A Pasco County program aimed at helping aspiring entrepreneurs launch and grow small businesses has now assisted more than a thousand business owners since its founding.
SMARTstart Pasco offers workspace, education, funding, guidance, and collaboration — essentially anything a new company needs to clear the initial hurdles of getting started and growing, according to Dan Mitchell, assistant vice president of entrepreneurship with Pasco EDC, which runs the program.
The program includes incubators such as a full-scale commercial kitchen available to those pursuing culinary businesses, and currently has 57 businesses operating out of its incubator space. Participants can use the facilities to launch a retail business, food truck, or packaged goods intended for sale at grocery stores. The program also offers about five classes per month on various business topics, along with a micro-loan for which aspiring owners can apply.
One recent participant is Tania Marrero Gonzalez, a Puerto Rico native who used SMARTstart Pasco to launch Vlania’s Tres Leches and Pasteleria, a food truck now operating in a Dade City shopping plaza. Gonzalez, who previously worked in education alongside Hispanic families, wanted to create a bakery that reflects her cultural heritage and offers a sense of belonging to the community.
Mitchell says the program is especially well-suited to a fast-growing area like Pasco County. More information is available at smartstartpasco.com.
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