New Port Richey

A revitalized and evolving downtown business district showcases New Port Richey’s unique blend of natural resources, recreation, history, arts and culture. Playful City USA honored West Pasco County’s best known city as one of its top picks for 2009 because of its many recreational opportunities for residents. Fun spots include a Skate Park, a $14 million aquatic center and wi-fi ready Sims Park.

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Names Tampa Bay Area Finalists

By Matt Spencer

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Buzz

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May 18, 2010

Ernst & Young -- one of the leading professional service organizations in the world -- announced the Florida finalists for the 2010 Entrepreneur of the Year award, which included 15 businesspeople from Tampa, New Port Richey and St. Petersburg. The company also announced the Florida Lifetime Achievement Award recipient is Lewis Hay III, chairman and CEO of FPL Group, Inc. Hay's utility company is based in Juno Beach and serves customers in Manatee and Sarasota counties.The regional honors will be done in June, with the national awards following in November.Read the complete story.

Premier Community Healthcare Adds Jobs To Meet Growing Needs In Pasco

By Brad Stager

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Health

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May 18, 2010

Providing high-quality access to healthcare treatment and services to people who need it greatly but have no insurance and little money to pay is a challenge that has become more common in recent times. Premier Community Healthcare Group, Inc., a Pasco County medical practice, embraces that challenge as a business model and is growing as a result of it. Premier was founded in 1979 and operates as community family healthcare centers in Zephyrhills, Dade City and a recently opened clinic in New Port Richey. A full range of services are provided, including adult and pediatric care, OB GYN, dental and behavioral health. Premier CEO Kim Schuknecht says finding solutions that will improve patients' lives is part of the joy in doing the work she and her staff perform. "Working in a community health center is very challenging and somewhat frustrating at times, but also extremely rewarding. The majority of our patients are uninsured so the challenge comes in finding the resources to meet their oftentimes complicated medical issues." Susan Hutson, Premier's director of marketing and development, says part of the answer is in how health is viewed at Premier. "Because of the nonprofit "higher calling," our approach is more holistic," she says.Some of the openings Premier is hoping to staff with professionals who are motivated by a sense of community service include a pediatrician, medical office manager, ARNP and office and housekeeping positions. These are salaried positions, but Schuknecht says there's a non-monetary bonus as well. "The reward? Knowing at the end of the day that we have done something to improve the health and well-being of those who would otherwise go without quality care. That's a good day at Premier!"Writer: Brad StagerSource: Susan Hutson, Premier Community Healthcare Group

One Bay, One Vision: Mega-Meeting To Connect Tampa Bay Leaders

By Missy Kavanaugh

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Development News

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April 13, 2010

On April 16, leaders from across Tampa Bay will meet to discuss sustainable growth. One Bay, the group hosting the meeting, has deemed the event the Congress of Regional Leaders. The One Bay Liveable Communities Initiative is a "regional visional process" that grew from the Tampa Bay Partnership Regional Research and Education Foundation. It is committed to long-term thinking and planning to make the seven counties that comprise the Tampa Bay region a thriving and sustainable mega region by the year 2050. The counties included in the initiative are Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee and Sarasota. The April 16 meeting is a culmination of polls, surveys and workshops that resulted from the Reality Check of 2007. The data collected indicates a need and desire for a more proactive and deliberate approach to planning. "When we looked at the data, it was interesting because there were common guiding principles across transit, water and environmental areas," explains Betty Carlin, a spokesperson for the Tampa Bay Partnership. "It's telling us these are the things that people think are important. People really don't want to see growth happen as it has in the past. We want to do it differently. So now we have to put community leaders together to share the vision and make it happen." Dan Mahurin, chairman of SunTrust Bank and chair of One Bay, sees the meeting as a celebrated outcome as well as an exciting launch. "This event is a celebration of several years of great input and hard work from across the community to develop a shared vision for Tampa Bay. It is also a turning point for us to bring leaders back together to begin planning how we can implement this vision." The meeting will take place at the Tampa Convention Center from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Writer: Missy KavanaughSource: Dan Mahurin, SunTrust

Obama’s Offshore Drilling Policy Impacts Florida’s West Coast, Tampa Bay

By Matt Spencer

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Buzz

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April 6, 2010

National Public Radio reports on President Obama's decision to allow offshore drilling along the Atlantic coast and northern Alaska, if scientists conclude the areas are suitable for extraction. The plan could expand to include drilling in the Gulf of Mexico by 2022 pending the expiration of a long-held ban.Read the complete story.

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

By Missy Kavanaugh

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Development News

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April 6, 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 entrepreneurs 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 KavanaughSource: John Hagen, Pasco Economic Development Council

AAA Auto Club South Rides The Recession, Posts Several Jobs

By Lisa Clementi

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Innovation News

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March 30, 2010

AAA Auto Club South, headquartered in Tampa with nearly 3,000 employees companywide, has a wide variety of professional level vacancies in the Tampa Bay region. Openings being filled in Tampa include positions in management, sales, marketing and publication production. "AAA Auto Club South weathered the recession well and continues to grow,'' says Nanci Odom, human resources VP."We have many exciting career opportunities available at www.AAA.com that cover a wide range of fields, from travel & insurance agents, call takers and service technicians to IT, accounting and marketing professionals to just name a few,'' Odom says. "AAA has been around for over 100 years and we'll be here for another 100 and more. AAA is relentless in our commitment to provide the highest level of service to our members and the best work environment for our employees." Founded in 1902 as the American Automobile Association, this association of independent clubs is a not-for-profit, fully tax-paying organization with more than 50 million members. Known originally for providing emergency road service, maps and travel publications, AAA has a wide range of travel services and member-benefit programs. Writer: Lisa Clementi Source: Nancy Odom, AAA Auto Club South

Koala Tee In Sarasota Adds New Account Manager For Florida Suncoast

By Lisa Clementi

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General

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March 30, 2010

Koala Tee, an apparel manufacturer specializing in embroidered items, promotional products and company gift items has added new Account Manager Rob Harman, for the Florida Suncoast region. Harmon brings 17 years of experience in the imprinted sportswear industry and is a 30-year resident of Sarasota. Harman will be responsible for new business development for Koala Tee's products in a territory that ranges from Tampa to Fort Myers. "We have a great base of long-time customers; however, we know our core concentration should be bringing small businesses who need help increasing their marketing/branding efforts," says Carmen Manley, VP of business development. Adding an additional experienced account manager will help this business focus, and, if increased outside sales efforts prove successful, Koala Tee plans to expand more outside sales force to further penetrate existing territory, she says. Koala Tee, Inc, was started in 1983 in Sarasota as a trophy shop doing mainly team uniforms. The organization has since expanded and now occupies a nearly 11,000-square-foot facility in downtown Sarasota where a team of embroiderers does all made-to-order work in-house. Manley says quality control is one advantage of doing much of their production work in-house. Koala Tee also owns and operates Life Safety International, a company that sells men's clothing to retail stores on military bases throughout the world. Koala creates catalogs that include military fashion designs that mirror current fashions. The company also started selling the Red Shirt Fridays " I support our troops" line of apparel and products. Writer: Lisa Clementi Source: Carmen Manley, Koala Tee

Interior Design Firm In Tampa Seeks Additional Subcontractors

By Lisa Clementi

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Architecture

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March 23, 2010

Studio LTR, a Tampa-based interior design firm specializing in residential projects involving new construction and renovations, plans to hire additional subcontractors in 2010. Linda Cox, one of the company partners, says the business is in a growth pattern and is adding more projects and participating in commercial and high-end residential work. Cox says her business employs a wide variety of talented subcontractors, ranging from licensed building contractors who pull permits and work on multistory buildings projects to architects, who sign and seal drawings. Various craftsmen specializing in textile work are also employed as subs. Cox describes her firm's role as "the conduit'' between a client who has a vision for what he or she wants and the architect and construction experts who can make it happen. The firm is akin to "a ringmaster in a circus,'' she says. Every project is different, and none is typical, she says, pointing out that projects can range from remodeling an exercise room in a large multistory condo to doing a bathroom remodel for a 1960s ranch style home. Through the end of March, Studio LTR is a participating design firm in the Florida Orchestra Designer Showcase at Ovation in downtown St. Petersburg. Two fully decorated condos by Studio LTR are on display at the Showcase at 180 Beach Drive NE. Proceeds benefit The Florida Orchestra. Writer: Lisa Clementi Source: Linda Cox, Studio LTR

Desalination Plant Earns SWFTMD Funding

By Matt Spencer

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Buzz

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March 16, 2010

Tampa Bay Water will receive $31.25 million in construction funding from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The Tampa Bay Seawater Desalination plant successfully completed a four-part test to turn seawater into high-quality drinking water for the 2.5 million residents it serves in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties.Read the complete story

Morton Plant North Bay Hospital Opens New Medical Campus

By Carter Gaddis

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Development News

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March 16, 2010

Morton Plant North Bay Hospital in New Port Richey opened a new medical tower and new medical arts building in February, part of a $49 million expansion that continues throughout this year. "By doubling the size of our campus and adding the latest available technology and equipment, the expansion in effect creates a new hospital campus," says John Couris, CEO of Morton Plant North Bay Hospital. The three-story, 45,000-square-foot Starkey Medical Tower brings the total of patient beds at Morton Plant North Bay Hospital to 154, a 25 percent increase. Also included in the tower are a new intensive care unit, a cardiac unit, a surgical unit, new respiratory care services and a community education center. The four-story, 56,000-square-foot Medical Arts Building features the hospital's outpatient care center, a four-bed sleep disorders center and rehab facilities. Patient registration will take place at the Medical Arts Building, which is connected to the hospital by a covered walkway. Also included at the Medical Arts Center are offices for primary care physicians and specialists. Additional renovation and expansion planned for 2010 includes a fitness trail with exercise stations, improvements and additions to the emergency room, renovations to the Mitchell Rehabilitation Hospital and a physicians lounge. Writer: Carter GaddisSource: Beth Hardy, BayCare Health System