We are acquiring information on possible damages to Pasco County businesses. This information is important in obtaining assistance for businesses that may have been damaged by the recent storm. Please click on the link below to access a quick survey which will only take a few minutes to complete.
Survey link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7PTWBS7
We appreciate your time and feel free to call the office if you have any questions: 813-926-0827
Small businesses on the West Coast of the U.S. are far more social-media savvy than those on the East Coast, with the exception of Tampa Bay, which ranks in the top ten of places for social media savvy small businesses.
Makes sense to us, which is why we’ve got social madness here in Pasco County. Our goal with social media is to tell Pasco County’s story locally and to an unlimited audience around the world… why? Because business leaders, CEOs, site selectors, entrepreneurs and everyone needs to know the amazing things that are happening right here in Pasco County, and Tampa Bay!
Are you following us? If not its time we get social!
The Pasco Economic Development Council, Inc. is helping put out fires in Tampa Bay, literally, by awarding its fifth microloan to Suncoast Fire Safety. Suncoast Fire Safety is located in New Port Richey.
“This microloan will help grow our inventory supply and upgrade our equipment,” said Richard Norwood, CEO of Suncoast Fire Safety. “Additionally, it will enable us to expand into the first aid and emergency light field to a greater extent than what we are doing at this time.”
In business since 1971, Suncoast Fire Safety provides assistance to the State of Florida Fire Marshalls by helping businesses keep in compliance with state and local fire safety laws. One way they do this is by supplying fire extinguishers and fire suppression systems to Tampa Bay area businesses from Ocala to Sarasota, and Tampa to Orlando.
“It’s great to be able to help a local business that is helping other area businesses,” said John Hagen, President/CEO of Pasco EDC. “Ironically, We are trying to use our microloan program to set the entrepreneurial world on fire; Suncoast Fire Safety is trying to help these same businesses put fires out.”
The Pasco EDC microloan fund is creating an enormous amount of energy in the small business community of Pasco County. “We’ve received hundreds of calls inquiring about the microloan program and several applications are in the works,” said Krista Hakes, Pasco EDC’s Economic Development Manager. The large number of inquiries shows the depth of entrepreneurial activity in Pasco County, and Pasco EDC is urging banks and other companies to consider donating to the fund.
The Pasco EDC microloan fund was established to help local entrepreneurs who cannot obtain traditional financing to grow their business and create jobs. Companies who need help obtaining non-traditional financing and are headquartered in Pasco County, or planning to locate in Pasco County, should consider applying for a microloan.
Borrowers must show they have the experience and resources to be successful business operators. Proceeds may be used for working capital, inventory, supplies, furniture, fixtures, machinery and equipment, but not to purchase real estate or to refinance existing debt. Please visit www.pascoedc.com or call 813-926-0827 for more information.
Looking for a job? Come to the East Pasco Job Fair at the Dade City Business Center on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 from 11am to 3pm
Location:
Dade City Business Center
The Hornbuckle Room
15000 Citrus Country Drive Dade City, FL 33523
www.CareerCentral.jobs connects employers with jobseekers.
An equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice telephone numbers on this flyer may be reached by persons using TYY/TDD equipment via the Florida relay service at 711.
EMPLOYERS Register for a free booth today! Please contact Kristie Drinosky at 813-841-5389 or 352-200-3020 x 0245 kdrinosky@careercentral.jobs
Krista Hakes is one of six people in Florida who have completed the Economic Gardening Certification through the Florida Economic Gardening Institute (GrowFL).
Hakes, Economic Development Manager for Pasco Economic Development Council, Inc., is now a certified “Economic Gardening Program Director” and working to implement the job creation program within the community.
“The courses took a significant amount of training, reading, and online web classes,” said Hakes. “I learned Economic Gardening concepts, history and how the program can greatly benefit our businesses and community.”
Economic gardening is a program started in Littleton, Colorado, which emphasizes helping local growth companies with 10-50 employees. These companies have been shown to be the best prospects in general for job creation. The Economic Gardening certification serves to encourage the Economic Gardening movement– an entrepreneurial approach to economic development. It also was created to encourage communities to use Economic Gardening tools, concepts, and practices proven to produce jobs and wealth.
Pasco EDC has already begun to implement Economic Gardening initiatives through its CEO Roundtables, technical assistance programs through GrowFL and Pasco Enterprise Network (PEN), and recent microloan funding program.
“We are working hard to foster an environment of entrepreneurship and innovation here in Pasco County,” said John Hagen, President/CEO of Pasco EDC. “Economic Gardening gives us even more tools to support local businesses and entrepreneurs. This will lead to more jobs in the near future.”
In a recent article CNN Money profiles Florida and the other ten states that made the top ten. Why did Florida make the top ten? Here’s the facts they give:
It was mentioned in this article that soon Florida would soon have a one-stop shop state online portal where entrepreneurs can access all the information they need to start a business. WAIT A MINUTE! We already have that in Pasco County! It’s called the Pasco Enterprise Network, and it has already helped hundreds of local entrepreneurs connect with the right people to help their small business.
Pasco EDC has even started a microloan fund to help small businesses and entrepreneurs who can’t receive traditional financing. Four loans have been given out and more are on the way.
The Silicon Valley began out of an environment of entrepreneurship, and has grown into one of the United State’s most recognized technology hubs. Tampa Bay is on the rise, and companies will want to get on board to be a part of history in the making. We’ve got room to grow in Tampa Bay, why not join the entrepreneurial vibe in Pasco County.
Source: CNN Money: 10 most entrepreneurial states
LUNCH AND LEARN:
Tuesday, June 26th 11:30 am – 1:00 pm is your chance to enhance your professional development and become a better manager while understanding yourself and others better. Pasco Economic Development Council is excited to host a class on “How to Run a Great Meeting and Manage Your Life” offered by the Corporate Training Department of PHCC.
Location:
Pasco Hernando Community College (Building C, Room 205)
New Port Richey Campus
10230 Ridge Road
New Port Richey, FL 34654
Chad Carter, owner of Tampa Bay Urodynamics, a mobile medical testing company, is proud to be the next recipient of a microloan from the Pasco Economic Development Council.
Carter found out about the microloan program from an unlikely source, his Golden Retriever named Jackson. “I took my dog for a walk,” Carter said, “and next thing you know he is tearing into a neighbor’s newspaper. When I bent down to get it away from him, I saw the headline about a microloan to help small businesses.”
The microloan enabled Carter to purchase upgraded equipment to expand his company’s services.
Carter is an enthusiastic, charismatic entrepreneur who has worked in medical sales since 1996. During that time he noticed a strong need for urodynamics testing in the Bay area. In 2006, he opened Tampa Bay Urodynamics (TBU). TBU offers testing and pelvic floor rehab therapy for patients with common medical issues like frequency and urgency, and offers patients an option other than medicine or surgery for incontinence. TBU provides physicians with cost-effective and efficient in-office urodynamic studies for patients, without incurring the expenditures normally associated with providing these services, and relieves physicians from having to refer their patients to a hospital or surgery center.
The Pasco EDC microloan fund was established to help local entrepreneurs who cannot obtain traditional financing to grow their business and create jobs. Pasco EDC is urging companies who need help obtaining non-traditional financing and are headquartered in Pasco County, or planning to locate in Pasco County, to consider applying for a microloan.
Borrowers must show they have the experience and resources to be successful business operators. Proceeds may be used for working capital, inventory, supplies, furniture, fixtures, machinery and equipment, but not to purchase real estate or to refinance existing debt. Please visit www.pascoedc.com for more information on how to apply, or call Pasco EDC at 813-926-0827 to consider donating to the fund.