The Pasco County Economic Development Council is gearing up to celebrate international trade at its Growing Global event, which will feature experts in international trade and give local business owners insights about available resources to help them if they’d like to go global.
The event is set for Feb. 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Florida Avenue Brewing Company, 2029 Arrowgrass Drive, in Wesley Chapel.
The lineup includes a panel discussion of international trends, experts and resource partners sharing their knowledge about what’s happening globally and how to expand business opportunities through exporting to other parts of the world.
Those attending will be able to hear from speakers from Canada and Mexico, Bill Cronin, president and CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC) told members of the Pasco County Commission during their Jan. 23 meeting.
“We are looking at a large regional mission going into Canada later this year, So, it’s a good time for a kick-off,” Cronin said.
Commissioner Jack Mariano noted that Canada is Florida’s largest trading partner.
Cronin agreed: “They sure are. Not just trade, but foreign direct investment and home ownership.”
Commissioner Kathryn Starkey encouraged Cronin to put the word out to the county’s business partners to encourage them to attend the Growing Global event.
Pasco has been ramping up its efforts to expand its international trade in recent years.
It scored a win late last year when Bauducco Foods, a Brazilian-based company, announced it would be investing $200 million in a new facility in Zephyrhills, with the intention of creating 600 new jobs in the coming decade.
The effort to attract the company involved Pasco County’s economic growth department, the Pasco EDC, the City of Zephyrhills, the state of Florida and others.
The facility will produce and distribute its baked items across the United States.
That’s just one example of Pasco attracting foreign investment.
Santander Consumer USA set up shop in a former Super Target store on State Road 54, near the Suncoast Parkway, which had been vacant for about four years.
Over time, it is expected to generate 875 jobs. Santander, which is investing $22 million in Pasco County, is owned by Banco Santander located in Spain.
But these are just two examples of international investment in Pasco. Some local businesses also have waded into the world of exporting their products to other countries.
Plus, Speros — Moffitt Cancer Center’s Pasco campus that’s now under construction — is expected to attract life science and research companies from around the world, as the internationally known cancer research center develops.
Speros is in the heart of an emerging community known as Angeline, which is west of U.S. 41 and south of State Road 52, in Central Pasco.
Those interested in finding out more about Growing Global can visit the Pasco EDC website at PascoEDC.com.
Published February 07, 2024
