Beauty, Thriving Business

Central Pasco residents enjoy the best of both worlds. They enjoy living in an area surrounded by a community of neighborhoods, great schools and community events that are supported with a tradition and history, and a thriving business community. This part of Pasco County is experiencing business growth, as evidenced by the number of office and retail construction sites visible along State Road 54 and U.S. 41.

When asked what is special about doing business in Central Pasco, Kathy Dunkley, executive director for the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, cited the beauty of the area with its hundred lakes sprinkled throughout Land O' Lakes, making it a scenic landscape. The growth in population in this area holds promise for businesses and a prosperous future.

As a key resource for local businesses, the Pasco Economic Development Council works to attract and retain businesses. A drive along the junction of the Suncoast Parkway and S.R. 54 makes visible the construction projects that indicate that business growth has not stopped in Central Pasco. The Marriott Residence Inn that opened in 2007 hosts business conferences, and Fortune 500 companies are looking to locate here.

In Land O' Lakes, the Connerton development will include 3 million square feet of retail, medical and commercial space. A 50-bed, long-term acute-care facility and a 90,000-square-foot medical office building are under construction. The real beauty of Connerton is the promised lifestyle, which offers parks, restaurants, shopping, schools and a well-appointed community in which to live, work and play. People are becoming more conscious of living near their place of work, and we are developing the way to do that right here in Central Pasco.

Lorraine Lane, president of the chamber and a business coach, said the chamber holds many workshops on marketing, networking, business planning, sales and entrepreneurship for its members and business owners in the community. Workshops have been well-attended, and there are plans to offer more education so that our businesses can thrive, not just survive. The chamber's message is "do business with a chamber member when you can."