SMARTstartIn the News
2022
Pasco’s ‘Ready Sites’ program is attracting companies
December 6, 2022
Laker Lutz News
Pasco County continues to attract manufacturers seeking a place to set up shop, and is headinginto a new fiscal year that will show an increased focus on supporting workforce developmentefforts.
Those were some key take-aways in a report delivered by Bill Cronin, president and CEO of thePasco Economic Development Council (EDC), to the Pasco County Commission.
SMARTstart celebrates 10 years of helping budding entrepreneurs
December 6, 2022
The Suncoast News
A decade ago, the Pasco County Economic Development Council received some seed funding from the Florida High Tech Corridor that hassince, according to the EDC, helped more than 500 participants, at some level, turn their bright ideas into thriving businesses. Funded largely byPenny for Pasco since 2016, the SMARTstart Small Business Program has issued more than $2 million in microloans to 68 recipients and heldnearly 600 classes and events for people who want to start their own businesses.
The organization’s offerings can be broken down into five areas, Dan Mitchell, program director, told Suncoast News: workspace, guidance,education, financing, and collaboration.
Pasco grants $958,206 in economic incentives to plastics manufacturer
December 6, 2022
Tampa Bay Times
NEW PORT RICHEY — With hopes of adding another high-impact, job-producing
manufacturer, the Pasco County Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved
up to $958,206 in economic development incentives for Gary Plastic Packaging
Corporation to move part of its operation from the Bronx to Pasco County.
The company hopes to provide 555 new jobs over the next several years. It would
move portions of its New York-based operation to 279,000 square feet of a
440,000-square-foot industrial building under construction by Harrod Properties
on Shady Hills Road west of the the Suncoast Parkway.
Two industrial buildings are planned for the site with one already committed to
other companies, said Pasco County Economic Growth Manager David Engel. Site
work is underway and construction should start soon, he said.
Gary Plastic is expected to make $66.4 million in investments to the industrial
space over the next three years. Once operating, the new site will generate a
payroll of $22 million and contribute an estimated $102 million to the county
economy. For every $1 in public money, the new company will generate an impact
of $105.55, according to the background material provided to commissioners.
Engel said that the project has been in the works for four years as the company has
sought an appropriate location and a building to house its operation.
Two product lines, promotional products and packaging, and the company’s
executive offices will move to the new site, The 184 jobs that qualified the
company economic incentives will provide an average salary of $54,326, which is
125 percent of Pasco’s average wage.
The company’s website shows that it manufactures a variety of plastic container
products ranging from clear hinged plastic compartment boxes to syringe holders.
The site states that the company has been in business since 1963 and has more
than 500 workers in over 300,000 square feet of offices, manufacturing and
warehouse space.
“The company has been awarded 15 government contracts for producing the
containers and parts for U.S. Treasury Liberty Coin and Proof Set Packaging,” the
company website states.
“Welcome,” said Pasco County Commission chairperson Jack Mariano, who asked
whether the company uses recycled materials. Gary Plastic Plastic Corporation
President Richard Hellinger said that it does. Mariano said he hopes that Pasco’s
recyling program can work with him.
“We’re super excited to expand our operation into Pasco County from New York,”
Hellinger told commissioners.
“We will get you plugged in” with the manufacturing community and training
programs, said Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, a strong supporter of AmSkills, a
training program that prepares the workforce for local industries.
The incentive package to Gary Plastic Packaging will include a portion for the jobs
it creates, dollars because the number of jobs create a high impact and funds for
employee training. All of the incentives are performance-based and would be
awarded over time based on performance benchmarks.
In addition to the financial incentives, Pasco officials have also agreed to expedited
permitting review for the project.
New York manufacturer seeks incentive to move HQ, operations to Pasco County
December 1, 2022
Tampa Bay Business Journal
A plastic packaging manufacturer wants to move its
headquarters and
operations to Pasco County from New York City.
Pasco County Commissioners on Tuesday will vote on
an economic development incentive agreement that
county officials have struck with Gary Plastic
Packaging Corp., which is based in The Bronx.
Engineer meets goal to expand business to Germany
September 23, 2022
SBDC
An engineer by trade, Andrew McCutchen saw a need in the medical device industry. He decided to use his skills to create
Baymar Solutions, a company that specializes in technical services and contract manufacturing. Baymar works largely with
medical device manufacturers, providing
engineering and scientific services to its customers.
Longtime Suncoast electricco-op head honored for community leadership
September 9, 2022
Tampa Bay Times
Billy E. Brown checks all the boxes for being a Pasco County son.
A native of the community, he attended Pasco High School, where hespent one season as first baseman for the baseball team and another asquarterback for the Pirates football squad.
He went away to serve his country in the U.S. Coast Guard, and when hereturned home at the age of 23, he took a job in the one place nearbyseeking employees, the Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative
Billy Brown to receive special PascoEDC honor
September 6, 2022
Laker Lutz News
The Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC) ishonoring Billy E. Brown with its Leadership Award this year.
The economic development organization always singles outone person who has made extraordinary contributions and thisyear, it chose Brown, according to a news release.
Pasco continues attracting big employers
August 23, 2022
Laker Lutz News
Pasco County is on the verge of adding to its mix of employment opportunities, Bill Cronin,president and CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc. (Pasco EDC), announced ata recent Pasco County Commission meeting.
“I anticipate you are going to have a couple of big wins here, before the end of the fiscal year, thatyou’ll be hearing at the board of county commissioners,” Cronin said during the Pasco EDC’s third-quarter report to the board.
Activewear online retailer to invest $15 million in new Pasco Countyheadquarters
February 8, 2022
Business Observer
PASCO COUNTY — NVGTN, an online fitness and lifestyle wear company, is investing $15 million to build a new 100,000-square-foot headquarters in Pasco County.
The Clearwater-based company, whose name is pronounced navigation, has bought property in the Trinity Corporate Center, where it plans to build the facility for its customer service and fulfillment operations. It plans to hire 30 full-time employees.
(Read Full Article)Ecommerce Company NVGTN Building New HQ In Florida
February 8, 2022
Business Facilities
Athletic wear online retail company NVGTN (pronounced “navigation”) plans to invest $15 million in a 100,000-square-foot facility in the Trinity Corporate Center in Pasco County, FL. The company’s new headquarters willhouse both its customer service and fulfillment operations, to which it will add at least 30 new full-time positions.
(Read Full Article)