Strong businesses are the powerhouse of Pasco County. They provide the goods and services we need to live every day. Our locally grown businesses, though, are the heart of our community. With local roots, they support their neighbors in a special way. These local entrepreneurs have a secret weapon in starting and growing their businesses – the SMARTstart program.
The SMARTstart program, part of the Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC), is dedicated to helping local entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. “Economic development traditionally has been about recruiting new businesses to come to town and helping our existing industries expand, and the Pasco EDC does that very well,” explained SMARTstart Program Director, Dan Mitchell. “The Pasco EDC is unique in that we also have this strong entrepreneur support program, because if we can grow businesses up from the ground, they’re more likely to stay here. They have roots in the community.”
The SMARTstart program is dedicated to growing local businesses through several programs, each focused on guiding businesses through the hurdles faced at various stages. “When you come into SMARTstart the first time, I ask you, ‘What’s holding you back’? And there’s usually one of five responses. It might be workspace, collaboration, education, funding or guidance,” shared Mitchell. Dan has found that the biggest reason holding someone back hits closer to home. “The more human answer is, I think, fear, and it’s the reason these five areas work, because it’s really fear of the unknown. They know they want to start a business, but something’s holding them back. Another is being alone. In the employee world, you have a water cooler, conference rooms, Zoom calls, colleagues. In starting your own business, your family might not even be rooting for you. People alongside you, rooting for you, makes a big difference,” added Mitchell.
For those just starting out, the CO.STARTERS program, a nine-week bootcamp, is a great fit. Groups of six to twelve entrepreneurs meet once a week, focusing on education, collaboration and guidance. “We go through the whole business model, taking their idea and turning it into reality,” said Mitchell. While great for those honing their business idea, existing owners have found value in the program as well. “We had a gentleman who had been in business for 40 years, owning a cleaning company, but it was just him. He took CO.STARTERS to take this job he had built and turn it into a business he could sell and retire from,” explained Mitchell.
Once your business idea is established, the SMARTstart business incubator program can help bring it to life. “It provides everything but funding - workspace, education, collaboration, monthly coaching with guidance,” explained Mitchell. There are three incubators in the county. Food businesses have unique options (including access to a commercial kitchen) at the Dade City incubator. The Wesley Chapel incubator is tailor made for tech businesses. The Holiday incubator is targeted at inventors and other innovative businesses. “If a food entrepreneur joins in Dade City, but they want to have a focus group of clients in Holiday, they can reserve the classroom in Holiday and it’s the same if they need to work in Wesley Chapel for the day,” explained Mitchell. The incubator program limits participation to two years, but is a great opportunity to build a business with quick access to resources at a stage when they’re most needed.
Both the CO.STARTERS and the incubator programs come at a cost, but the county offsets the costs of these services, making them very affordable. “Penny for Pasco is where most of our funding comes from, so that helps our fees be low. Our incubator membership starts at $100 per month,” said Mitchell. The CO.STARTERS program requires a fee of $345. For both programs, there are scholarships available to help those who need extra help to get started. They also offer a microloan program for those unable to secure traditional funding through local banks.
It’s clear the SMARTstart program is having a positive impact. Since inception over 600 businesses have launched through the program, bringing more than 900 jobs to Pasco County. Many of those business owners make a point of coming back to support the next generation of entrepreneurs working their way through the program, as mentors and guest speakers. Continuing the cycle of putting fear aside to bring new ideas, and the gift of growth, to Pasco County.
“They know they want to start a business, but something’s holding them back.”