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Small Business Administration

Shuttered venue operators can apply for help

May 4, 2021 By B.C. Manion

The Small Business Administration is accepting applications in its Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program. The grants are part of the American Rescue Plan and are intended to help small businesses. The program includes a total of over $16 billion in grants for shuttered venues.

Those eligible to apply include live venue operators or promoters, theatrical producers, live performing arts organization operators, motion picture theater operators and others.

To find out more about eligibility requirements and how to apply, visit SBA.gov.

Businesses seek help during pandemic

April 7, 2020 By B.C. Manion

The economy has been flattened by coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), and businesses are seeking a way to continue operating or to reopen their doors.

A $2 trillion stimulus package— the largest in the nation’s history — is called the CARES Act, which stands for Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security.

Bill Cronin, CEO and president of Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., offered guidance to help businesses seeking to secure financing to recover from the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. (File)

Part of that package is specifically aimed at assisting companies with fewer than 500 employees, said Bill Cronin, CEO and president of Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.

“It’s intended to assist small business owners in whatever needs that they have right now. So, once it’s implemented, there’s going to be lots of resources for small business, as well as some nonprofits and also some other types of employers,” said Cronin, who helps recruit and build business growth through the nonprofit economic development agency he leads.

Cronin and Eileen Rodriguez, regional director for the Florida SBDC at the University of South Florida, participated in a Zoom video conferencing session on April 1, with Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore.

“This particular pandemic, has really, I think, taken a lot of people by surprise,” Rodriguez said. “The scope and magnitude of it is so much more than just our normal disasters, which you know, we’re used to the hurricanes. This is a completely different animal. It’s just so huge.”

While various assistance programs are available, getting through the process can be difficult, Cronin said.

“It is confusing, even for us as practitioners, between state, federal and local programs. So, I can’t imagine what it’s like sometimes, as business people, trying to navigate all of these different resources — in a time when it’s challenging enough as it is, with all of these external pressures,” Cronin said.

Mainstreet Billiards, in downtown Zephyrhills, is complying with the state-mandated shutdown. A posting over the weekend on its Facebook Page says “we will get back to it as soon as we can.” It ends the posting with this message by saying, “Help your neighbor if you can! And shop local small businesses to help out your Zephyrhills family. We will get through this together.” (B.C. Manion)

He outlined some of the programs available to help businesses.

“The most popular program that I think most of you are going to be interested in is called the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP. It is designed for companies that employ fewer than 500 workers,” he said.

In essence, the loan is designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll.

SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest or utilities.

Rodriguez talked about the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program .

“We help small business owners who are currently navigating the loan process.

“We don’t actually make decisions on which loans get approved or denied, but we do work with the independent Emergency Bridge Loan committee that makes those decisions,” she said.

“The team at the SBDC — the entire team — is really working as fast as we can to process all these inquiries and applications that have come in.

“Right now, we’re probably hovering around 4,000, just to give you a sense of the type of volume that we’re looking at,” she said.

“Everybody is trying to move as quickly as possible, to help all of the small businesses that have been affected, which frankly, has been pretty much everybody in the state of Florida, and of course, across the nation.”

The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a brutal effect on the economy. Here is a look at the lack of activity in downtown Zephyrhills, on the Saturday after Gov. Ron DeSantis imposed a Stay-at-Home order for the state of Florida. (B.C. Manion)

Information is changing constantly, Rodriguez added. “Changes occur daily, and I might even say, hourly.”

“What I’m saying right this minute could possibly change in an hour, two hours, this afternoon, tomorrow,” she said.

It’s essential to check officials websites for up-to-the-minute information, she said.

The Florida Emergency Bridge Loan Program was activated on March 16 by the governor’s office.

“They released $50 million for that program. Small businesses can qualify for up to $50,000 in most cases. These are interest-free, short-term loans. And, by short-term, I mean 12 months,” she said.

“Let’s say you would be awarded a loan today. You would have 12 months to pay it off. It’s interest-free for those 12 months. At 12 months and 1 day, if that loan is not paid off, you will have to start paying interest and that interest will be retroactive, back to Day 1.

“This loan does not convert to a long-term loan at that point. It’s still a short-term loan and for all intents and purposes, you will be in default of your loan on that 366th day,” she said.

To apply for this loan, go to FloridaJobs.org, which is the Department of Economic Opportunity’s website. Applications are now being accepted directly through their portal, which was activated on March 23.

Business owners can qualify for both the short-term and long-term loans, she said.

The Small Business Administration also offers an economic injury disaster loan. It allows loans of up to $2 million, and self-employed workers are eligible.

The interest rate is 3.75% for for-profit companies; 2.75% for nonprofit companies.

“This is pretty much considered a working capital loan, again, to help with payroll, with fixed debt, accounts payable, any other bills,” Rodriguez said.

“You don’t have to go through a bank to apply for it. This loan is directly with the Small Business Administration’s disaster assistance program,” she said.

Rodriguez said she has no idea how long it will take for loans to be processed.

“I will tell you that they are overwhelmed, because, again, this is not just a Florida program. That’s a national program, a federal program. They’ve had over 1 million — 1 million — inquiries and applications already.

Pasco Chairman Moore offered some words of support to the small business community.

“You will continue to be the heartbeat in Pasco County,” Moore said.

“We want to see you all get out of this, we want to see you succeed. We want to see everybody working.

“We’re going to get through this,” Moore said. “We’re going to get through this together.”

For more information visit DisasterLoan.sba.gov; SBDCtampabay.com/coronavirus; and, Pasco.edc.com.

Published April 08, 2020

All aboard for a bus tour of Pasco development

June 13, 2018 By Kathy Steele

A bus tour through Pasco County connected the dots, and highlighted both new development, and notable educational institutions, such as Saint Leo University.

The Central Pasco Association of REALTORS sponsored the tour to offer professionals in real estate and area residents an up-close look at what’s happening in Pasco. The bus tour on June 7 was the first, but CPAR officers say they plan for more in future.

Dr. Jeffrey D. Senese, center, president of Saint Leo University, welcomed bus tour visitors to the university’s campus.
(Kathy Steele)

“We’re looking to introduce people, to say, the (Florida Hospital Center Ice) rink,” said Jack Buckley, who is chairman of the CPAR committee that organized the tour. “Not everyone knows it’s here. We want to make them aware of activities in the area.”

About 60 people boarded the bus at the Hilton Garden Inn Tampa Suncoast Parkway. The all-day tour visited nine locations, including stops at Florida Hospital Center Ice, Saint Leo, and the historic Pasco County Courthouse in Dade City.

Other locations were the master-planned communities of Bexley by Newland Communities, Epperson and Mirada; the Dade City Business Center; the business park, Compark 75; and Tampa Premium Outlets.

A lunch break at Florida Hospital Center Ice included a tour of the ice rink facility, off State Road 54.

The CPAR bus tour also was about forging closer ties between Central Pasco and Dade City business and chamber of commerce communities.

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez arranged a police-escorted drive through downtown Dade City, and touted its historic, small town charm.

“This is my little piece of heaven that I call home,” the mayor said.

The real estate organization will be supporting Dade City officials for “Discover Dade City,” an economic summit on Sept. 27 at the Pasco-Hernando State College.

“We’re feeding off one another, so residents and businesses get the benefits from our associations,” said Buckley.

The tour offered opportunities for networking, and getting to know new people, said Hernandez. “I’m excited about that.”

Jo Easton, a certified residential specialist, said the tour provided new experiences in getting to know not only about new development but well-established places such as Saint Leo.

She had driven by the university many times, but the tour was her first visit to the campus.

Florida Hospital Center Ice was new to her, too.

“This is really helpful to us,” Easton said.

John McCabe, a vice president and Small Business Administration lender with CBC National Bank, was also glad to get to know the area better.

“You see these places driving by, but to do a deep dive, it’s terrific,” he said. “I think the tour is a great thing.”

McCabe works out of Tampa but services the Tampa Bay area including Pasco.

For more information, visit CPARFl.com.

Published June 13, 2018

Federal aid available for Hurricane Irma victims

October 18, 2017 By Kathy Steele

Federal emergency management teams are fanning out statewide to help Hurricane Irma victims register for financial assistance.

Residents in Pasco County lost trees, and in many instances, suffered damage to their homes due to Hurricane Irma. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is taking applications to provide financial assistance. (Kathy Steele)

In Pasco County, a team settled in at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library on Collier Parkway from Oct. 11 through Oct. 14.

Area residents applying for assistance also could speak with representatives of the United States Small Business Administration and Pasco County.

Pasco County officials will make announcements soon about more locations that will open to take applications.

The in-person meet-ups with Federal Emergency Management Agency workers are only one of several ways to register for financial assistance.

Currently, the deadline to register is Nov. 9.

State officials have the option to request an extension, however.

Steven Solomon, a FEMA media relations specialist, said the easiest way to apply is to online.

The website is Disasterassistance.gov.

For those who don’t have access to a computer or the Internet, they can call FEMA at 1-800-621-3362. Because FEMA is responding to a number of recent disasters, including Irma and Hurricane Harvey, there could be long waits on the phone.

“We’re asking for people to be patient,” Solomon said.

FEMA workers also are out in the field in the 48 counties declared as federal disaster areas. “We’re walking door-to-door with Ipads, registering people as we go,” Solomon said.

The field workers will have a federal ID badge, which residents should ask to see, Solomon said.

Those who register with FEMA for assistance will be asked to provide the following information:

  • Social Security number
  • Address of the damaged property and a contact phone number
  • Insurance coverage
  • Total household income
  • Bank routing number and account number

FEMA will schedule an appointment for an inspector to meet the applicant – age 18 or older – at the hurricane damaged property. The inspector doesn’t determine eligibility, Solomon said.

All of the information is sent to FEMA, and a letter will be sent to the applicant regarding a grant award.

FEMA grants can pay for a variety of losses including home repairs, temporary housing, transportation, medical and dental costs and funeral expenses.

These will be grants, not loans that would be repaid. Also, grants are not considered taxable income, and they don’t affect other benefits being received, such as Social Security or food stamps.

Homeowners with property insurance should file separate claims with their insurance companies and FEMA. The federal agency can supplement what insurance doesn’t cover.

Grant amounts aren’t intended to be a dollar for dollar replacement of all losses, but Solomon said they can aid in “making people whole again.”

Businesses can apply for low-interest loans through the Small Business Administration. Solomon said it also would be helpful for business owners to talk with FEMA representatives to find out if other types of benefits also would be available.

Anyone who needs repairs completed should do so as quickly as possible, without waiting for a FEMA decision, Solomon said. But, they also should take pictures of the damage and keep receipts for purchases and services, he added.

Everyone should be on the alert for scam artists trying to take advantage of people, Solomon said.

“There is no charge for anything FEMA does,” Solomon said. “If (anyone) asks for money, it’s a scam.”

Avoid being scammed
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has issued some tips to help people avoid being scammed, as they recover from a disaster.

Scam attempts can be made over the phone, by mail, by email, through the Internet, or in person.
Here are some tips to remember to safeguard against fraud:

  • Ask to see ID badges. All Federal Emergency Management Agency representatives always carry an identification badge with a photograph.
  • Keep your FEMA registration number safe. It is your key to your application information. Do not share it with others.
  • Safeguard personal information. No state or federal government disaster assistance agency will call you to ask for your financial account information. Unless you place a call to an agency yourself, you should not provide personal information over the phone. It can lead to identity theft. In general, be cautious when giving personal information such as social security or bank account numbers to anyone. FEMA will only request an applicant’s bank account numbers during the initial registration process. FEMA inspectors will require verification of identity but will already have your registration number.
  • Beware of people going door to door. People knocking on doors at damaged homes or phoning homeowners claiming to be building contractors could be con artists, especially if they ask for personal information or solicit money.
  • Know that federal workers do not solicit or accept money. FEMA and Small Business Administration staff never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections, or to help fill out applications. FEMA inspectors verify damages, but do not involve themselves in any aspect of the repair nor recommend any contractor.
  • If you suspect fraud, call the toll-free FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at (866) 720-5721, or call your local law enforcement agency.

Published Oct. 18, 2017

 

 

 

Vandalism blocks opening of new Zephyrhills restaurant

August 11, 2014 By Michael Hinman

A successful restaurant near the Florida State Fairgrounds wants to expand into Zephyrhills, but nearly $40,000 in much-needed repair work on the new location could kill the deal.

The Zephyrhills City Council, meeting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, could approve a measure that would give Michael and Laura Andrews a chance to open a Smokehouse B-B-Q & Grill at 5740 Seventh St.

The Andrews want to take over the space formerly occupied by Pancho Villa’s Mexican Restaurant, and purchased the 36-year-old building for $95,000, according to county property records. The property sold in 2003 for $250,000, and was being sold as part of a short sale, according to a June letter from Rebecca Gaddis, a vice president at San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union.

The Andrews tried to get a Small Business Administration loan to help cover the purchase cost of the building and complete the major repairs, but the the condition of the building made that impossible, Gaddis said.

“The down payment, closing costs and required repairs will exhaust the available capital the Andrews currently have,” Gaddis said in her letter. “The opening of Smokehouse B-B-Q & Grill Inc., would be delayed, while the furniture and needed equipment to operate the business are purchased over time. ”

Gaddis added the restaurant could create 25 to 30 new jobs for Zephyrhills, and remove a vacant storefront from the city’s downtown.

Smokehouse B-B-Q was started in 2004 on U.S. 301, one mile north of Interstate 4 in Tampa, Gaddis said. Although revenue has steadily increased over the past few years, the Andrews felt they had reached their capacity at their current location, and wanted to add a second one.

The CRA is set to meet Aug. 11 at 5:30 p.m., at Zephyrhills City Hall, 5335 Eighth St.

Tech council, USF provides $50k scholarship to SmartStart

July 15, 2014 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

In what officials are calling a surprise announcement, Florida High Tech Corridor Council president Randy Berridge announced his organization is offering a $50,000 sponsorship for the SmartStart Business Incubator program.

The announcement was made Monday at the opening of the second incubator location in New Port Richey, joining the existing one in Dade City.

The council and the University of South Florida back “numerous initiatives that support small and growing companies, and the SmartStart program is a terrific program that is already beginning to show successful results,” Berridge said, in a release. “We are glad to help foster the entrepreneurial activity in Pasco County.”

This is the group’s second sponsorship of Pasco Economic Development Council’s SmartStart Program with USF. Last year, both groups announced it would provide a $50,000 sponsorship during the opening of the Dade City business incubator.

Pasco EDC’s goal is to work with new entrepreneurs and scalable start-up companies in the incubators in Pasco County, and help them build their businesses from the ground up, officials said. Only 20 percent of new businesses are still in operation after the first five years, according to the Small Business Administration. On the other hand, the U.S. Economic Development Administration funded a study that concluded 87 percent of all businesses graduating from an incubator remain in business after five years.

The SmartStart program has helped create 42 jobs, and has projected to create a total of 65 jobs over the next two years, officials said.

For information, visit SmartStartPasco.com, or email Krista Covey at .

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A Guide for Summer Camps in Pasco County 

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05/21/2022 – Folk Art Festival

Carrollwood Village will host a Food & Folk Art Festival on May 21 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road in Tampa. The outdoor event will feature food trucks, storytelling and puppetry with Windell Campbell (11 a.m.), a folk dance performance with Grupo Folkloric Mahetzi (noon), and live music with Liam Bauman (1:15 p.m.), Rebekah Pulley (2:45 p.m.), His Hem (4:15 p.m.) and Ari Chi (5:45 p.m.) Guests can bring lawn chairs and sun umbrellas. Artisan vendors will be available, and guests will be invited to participate in a community art project. Admission is free. For information, visit CarrollwoodCenter.org. … [Read More...] about 05/21/2022 – Folk Art Festival

05/21/2022 – Founders Day Festival-CANCELLED

Main Street Zephyrhills will present the annual Founders Day Festival on May 21 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. The “From Founders to Future” event will feature a parade (7 p.m.) and contest, food, kids zone, vendors, a historic ghost tour, and entertainment. Guests can dress in any decade from the 1880s to futuristic concepts, as the festival pays homage to the people who built the town, through the years. For information, visit MainStreetZephyrhills.org. … [Read More...] about 05/21/2022 – Founders Day Festival-CANCELLED

05/21/2022 – Free vaccines/microchips

Pasco County Animal Services will team up with Petco Love for a free, drive-thru vaccine and microchip event on May 21 from 9 a.m. to noon, at Lokey Subaru of Port Richey, 11613 U.S. 19. Participants can bring up to three pets per family. Dogs must be leashed and cats must remain in carriers, while everyone stays in the vehicle. Those participating should check their pets’ vet record to determine what services are needed. Rabies vaccines require the pet owner to purchase a county pet license. Space is limited, so advance registration is required, online at bit.ly/3OrUR1h. … [Read More...] about 05/21/2022 – Free vaccines/microchips

05/21/2022 – Garden Club

The New River Garden Club will meet on May 21 at 10:30 a.m., at the New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel. The meeting will be followed by an outdoor garden presentation on mosquito control. A separate registration is required for the meeting and the presentation, online at PascoLibraries.org. For information, call 813-788-6375. … [Read More...] about 05/21/2022 – Garden Club

05/21/2022 – Train show & sale

Regal Railways will host a Toy Train, Toy Show & Sale on May 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Hernando Fairgrounds, 6436 Broad St., in Brooksville. There will be more than 60 vendors, along with model trains, toys, die cast cars and more. There also will be a running train layout. Admission is $5 for adults. Kids ages 12 and younger are free. Guests can prepay at RegalRailways.com. … [Read More...] about 05/21/2022 – Train show & sale

05/21/2022 – Veterans Resource Fair

Congressman Gus Bilirakis will host the 16th annual Veterans Resource Fair on May 21 from 10 a.m. to noon, at the New Port Richey Elks Lodge, 7201 Congress St. Resources will include: health care, veterans claim services, education, benefits, job placement/employment services, and housing/social services. For information, call Bilirakis’ office at 727-232-2921. … [Read More...] about 05/21/2022 – Veterans Resource Fair

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