By B.C. Manion
Coming on the heels of a year that’s been dominated by news of double-digit unemployment and high foreclosure rates, leaders in Hillsborough and Pasco counties want to change the narrative.
Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan led the push to have a ballot measure placed on November’s ballot that allows commissioners to grant a property tax exemption to companies locating or expanding in the county.
In pushing the measure, Hagan argued the county needed another tool to help it spur the economy to create more jobs.
In Pasco County, numerous efforts are under way to lay the groundwork for companies to locate there and to help existing companies flourish and grow.
Pasco is paying attention to both the big picture and the small details, said John Hagen, president and CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council.
Big things — like tax advantages and good accessibility — help make a community attractive to new businesses, Hagen said. But so do less obvious things like clear development codes and an efficient development process.
Pasco is rewriting its code to make it easier to understand, Hagen said. “It’s a process that’s kind of tedious,” he said.
But it goes to the heart of eliminating a complaint by developers, who frequently object to getting mired in a bureaucracy.
“I think they’ve made some real progress,” he said. “It makes us more competitive.”
Several other initiatives also are under way in Pasco County.
The PEDC plans to launch a website soon that will help both new and existing businesses. The website, which will known as the Pasco Economic Network, will pull together the chambers of commerce, SCORE, the PEDC and other economic development groups to help businesses seeking guidance.
The idea is to have a “virtual” place where someone can go to open any door and find someone on the other side that can help them find the resources they need, Hagen said.
Another initiative involves work to develop a strategic economic development plan, an effort being led by Bob Gray, Strategic Planning Group Inc., a consultant hired by the county.
Gray predicts that over the next 20-25 years everything in Pasco County will double, and the Pasco of the future will more closely mirror Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.
Meanwhile, the city of Zephyrhills also hopes to improve its economic climate in the coming year. The city is considering an expansion of its community redevelopment areas, in an effort to fortify the city’s identity and to entice more businesses to set up shop near downtown.
The Economy: What’s in Store for the Year Ahead?
The Pasco Economic Development Council presents a forecast of the U.S. and Florida economies with a look into what the numbers mean locally
Jan. 28, 12-1:30 p.m.
Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club
$25
RSVP to (888) 60-PASCO by Jan. 24
