One hosts community events, supports charity causes and offers a wide selection of shopping and eating choices.
Another created 600 new jobs during its first year of operation and offers leading-edge health care.
Both — The Shops at Wiregrass and Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel — are among eight recipients of honor during the Pasco Economic Development Council’s 27th annual Industry of the Year awards celebration.
The Shops at Wiregrass received this year’s Special Recognition Award, while Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel received the council’s Special Contribution Award.
“It is such an honor to be recognized by the PEDC for our continuous efforts and dedication to establish The Shops at Wiregrass as an effective and successful centerpiece to our local community as well as Pasco County,” Greg Lenners, general manager for the shopping center, said in a release.
“The Shops at Wiregrass have had a major impact on the growth of the Wesley Chapel area,” Skip Miller, senior vice president of SunTrust Bank and chair of the Pasco EDC Banquet Award Committee, said in a release. “It has become a gathering place for Pasco County and the Tampa Bay region and has served as a catalyst for continued growth in the area.”
Hospital officials were delighted by their recognition, too.
“Of course we’re humbled, but very excited to be chosen,” said Tracy Clouser, director of marketing for Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. “The community has really embraced us, and we’re really excited being part and really affecting the health and wellness of the people who live here.”
The shopping mall and hospital received their awards on Sept. 4 at a banquet and trade show that drew more than 600 people to Wesley Chapel’s Saddlebrook Resort Tampa.
The trade show, which preceded the banquet, attracted 48 companies and organizations from across Tampa Bay.
Other 2013 Industry Award winners were:
• Technology Award: Caresync, a Wesley Chapel company that can aggregate all of a patient’s data into a single record
• Service/Distribution, Category 1: Goin’ Postal Franchise Corp., a franchise shipping service in Zephyrhills
• Service/Distribution, Category 2: Meares Plumbing, a commercial and residential plumbing business based in Hudson
• Manufacturer of the Year, Category 1: Sign-A-Rama of New Tampa, a sign company in Wesley Chapel
• Manufacturer of the Year, Category 2: Adams Arms Inc., a firearms manufacturing company in Odessa
• New Business Award: J.T.D. Enterprises Inc., a flagpole company in Lutz.
Those attending the event also heard an update on Pasco County’s economic development progress.
Trey Starkey, chairman of the economic development’s board, reported that 583 new jobs had been created in Pasco County, according to a news release issued by the PEDC.
The organization also helped in efforts to achieve $40.2 million capital investment, 287,000 square feet occupied and $22.5 million in annual payroll, Starkey said.
The economic development seeks nominations each year for companies that exhibit exemplary growth in technology, innovation, job creation, capital investment and community service.
An awards committee then interviews the nominees to select the winners.
