Pasco has a quiet campaign to lure businesses here
Pasco is working under the radar.
As the county tries to shed its status as a bedroom community, officials are rolling out a low-key approach to economic development. Part of the plan includes heading to neighboring counties to market Pasco to lawyers, industrial park developers and commercial real estate brokers.
The goal is to land some big game. Businesses that want to move to Tampa Bay but can't find ideal sites in Hillsborough or Pinellas. Local firms that want to expand but are also struggling to find space.
But it's a delicate dance. Pasco, the bay area's little brother, doesn't want to upset the big boys down in Tampa.
As County Commissioner Jack Mariano said at a recent workshop: "Without being predatory, how does one go to Hillsborough and Pinellas and say, 'Look, we want to just be ready. We're not trying to take your people, but if they are looking to go somewhere else, we want to make sure we get them.' "
John Hagen, president of the Pasco Economic Development Council, calls the situation a "coop-etition." Cities and counties should work together to keep jobs from fleeing to other metro areas. But they will still fight to land the jobs once a company settles on Tampa Bay.
