Development News

Pasco County Launches Business Incubator, Dade City

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Pasco County entrepreneurs soon will be able to take advantage of the county's first business incubator.

On Tuesday, January 22nd, the Dade City Commissioners showed support for local entrepreneurs by approving $50,000 to launch the first business incubator in Pasco County; the incubator will be located in the Dade City Business Center on Citrus Villas Lane and managed by a team led by the Pasco Economic Development Council (EDC).

“The incubator project represents a fantastic opportunity for Dade City in job creation, promotion of our community as 'open for business' and supporting entrepreneurship,” says John Moors, executive director of the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce. “We look forward to working with our partners in promoting this new growth while maintaining our unique, old Florida sense of community.”

The Dade City Business Center location will play a big role, helping the Pasco EDC to assist start-up companies or early stage businesses grow, add local jobs and receive necessary technical assistance; Saint Leo University has offered to partner with the EDC on this venture, offering that assistance to start-ups.

“The incubator completes a long-term objective for Saint Leo's Donald R. Tapia School of Business to deepen our support to the local business community and provide opportunities for our students and faculty to engage in creating new businesses,” says School of Business Dean Michael Nastanski.

The incubator coming into fruition has been a year in the making by the Pasco EDC.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: John Moors, Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce; Michael Nastanski, Saint Leo University

Saint Leo U Gets New Turf Stadium, Parking Lot, Pasco County

Tuesday, November 06, 2012

Saint Leo University is celebrating the grand opening and dedication of a new turf stadium and parking garage on its main Pasco County campus.

Ten feet above ground, the new $13 million artificial field sits atop a new 740-space parking garage on the east side of campus near the gym.

One of several improvements Saint Leo has made to its athletic facilities, the surface is able to support 6,000 people and have two fields for intramural sports running perpendicular to the game field for extracurricular activities like football, lacrosse, soccer, ultimate frisbee and kickball.

With Lunz Prebor Fowler of Lakeland as archiect on the project and Clearwater's Creative Contractors, Inc. as contractor, the highly unusual artificial turf structure meets NCAA regulations for men's and women's lacrosse and soccer.

According to Brad Jorgensen, the only men's lacrosse coach in the program's eight-year history, the biggest asset the new field brings is not having to worry about overuse or weather damage.

“We beat up grass. Just the nature of our sport isn't kind to grass. Even the best lacrosse facilities show wear and tear by the end of the season,” Jorgensen says. “I think, long term, not having to deal with resodding and filling in holes is really going to help us out.”

The women's lacrosse team got to experience the new artificial turf game and practice field for the first time during a conditioning session on September 24th; the official grand opening and dedication took place on October 19th.

“[The team] was so excited to get out here. They're really proud of the facility,” says women's lacrosse coach Lesley Graham. “They want to do it justice, play hard, show everybody we're a force to be reckoned with and deserve this first-class facility.”

The Pasco County-based university recently acquired more than 30 acres of land from the Benedictine Sisters of Florida to include in an updated master plan for expansion.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Brad Jorgensen, Saint Leo University

Saint Leo U Acquires 32 Acres, Plans Expansion

Thursday, October 04, 2012

An expansion for Saint Leo University is in the works: The Pasco County-based university recently acquired more than 30 acres of land from the Benedictine Sisters of Florida.

Founded in 1889 by Benedictine monks, Saint Leo University, at 33701 S.R. 52 a few miles west of Dade City, is the oldest Catholic university in Florida, operating independently as a private nonprofit institution embracing Catholic Benedictine values and traditions. The university currently sits on 186 acres in Saint Leo, FL, offering more than 40 academic programs, including associate, bachelor's and master's degrees, as well as the educational specialist (Ed.S.) degree.

“The university continues to grow and meet the ever-changing needs of our students,” says VP of Student Services Ken Posner. “We've been strategic in designing a campus learning environment that works.”

Acquiring 37 acres of the Benedictine Sisters' land holdings, the area includes the Holy Name Monastery, at 33201 S.R. 52 in Saint Leo, directly adjacent to the west end of Saint Leo University's campus. The university plans to use the land for future expansion as enrollment grows, incorporating the space into its updated master plan.

“We have been so blessed to have the Sister's involvement in Saint Leo since our founding as the first Catholic college in Florida,” says university President Arthur F. Kirk, Jr. “The Sisters' work will continue: They will live nearby, their presence will continue to enrich our university and they will be able to see on a daily basis how the addition of this parcel enhances our educational mission.”

The Benedictine Sisters, a community of 16, has been in Pasco County for 123 years and will remain on the existing Holy Name Monastery while a new one is built on the 40 acres of remaining land owned by the Sisters; the project is expected to take approximately two and a half years, including a fundraising effort.

“We plant our roots deep and feel blessed that we can transplant ourselves across the street near the university and in our hometown of Saint Leo,” says Prioress of Holy Name Monastery Sister Roberta Bailey, O.S.B. “We are pleased that the land will remain in the 'family' and continue to be used for educational ministries that uphold the same Benedictine values that the Sisters espouse.”

The six core values currently guiding university life are drawn from the Benedictine tradition, emphasizing a life of prayer, work, community, scholasticism and hospitality.

In September 2011, St. Leo celebrated the opening of the $12 million, 47,921-square-foot Donald R. Tapia School of Business and began an approximately $19 million construction project on two new apartment-style residence halls on the main campus in Pasco County.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Sources: Ken Posner & Dr. Arthur F. Kirk, Jr., Saint Leo University & Sister Roberta Bailey, Benedictine Sisters of Florida

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel Opens To Patients

Tuesday, October 02, 2012

After hosting a community grand opening to approximately 8,000 people, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel opened to patients on October 1st at 7 a.m.

Featuring an 18-bed emergency room with a streamlined emergency room process, dedicated imaging equipment and nurses and board-certified emergency room physicians on-site 24 hours a day, the 200,000-square-foot hospital took 22 months to build.

The hospital was fully staffed with with 175 expert physicians upon opening, practicing in the Emergency Department, Vascular Surgery, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Cardiac Care, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radiology Services and Imaging Diagnostics, Women's Mammography and Diagnostics, General Surgery, Gastroenterology, Urology and Pulmonary.

In addition, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel is expected to open a $25 million, 100,000-square-foot, three-story Wellness Center by January 2013.

“This is part of the continuum of care for the Wesley Chapel community,” says Donna Jarmusz, senior VP of business development for Alter+Care, who is overseeing the construction of the Wellness Plaza project. “The hospital will be treating people who need inpatient care for more serious illness while the Wellness Center is part of the hospital's mission and philosophy to help people improve and maintain their health.”

According to hospital spokeswoman Tracy Clouser, the hospital will continue to fill a number of nursing and various staff positions. To apply, visit the hospital's website.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Sources: Donna Jarmusz, Alter+Care & Tracy Clouser, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel

Dade City Suspends Transportation Impact Fees, Promotes Business Growth

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

In an aggressive attempt to create jobs and economic development in northeast Pasco County, the Dade City commission has decided to suspend transportation impact fees for two years.

“We were looking at ways to spur some growth in Dade City to see what we could to to either help bring business here or assist in growing the businesses currently located here,” says City Manager Billy Poe. “We saw this as the next step to help incentivize businesses to move to the area.”

According to Poe, the city carefully examined the amount of money brought in by the impact fees and found that the numbers had significantly dropped over the past two years. The decision to suspend the fees was made after looking at some other options: either keeping or reducing the fee collection schedule.

Ultimately, the city commissioners decided to suspend the fees to budget for a transportation study that may allow a reduction in fees; the budget will allow the study to see what the fees should really be. Poe says the city felt suspending the fees for a period of time was the best approach.

“We saw that some of the areas surrounding Dade City were starting to look at their TIF [transportation impact fees], so we began evaluating our own,” says Community Development Director Mike Sherman. “We found that our fees were higher than most and want to be competitive. This suspension will give us an extra boost.”

In addition to the suspension of transportation impact fees, the city currently offers several business incentives, as well as county and state incentives. A revision of the land development code is currently in the works in an attempt to speed up the permitting and developing process in Dade City.

According to Sherman, the fee suspension will have no negative impact on road projects.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Billy Poe & John Sherman, Dade City

Saint Leo University's Main Campus In Pasco County Adds Living Spaces, Parking

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Saint Leo University aims to do one thing: Expand your mind while expanding its campus.

As the university continues to make substantial investments to its main campus in Pasco County at 33701 State Road 52, two new apartment-style residence halls and an underground parking garage will be added.

“The university continues to grow and meet the ever-changing needs of our students,” says Ken Posner, V.P. of Student Services at Saint Leo.

As one of the largest Catholic universities in the United States, Saint Leo's total enrollment exceeded 15,500 for the 2010-2011 academic school year. Keeping up with its high volume of students, the university will spend approximately $19 million on the two new residence halls.

University administrators broke ground on the apartment-style residential living spaces in April with completion slated for August 2012. Upon completion, the two new halls will be able to accommodate 300 students, totaling enough living space for about 1,600 students at the lakeside campus.

“These new residence halls will enable students to collaborate with others in living-learning environments that complement their academic pursuits while relaxing and socializing in elaborately designed common spaces,” says Posner. “The addition of our two new residence halls and of a conveniently located parking garage demonstrates our commitment to learning by providing state-of-the-art facilities for student and community engagement.”

Calling on Lunz Prebor Fowler Architects of Lakeland and Creative Contractors Inc. of Clearwater for both of the construction projects, the addition of the new 550-space parking garage will cost Saint Leo approximately $10.5 million; an intramural field constructed on its roof with expected completion within the next year.

“The institution has been strategic in designing a campus learning environment that works,” says Posner.

For more information on Saint Leo University's current construction, visit the official website. To view a live feed of the on-site construction of the new residence halls, click here.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Ken Posner, Saint Leo University

Saint Leo University Opens New Business School

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Saint Leo University recently celebrated the opening of its new business school.

Construction on the $12 million Donald R. Tapia School of Business, a 47,921-square-foot building on the university's main campus in Saint Leo in Pasco County, began in July of 2010. The first new academic building Saint Leo has built in more than 50 years, the new facility was completed in August in time for the 2011-12 school year.

“The Donald R. Tapia School of Business is a visible demonstration to the total Saint Leo community of our commitment to excellence and our commitment to our students. It was built to be a truly state-of-the-art building,” says Michael Nastanski, dean of the School of Business. “In these economic times, when schools have been really holding back because they have to, we didn't do that. We decided to really make an investment that would best benefit our students and they see that. They're really proud, excited and motivated.”

The school features a mix of learning spaces including technology-rich classrooms, seminar rooms, computer labs and an executive lecture hall, and office spaces for faculty and administration. It also has a broadcast and recording studio for video and audio production, and is equipped with SMART Board Technology. Seventy-inch high definition LCD multitouch, multiuser display monitors connected to the Internet, student laptops and cameras -- think giant iPads -- are located in every classroom.

“You're not going to find a better facility anywhere else in the world right now. Walking into one of our classrooms, you're going to get an environment that's just as good as any corporate environment. You're going to get to use tools that are available at any corporation and apply them,” says Nastanski. “This is an opportunity for Tampa Bay students and their parents to have an educational experience that's second to none.”

Funds for the facility were donated by more than 200 private donors, including Donald R. Tapia, an entrepreneur and Saint Leo alumnus who gave $4 million, the largest single gift in university history.

For more information on Saint Leo and the Donald R. Tapia School of Business, visit the School of Business website.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Michael Nastanski, Donald R. Tapia School of Business

Pasco County Adopts New Mobility Fee, Florida

Tuesday, August 02, 2011

By a vote of 5-0, Pasco County's Board of County Commissioners recently voted to replace the county's current transportation impact fee with a new mobility fee, covering costs of transportation infrastructure in the area.

"The old system doesn't work well anymore because margins are thinner, it's tougher to get financing, and, really, it just became a huge cost," says John Hagen, president and CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council (PEDC). "The commissioners have been thinking about this in context of what we're trying to do here in Pasco, in general, which is to get more competitive. The whole point of the new fee is to do two things: create jobs and redirect growth in a way that's healthier for the county."

Under Florida state law, Pasco is the first county in Florida to adopt a mobility fee to replace its current impact fee. In addition to funding roadways, the fee extends itself to mass transit, sidewalks and trails while directing growth away from the undeveloped areas of the county and toward planned urban service areas.

"We [the county and the PEDC] have been working on this since 2008, trying to lower fees, streamline the county's regulations and make permitting easier," says Hagen. "We're really trying to make more of a business-friendly atmosphere here in Pasco and it's starting to pay off."

Unlike other local governments in Florida, the development of Pasco County's unique approach allows the mobility fee to be used as an economic development tool: concentrating the fees of office, industrial and hotel development.

"The idea is to keep the growth in the urban areas, keeping the rural areas rural. If we try to move people in a specific direction, it helps preserve green areas while concentrating growth so cheaper public services can be offered-- residents are getting a twofold benefit," says Hagen. "By putting an incentive on certain types of development, we're really upping the ante and I think it's going to make Pasco terrifically competitive in the Tampa Bay area, as well as the southeastern United States."

Along with PEDC, Pasco County's new mobility fee has been endorsed by the Tampa Bay Builders Association (TBBA), the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA), the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: John Hagen, Pasco Economic Development Council

Pasco Caterer Opens Cake Shop, Dade City

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Experienced Pasco County caterer Vickie West has opened a cake shop in Dade City.

Owner of Celebrate Catering, West's new endeavor, Betty Cakes Cake Shop at 37941 Meridian Ave. celebrated its opening on July 15. Betty Cakes -- a shop full of tasty treats such as cakes, cupcakes, cookies, brownies and cake pops -- was a concept thought up by West's friend of 18 years, Betty Williamson. Williamson currently owns and runs Betty Cakes Cafe in Ocala at 1915 E. Silver Springs Blvd.

"Betty and I have been talking for years about working together. Since I've been catering in the Tampa Bay area for 18 years, and kind of have a reputation for food, it seemed like a natural fit to open a shop," says West. "We are working on the idea of a franchise or license arrangement, making this Betty Cakes just like the one in Ocala."

Funds for the shop came out of pocket from West and her husband, David, while the opening of the shop brings about a few new jobs -- West plans to employ several people to decorate and bake at the Dade City location, formerly the site of restaurant Trixie Dixie's Kitchen.

"We are excited to be in downtown Dade City -- a destination for people who enjoy the cozy, small town feel of the downtown Main Street area," says West. "All of the buildings in the area are looking fabulous and, with several new businesses opening up, everyone is excited about the future; we think it's is a really friendly place. Some of the merchants have even been promoting my shop to their customers -- hopefully this will bring people right to my doorstep."

Betty Cakes will have a grand opening once school is back in session and residents settle down after the summer. Visit the Betty Cakes Cake Shop website and Facebook for updates.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Vickie West, Betty Cakes Cake Shop

Design Matters At Saint Leo's New Business College

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Creative Contractors of Clearwater is working with Lunz Prebor Fowler Architects of Lakeland to build a new College of Business building on Pasco County's Saint Leo University campus. The building will be ready for fall classes in August 2011.

According to Lisa Milam, an architect with Lunz Prebor, the building's design aligns with the teaching method ushered in by new technology.

"The classrooms sit on the exterior," says Milam. "Offices and gathering space is located in the center. We tried to break down the barriers of traditional university design. It was kind of forward thinking on Saint Leo's part. They wanted students and professors to work collaboratively; more as peers."

"The classroom has no front," continues Milam. "White boards surround the perimeter. Each classroom flows toward the center. Casual seating kind of incites people to go and use those spaces. So if they want to continue a discussion after class, they can do that right there. Usually people don't put that extra space in an academic building."

According to Milam, the university plans to implement software that will continue to encourage more integrative and interactive learning.

"Lectures and programs will use collaborative software. that allows students to interact from their laptops and utilize cell conferencing. They can talk from one classroom to another and save a whole lecture to download at their leisure."

Milam says the designers of the $9 million, 50,000-square-foot building are shooting for gold LEED certification.

"Inside the building we introduced light shelves on the inside of the windows to bounce the light further into the classrooms, which are on the exterior, so they already have a lot of natural light. This gives them extra light."

Source: Lisa Milam, Lunz Prebor Fowler Architects
Writer: Missy Kavanaugh

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Pasco County Looks To Entrepreneurs For Growth In Florida's Economy

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

If recent statistics are correct, Pasco County is becoming a haven for the entrepreneurial spirit.

According to data released by YourEconomy.org, businesses employing fewer than 100 employees increased nearly 36 percent throughout Pasco County, and contributed to a 31 percent increase in employment between 2005 and 2007. Given that a recent report by the Small Business Administration indicates that small businesses and entre�preneurs will play important roles in the nation's economic recovery, this may be good news for the expanding communities of Pasco County.

Pasco's leading employers are in the retail and health industries. As in communities throughout the U.S., too many people living in Pasco found themselves out of work as the economy began to slide downward. John Hagen, president and CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council, attributes the spark in small business to displaced workers starting businesses to replace previous employment as
hourly workers for bigger companies.

"We have a strong network of hospitals and other health care providers," says Hagen. "But we have an interesting niche in environmental firms that has spun out of the construction business. We think we could play a key role in clean water, environmental remediation and clean energy."

While it's impossible to predict what will transpire in the next five years, Hagen says he feels optimistic.

"We feel a strong upward momentum developing. The public and private sectors are really joining together in an unprecedented way here in Pasco. It is a very positive economic environment at the moment, despite the negative national and international business environment."

Writer: Missy Kavanaugh
Source: John Hagen, Pasco Economic Development Council

Dade City Plans New Municipal Campus

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Population growth is pushing Dade City, known for its quiet southern charm, to plan for building a new municipal complex to house an expanding police department and consolidated government offices.

The quaint town in northeast Pasco County, known for its antique shops and local eateries, has been attracting more residents with its small town, main street design. To keep up with that growth, the police department anticipates adding staff. There is no additional office space for the officers now.

So recently Date City commissioners hired architect Lisa Wannemacher to do a space needs analysis for the new complex. So far, Wannemacher estimates that the city will need 21,000 to 26,000 more square feet of offices and other facilities in the building. She has proposed closing Fourth Street and developing a campus just east of city hall.

"We want to make sure that this will be big enough for our needs," says Raymond Velboom, Dade City's police chief.

City Manager Billy Poe puts the project cost at about $3.2 million to $3.9 million. Besides offices, it would also include holding cells and facilities for the police department's K-9 unit.

Poe has been a watchdog on the proposed construction and has been working with Velboom on verifying all the space needs. Dade City wants to finance the construction with a combination of grants and loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other government agencies.

Writer: Dave Szymanski

Source: Billy Poe, Dade City

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