SMARTstartSMARTstart to Host Fifth Annual GROW Pasco Event for Entrepreneurs
February 10, 2025
GROW Pasco 2024 Keynote Presentation
Johnny Crowder, CEO of Cope Notes, will provide the keynote lunch presentation highlighting mental health and wellness in the business community.
PASCO COUNTY, FLORIDA (February 10, 2025) — SMARTstart is hosting the GROW Pasco event brought to you by our title sponsor E-Assessment, Inc. to help educate business owners throughout Pasco County and provide an environment to network with like-minded entrepreneurs as we explore healthy mindsets to build and thrive. The event will take place on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Saint Leo University Wellness Center in San Antonio, Florida. The event will feature 15 breakout sessions led by over 30 business professionals. The speakers will be covering a wide variety of session topics on areas such as digital trends and artificial intelligence, marketing and social media, and valuable local resources for businesses.
The Pasco EDC entrepreneurship program, SMARTstart, is Penny for Pasco supported and features an innovative suite of programs that provides the tools growing businesses need for long-term success in areas like funding, education, guidance, collaboration, and workspace. SMARTstart has helped create over 525 jobs and currently has 43 incubator members. The members’ businesses vary from numerous food businesses cooking in the East Pasco Incubator Kitchen in Dade City to high-technology companies with offices at SMARTstart at the Grove in Wesley Chapel. All members have access to the three Entrepreneur Centers across Pasco County to provide opportunities to best suit their needs.
GROW Pasco is supported by a group of resource partners involved in the SMARTstart program who provide valuable guidance to entrepreneurs as they navigate the business landscape; the “Community Resources for Small Business” panel discussion at the event will highlight these available resources.
“GROW Pasco provides engaging opportunities for entrepreneurs that are looking to start or grow a business in Pasco County. The session topics are hand-picked from input previous attendees have shared to cover the wants and needs of local businesses,” shared Bill Cronin, Pasco EDC President/CEO.
“We are looking forward to the fifth annual GROW Pasco event. Each year we hear great feedback from attendees who share how much new information they learned and how many connections they made to benefit their business throughout the event,” shared Dan Mitchell, SMARTstart Program Director. “This year’s keynote presentation will highlight mental health and wellness which is a topic that is applicable to all attendees.”
The lunch session will feature keynote speaker Johnny Crowder, a suicide/abuse survivor, TEDx speaker, touring musician, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, and the Founder & CEO of Cope Notes, a text-based mental health platform that provides daily support to users in nearly 100 countries around the world. His presentation will highlight “Wellness and Community”.
“Attending GROW Pasco's networking and learning event was truly enlightening. The event combined informative presentations with networking opportunities. From practical startup advice to innovative growth strategies, the presentations offered a wealth of insights,” shared Billie Welchman, Core Solutions Group LLC CEO and 2024 GROW Pasco attendee. “The networking facilitated meaningful connections and collaborations. Overall, GROW Pasco's event provided a perfect platform for personal and professional growth. I highly recommend it to any entrepreneur seeking to expand their knowledge and network."
To learn more about the GROW Pasco sessions and to register, visit https://smartstartpasco.com/events/details/grow-pasco-2025. The cost is $45 per person and includes a continental breakfast and seated lunch. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
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About Pasco Economic Development Council
The Pasco Economic Development Council is committed to developing Florida's most competitive climate for business growth by providing businesses that seek to start, move, or grow in the North Tampa Bay area, a comprehensive suite of programs that can help them to reach their full economic potential. Since 1987, Pasco EDC has fostered a strong partnership funded by corporate and public investors focused on the economic vitality of Pasco County. Discover more at www.pascoedc.com.