuring the success of small businesses, through consulting, counseling, education, and technical assistance.

Among the partners are local chambers of commerce and colleges — like Saint Leo University and Pasco-Hernando State College.

Those arenas, Covey said, are particularly useful for networking and hiring a workforce.

The Pasco County Library System, another PEN partner, can be a valuable aid for startups, providing a wide variety of market research tools, databases and trade journals.

Meanwhile, the SMARTstart Pasco Business Incubator — managed by Covey since 2013 — remains available for entrepreneurs.

Located at 37837 Meridian Ave., in Dade City, the mixed-use facility offers co-working space, dedicated desk space, meeting space, classrooms and private offices.

Covey stated entrepreneurs typically spend about two years in the incubator program.

The incubator offers microloans for small businesses, too.

Available up to an amount of $35,000 with a fixed interest rate, the term of loans may range from 12 months up to a maximum of 72 months.

Launched in 2012, about 30 borrowers have participated in the microloan program, creating over 170 jobs, Covey said.

“We’re very passionate about job creation and helping our businesses in Pasco be as successful as possible,” she said.

Published April 19, 2017

A gesture’s worth a thousand words

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Just the way you walk into a room can speak volumes about you — at least in the eyes of the beholders.

And, if you make a bad first impression, it’s very hard to undo.

Jackie Eden, of Pasco-Hernando State College, recently gave a presentation on ‘The Secrets of Body Language’ at a SMARTstart session in Dade City. When it comes to creating a good first impression, appearance counts, including what you are wearing, your facial expression, the tone of your voice and the quality of your handshake, she said. SMARTstart is program offered through the Pasco Economic Development Council. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Jackie Eden, of Pasco-Hernando State College, recently gave a presentation on ‘The Secrets of Body Language’ at a SMARTstart session in Dade City. When it comes to creating a good first impression, appearance counts, including what you are wearing, your facial expression, the tone of your voice and the quality of your handshake, she said. SMARTstart is program offered through the Pasco Economic Development Council.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

That was a key message delivered by Jackie Eden, of Pasco-Hernando State College, in a presentation she calls “The Secrets of Body Language.”

“Your first impression is the first five seconds of anytime you meet somebody. A lot of times, this is subconscious,” she said. “They’re going to make those split-second decisions about you. About your health, about your educational level, about your social status, about your intelligence, about your ambition — in just those first few seconds.”

While acknowledging she’s not an expert on body language, Eden noted she’s done a fair amount of research on the topic.

Being aware of your body language and knowing the signals you’re sending can help you become a more effective communicator — even when you’re not saying a word, she said.

She thinks the topic is so important that she gives talks about it to various groups. Recently, she shared her knowledge to a group in Dade City, meeting under the auspices of SMARTstart, a program supported by the Pasco Economic Development Council.

Body language includes gestures, body movements, facial expressions and tone of voice, she said. “Only 7 percent of communication is actually words.”

A good handshake helps to make a positive first impression. Avoid offering a ‘limp fish’ handshake or a bone-crushing grip. (Photos courtesy of Jackie Eden/Pasco-Hernando State College)
A good handshake helps to make a positive first impression. Avoid offering a ‘limp fish’ handshake or a bone-crushing grip.
(Photos courtesy of Jackie Eden/Pasco-Hernando State College)

Research shows it can take 21 times of a repeated good experience to blank out a bad first impression, Eden said.

So, she asked: “What makes a good first impression?”

Then, she answered: How you enter a room is important.

Be sure to pay attention to your posture and about the image you’re projecting, she said. For instance, looking down at the floor can signal a lack of self-confidence, while looking ahead conveys confidence.

When meeting someone new, be sure to smile, make eye contact and offer your hand for a handshake.

Be sure your handshake is firm, but not too firm. In other words, avoid limp fish handshakes or bone-crushing grips.

Your face has nearly 100 muscles, and every part of it can be expressive.
Your face has nearly 100 muscles, and every part of it can be expressive.

Also, be sure to “really pay attention” during the introduction, she said.

Do your best to remember the person’s name and a detail or two, about him or her.

Whether you’re going into an interview, attending a business meeting or networking, think positive, Eden said.

“What’s going on in your head really does come out in your body language,” and can show up in your facial expressions or gestures, she said.

When your words and body language don’t match, people put more stock in your body language and question if you’re trustworthy, she said.

Be sure to respect personal space, she added.

“If you ever see somebody backing away, even a couple of inches, that’s your cue that you’re too close,” she said.

While body language can provide useful information, keep in mind that it’s not infallible.

Everyone has bad days.

“Give people that benefit of the doubt. You really don’t know what’s going on with them,” she said.

Things to remember when speaking:

  • When meeting someone new, be sure to introduce yourself.
  • Use a welcoming, warm tone (If you’re not sure how you sound, tape yourself and listen. If you don’t like the way you sound, work on it.)
  • Try to remember the names of the people you meet and a detail or two about them.
  • Learn to make conversation, avoiding topics that are likely to spark controversy.
  • Let the speaker know you’re listening by leaning in and nodding periodically. Avoid nodding too much — it can be distracting.

Source: Jackie Eden

Making a good first impression

  • Smile.
  • Extend your hand for a handshake. (Avoid a limp fish handshake, or bone-crushing grip)
  • Make good eye contact.
  • Pay attention to your posture, what you’re wearing and your personal grooming.
  • Lean in, to signal you’re listening.
  • Respect the other person’s personal space. If the other person takes a step back, you’re too close.

Things to avoid:

  • Pointing (it’s considered aggressive)
  • Shrugging your shoulders
  • Texting or answering your phone
  • Twirling your hair
  • Chewing gum
  • Excessive fidgeting
  • Clicking your pen

Source: Jackie Eden

Body language mistakes that ruin job interviews

  • Failing to make eye contact: 65 percent
  • Failing to smile: 36 percent
  • Playing with something on the table: 33 percent
  • Having bad posture: 30 percent
  • Fidgeting too much in seat: 29 percent
  • Crossing arms over chest: 26 percent
  • Playing with hair or touching face: 25 percent
  • Having a weak handshake: 22 percent
  • Using too many hand gestures: 11 percent
  • Having a handshake that’s too strong: 7 percent

Source: Jackie Eden

Published October 12, 2016

 

Local computer whiz spins success

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Friends and family knew about his geeky side long before he took the leap into computers and web design as a full-time job.

As a teenager, Thomas Giella Jr., built his own computer.

“I always helped out people on the side with their computer issues,” he said.

Thomas Giella Jr., is building his businesses, Gear Spinners, i-gent, and Techsoft Academy, at SMARTstart’s incubator site in the Dade City Business Center. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Thomas Giella Jr., is building his businesses, Gear Spinners, i-gent, and Techsoft Academy, at SMARTstart’s incubator site in the Dade City Business Center.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

He launched his web design and marketing business, Gear Spinners, more than a year ago. Now he has two offshoot companies, Techsoft Academy and i-gent, and a $1,000 check pinned to a calendar in his office with a paper clip.

“I plan to get a frame for it,” Giella said.

The check is his prize for winning third place in the inaugural SMARTstart Business Challenge on Jan. 29. The Pasco Economic Development Council, the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce, the New Port Richey Economic Development Department and SCORE sponsored the contest to celebrate Business Development Week.

The SMARTstart incubator program is an initiative of the Pasco EDC, with locations in Dade City and New Port Richey.

About 20 businesses, both on and off site, are members of SMARTstart. They include technology companies, sales and marketing, and new attorneys. One company completes personal assessments to reduce company turnover.

“We have a pretty diverse membership,” said Krista Covey, the managing program director at Pasco EDC and director of SMARTstart.

Giella competed against about 20 companies to earn one of five spots in the finals that were held at the SMARTstart incubator site in New Port Richey. Judges included representatives from Pasco’s business and academic community.

First place winners were Brian Anderson and Janel Norton of Veterans Alternative Therapy Center in Holiday. Second place went to Greg Smith of Savealator in New Port Richey.

The competition was modeled after Shark Tank, the television show where contestants make a pitch to a panel of investors.

The pitch can be a nerve jangling trial, but Giella kept it simple.

He had 10 minutes to “sell” Techsoft Academy to a panel of judges including representatives from Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative and Pasco-Hernando State College. Judges then had 10 minutes to quiz Giella.

“I tried to think like a customer,” he said. “I thought about all the stories I’ve heard from my clients. It was an awesome learning experience.”

Giella earned office space at SMARTstart’s incubator site in Dade City about five months ago. He works out of a small office at the Dade City Business Center, at 15000 Citrus Country Drive, Suite 103.

His services with Gear Spinners include web design, development and web hosting. Techsoft Academy can help bloggers and businesses go a step further by offering classes that teach more advanced skills. And i-gent caters to Realtors who need website management.

“Some people are go, go, go,” said Giella, and they likely don’t have time to spend on a website. But others, he said, want to do more of the work themselves.

Giella also helps organize Tampa Bay Word Camp, a group that offers conferences to teach skills in Word Press for blogging, business and social media.

Recent clients include the owners of the Yeoman’s Cask & Lion, a British-style pub that will open soon on Morgan Street in downtown Tampa. The pub is a new location and a rebranding for the former Yeoman’s Road Pub on Davis Islands, south of downtown Tampa.

His contest prize money will help buy new equipment to enhance his business, including a DSLR camera and microphone.

Giella started working on a business plan in 2013 to turn his hobby into a brick-and-mortar reality. A few months ago SMARTstart approved his application, and he moved into the business center.

Membership fees for on-site businesses start at $100 a month with tiered increases based on profitability. In return, fledgling entrepreneurs get office space, mentors, seminars and classes.

“They want to see what you’re up to, how much you’re making, is it going to create jobs,” Giella said. “It’s great the amount of stuff we talk about. It’s not common that you can talk about business in front of others and actually get good advice back.”

Giella graduated from Saint Leo University with a degree in business management. He launched a profitable business selling LED lighting for motorcycles, but sold the company two years ago.

“Everyone kept wanting me to build websites,” he said.

Gear Spinners and Techsoft Academy are gaining traction. Giella has a handful of proposals that could increase his client portfolio. If business picks up, he could be hiring his first employees in the next months.

“I can’t wait until I can hire people,” he said. “But I’m taking it one step at a time.”

He credits SMARTstart with giving him a chance to prove his new business has potential.

“My confidence level is boosted,” Giella said. “That’s key. People can see that.”

For information on Gear Spinners, contact Giella at (813) 235-0554, or visit GearSpinners.com. For information on SMARTstart, contact Covey at (727) 478-0670, (352) 437-4861, or visit SmartStartPasco.com.

Published April 1, 2015