ISI, Woof Gang and Rita’s Open This November in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel
There’s a buzz in Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel with the opening of two highly anticipated additions: ISI Elite Training and Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming! Now officially open, both of these dynamic businesses bring unique offerings to the community. Whether you’re looking to elevate your fitness game or pamper your furry friends, ISI Elite Training and Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming are ready to welcome and serve you. Stop by, explore their services, and join us in supporting these incredible new members of our community!
And the excitement doesn’t stop there. Get ready for a treat on Monday, November 4th, as Rita’s Italian Ice will officially open its doors! Mark your calendars for a sweet start to the week and enjoy their classic frozen treats—perfect for our Florida sunshine.
Now Leasing: The Flats at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel
Looking for a place to call home in the heart of Wesley Chapel? The Flats at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel are now leasing, located at 4424 Friendly Way. Each unit comes with a host of desirable features, including granite
countertops, stainless steel appliances, and essential utilities—water, sewer, trash, cable, internet, and pest control—all included in your rent.
For a limited time, enjoy an exclusive movein special with one-month free rent! Visit the Leasing Center at 33613 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel, FL, call 813-851-4228, or go to TheFlatsAtAvalonPark.com to learn more and schedule a tour.
Don’t miss out on all the exciting happenings in Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel! Come by, explore, and connect with your community today.
Coffee with Beat: The Privilege of Voting
One of the greatest privileges we have in the United States of America is our right to vote at the federal, state, and local levels.
As the late former President Lyndon B. Johnson once said, “The right to vote is the basic right without which all others are meaningless. It gives people, people as individuals, control over their own destinies.” And, in the words of the late former President Franklin D. Roosevelt, “Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves, and the only way they could do this is by not voting.”
There is some good news on voter turnout: the 2020 presidential election had the highest turnout (around 66%) since 1900! And with the numbers coming in from early voting, the 2024 voter turnout is looking just promising. It is showing that, by and large, the American people treasure the right to vote.
When I moved to the US from my native Switzerland some three decades ago, I was surprised to find that the US has a strong tradition of direct democracy. Not only can you vote for political candidates, but there are also direct ballot measures, similar to those in Switzerland. Although in the US, placing a constitutional amendment on the ballot requires collecting signatures equal to 8% of the last presidential election’s voter turnout— currently about 900,000 signatures in Florida. In Switzerland, you can get anything on a federal level on the ballot by collecting 100,000 signatures, or trigger a nationwide referendum to reverse a decision made by the national parliament with just 50,000 signatures. This is why, in Switzerland, there’s almost always some vote or election to participate in.
And while presidential elections in the US are on everyone’s mind (and around the globe, in fact), let’s not forget that there are numerous state and local positions, along with amendments, to be voted on. Washington is important, but what happens right in our own backyard is just as crucial—if not more so.
So, I encourage you, no matter how you vote, PLEASE VOTE and exercise your most basic right.
Congratulations to our Spooktacular 2024 Front Porch Decorating Contest winners!
- First Place: Erica Saalfield
- Second Place: Roxsana and Delvis Hechevarria
- Third Place: Kathryn Pace
Thank you to everyone who brought some spooky spirit to our community with your amazing decorations! Wishing you all a Happy Halloween from everyone at Avalon Park!
LEARN
WORK
Pasco EDC Announces 2025 Executive Committee Leaders
After serving on the board of directors for seven years, Staceyann Sinclair Jibbison now leads as chair.
Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC) is pleased to announce the 2025 Executive Committee for its Board of Directors (Board). This year the Board will be led by Staceyann Sinclair Jibbison, Chair, Rasmussen University, Paul Manuel, Vice Chair, Coastal Design Consultants, Alain Fernandez, Secretary/ Treasurer, Suncoast Credit Union, and Michele Leo Hintson, Immediate Past Chair, Shumaker, Loop, and Kendrick.
“As we enter a new year, it is pivotal to have our Board members deeply involved, and we are particularly looking forward to working with this year’s Executive Committee, which is made up of a group of amazing business leaders who are committed to the overall growth of Pasco County and our organization,” shared Bill Cronin, President/CEO, Pasco EDC.
The Executive Committee meets several times throughout the year and provides guidance and support to assist in driving the Pasco EDC mission of stimulating balanced and diversified business growth. The knowledge, leadership, and guidance from these business leaders provides the organization with a variety of viewpoints and expertise that allow Pasco EDC to continue to
The Soule
evolve and support the Pasco County business community.
“I am truly honored to step into this new role as Chair of the Pasco Economic Development Council’s Board of Directors. Pasco County’s dynamic growth and vibrant business climate are inspiring, and I look forward to collaborating with the board, local leaders, and community partners to continue driving sustainable development and creating new opportunities,” said Staceyann Sinclair Jibbison, Vice President of Campus Operations, Rasmussen University and incoming Pasco EDC Board Chair. “Together, we will build on the successes of the past and ensure Pasco remains Florida’s top destination for business growth and innovation.” Read Jibbison’s full biography, here.
The Board meets six times per year and has numerous engagement opportunities. These opportunities include task forces that cover topics such as Innovation and Technology and Business Connections and also committees that discuss economic development topics related to workforce, marketing, international relationships, and entrepreneurship. The Pasco EDC currently has 97 investors and 45 Board and Policy Council members. If you are interested in learning more about how to get involved with Pasco EDC or its investors, you can visit the website to make connections and find additional contact information.
About Pasco Economic Development Council
The Pasco Economic Development Council is committed to developing Florida’s most competitive climate for business growth by providing businesses that seek to start, move, or grow in the North Tampa Bay area, a comprehensive suite of programs that can help them to reach their full economic potential. Since 1987, Pasco EDC has fostered a strong partnership funded by corporate and public investors focused on the economic vitality of Pasco County. Discover more at www.pascoedc.com.
Co. Expands into 127,820 Square
Foot
Space at North Tampa Bay 75 Business Center
Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC) is thrilled to congratulate The Soule Co. (Soule) on its second major expansion in less than four years. The woman-owned manufacturing company will occupy 127,820 square feet at North Tampa Bay 75 Business Center (North Tampa Bay 75), where they will hire 10 new employees, and invest $400,000 in new racking systems and facility buildout. The company now has three locations and employs 100 people throughout Pasco County, Florida, where they manufacture and package medical supplies. This facility will allow the company to expand its existing medical device manufacturing operations.
“Soule has continued to grow and thrive in Pasco County; they are a prime example of why Pasco EDC focuses on providing resources and opportunities to our existing industry,” shared Bill Cronin, President/CEO, Pasco EDC. “They are creating new jobs for our residents, and I am happy they continue to see all that our county has to offer them and there is no need to look anywhere else.”
Soule is a manufacturer and distributor of disposable and reusable patient positioning products. Its positioners are designed and manufactured to reduce pressure management injuries such as pressure sores ulcers, tissue ischemia, and necrosis. Soule has a foam positioning product line that is innovative, flexible, and constantly growing. The company manufactures, packages, and distributes from its Pasco County locations. This allows them the unique ability and willingness to customize products to meet customer needs.
This expansion will help increase production and productivity to support the needs that are being driven by new and extended contracts with medical group purchasing organizations throughout North America. Soule has recently experienced unprecedented growth due to its dedication to quality and service the company provides to the medical industry with its patient positioning products.
“Our outstanding reputation for manufacturing these quality products within the medical industry has propelled this growth and continues to open new doors of opportunity,” shared Lindsey Osborne, President, The Soule Co. “We have greatly appreciated the continued support that Pasco EDC has provided to our company and employees through hiring opportunities and training. Our goal is to continue to grow in Pasco County and provide a great place for people to work within our community.”
“The Pasco County/ROOKER partnership took a surplus county property, paying no ad valorem taxes, and created a major employment and tax-generating business park,” said Pasco Board of County Commissioners Chairman Ron Oakley. “ROOKER has been a reliable partner delivering on its obligations to Pasco County.”
In 2019, the Pasco Board of County Commissioners approved a $3.7 million Penny for Pasco forgivable loan to ROOKER to build North Tampa Bay 75, a Class-A industrial park, to meet the demands of Pasco’s rapidly growing industrial sectors. ROOKER closed on the purchase of the 85-acre property in December 2021, with the intention of redeveloping a surplus county-owned property. Building one is a 187,000 square foot facility designed to accommodate multiple tenants. It was completed in 2023 and is located within half a mile of the I-75 interchange at Overpass Road in Wesley Chapel. ROOKER will invest an additional $2 million in tenant improvements to modify the facility for the two tenants.
“The Soule Co. expanding into this new speculative space is a great example of why we support preserving certain areas for industrial growth. By having inventory available at this size, a local company was able to expand operations for the second time in four years and remain in Pasco County,” shared Seth Weightman, Pasco Board of County Commissioners, District 2.
The remaining 59,180 square feet of building one has been leased to a Fortune 1,000 company in the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) industry.
“The leasing success we have achieved at North Tampa Bay 75 Business Center is a testament to the vision and commitment of Pasco County’s leadership,” said John Rooker, CEO of ROOKER. “The County has made substantial investments in recent years in infrastructure, road improvements, and even a new I-75 interchange in this area. Those investments are now attracting high quality employers to locate and grow in the area.”
North Tampa Bay 75 can accommodate up to 850,000 square feet of Class-A industrial space in four buildings. Future buildings within the park can accommodate tenants ranging in size from 40,000 square feet up to 300,000 square feet. ROOKER expects to construct the next building in the park in 2025.
PLAY
Featured Community Artist: Braxton Barriner, Age 7
Braxton Barriner is 7 years old and has loved creating free hand drawings since the age of 5. He loves art and he loves to learn about animals of all kinds, researching their habitats, how they feed, and how they operate in the world. Braxton enjoys spending time with his 8 year old brother, David, playing baseball, and loves to sing and dance.
Coming together to create a healthy community
