How does the new economic development plan help small business owners?
This is a great question, but first I would like to provide a little background information for everyone. The Office of Business Development spends quite a bit of time helping our small business owners and entrepreneurs who are not in those “targeted industries.” We routinely answer business startup and growth questions, provide information and resources, and facilitate meetings with various experts within the community such as the chamber of commerce and SCORE. Many business owners look to us as the “answer man,” and we are pleased to assist. The prosperity of small businesses — retailers, service providers and professionals — in our community is an important element in “selling” Hernando County to new and expanding targeted industries. To more accurately address your initial question, I would like to point to one particular item in this year’s plan. We are considering a partnership with the chamber of commerce and the Pasco Economic Development Council to bring a satellite office of
