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Office of Economic Growth
The Economic Growth Program is based upon the goals and strategies outlined in the adopted Economic Development Plan (EDP) and the Board of County Commissioners adopted Strategic Plan. In order to accomplish our mission, the Office of Economic Growth delivers its services on four primary activities as part of the Economic Growth Program:
- Administration of the Economic Growth Program and the Jobs and Economic Opportunities Trust Fund – The Office of Economic Growth administrative duties include collaboration with various boards and stakeholder groups, negotiation and contract development for public/private partnership opportunities, preparation of budgets, creation of agenda items, Requests For Proposals/Requests For Quotes/Request For Information, Jobs and Economic Opportunities Committee oversight, Pasco Accelerated Development Sites, Pasco Occupant Ready Structures, agreement/grants administration, payment processing, and the creation of quarterly and annual reports. The Department is also responsible for agreement management for a multitude of incentive and development agreements as well as project management for the Penny For Pasco -Jobs and Economic Opportunities Trust Fund.
- Target Industry Attraction and Retention – The goal of the Target Industry Program is to strengthen Pasco and become one of the most competitive business environments in the Southeast United States. Pasco will relentlessly pursue new partnerships and alliances to create a robust, connected entrepreneurial culture through the attraction and expansion of targeted businesses and will provide high-quality jobs for our residents. This is accomplished through collaboration with the Pasco Economic Development Council and its committees, community involvement, public relations, regulatory assistance, grants administration, redevelopment initiatives, and cross-departmental process improvements. Administration and reporting of the Job Creation Incentive Ordinance, all economic development agreements, requests for proposals, and contract development (creation) and negotiations are part of this program.
- Redevelopment and Reinvestment Program – The Office of Economic Growth will help catalyze redevelopment through incentives, financing, and regulatory programs. The Office of Economic Growth duties include the management of Pasco’s adopted Brownfield Redevelopment Program, redevelopment/revitalization projects and programs (revolving loan programs), low impact development initiatives, and business improvement programs to address the complex challenges posed by redevelopment in the urbanized and blighted areas of the county. The incentives and financing programs will be offered to developers and businesses to address revenue gaps in development projects, defined as having insufficient revenues to support the project debt service under a standard financing scenario or can also apply to projects that have a below market development margin.
- Information, Advocacy and Referral – The Office of Economic Growth duties include providing information to new and expanding businesses within the County, referrals to outside agencies and service providers, and acting as an Ombudsman with economic development projects for challenges experienced with internal processes.
The Vision for the Office of Economic Growth is to leverage Pasco’s strategic advantages, implement aggressive goals to grow the economy, drive target job creation and retention, encourage reinvestment in our redeveloping areas, and expand capital investments County-wide to become one of the Southeast United States’ leaders in an innovative, entrepreneurial economy. The Office of Economic Growth’s Mission to fulfill this vision will be enhanced through five critical goals identified in the adopted Economic Development Plan.
Our Goals
Goal 1: Tell the Pasco Story
Pasco will tell the story of its aspirations and achievements in a bold and creative way that draws positive regional, national, and international acclaim.
Goal 2: Encourage Continued Positive Growth
Pasco will use its resources and authority to become one of the most competitive business environments in the Southeast United States.
Goal 3: Grow Businesses
Pasco will relentlessly pursue new partnerships and alliances to create a robust, connected entrepreneurial culture.
Goal 4: Grow Pasco’s Workforce
Pasco will educate, train, and attract a top-notch workforce to support its employment base and propel targeted economic sectors.
Goal 5: Enhance Pasco’s Quality of Life
Pasco will create and maintain state of the art community services and facilities including education, recreation, cultural and tourism-related amenities while enhancing our environmental resources.
Our Team
Melanie Kendrick - Program Administrator
Melanie is the Program Administrator for the Office of Economic Growth and the Brownfield Program Manager for Pasco County. Prior to joining Pasco, Melanie spent over twenty years working in Planning, Community Development, Real Estate, and Economic Development organizations in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. She has proven results in project creation and management for federal and state grants, capital improvement programs, voluntary brownfield cleanup programs, and leveraging tax credit and bond financing for redevelopment projects. Melanie's experience centers on how connecting activities, private development, community development, and creative financing meant job creation for regional residents. In her role with Pasco, Melanie is responsible for the implementation of Pasco’s Economic Development Plan and the administration of the Jobs and Economic Opportunities Trust Fund (Penny for Pasco). This happens through facilitating partnerships between communities, property owners, and businesses to identify and encourage development, and redevelopment.
Jennifer Jordan - Business Analyst
Jennifer performs a full range of professional and technical duties in support of the County's Office of Economic Growth, projects and programs. She also assists with the analysis, coordination, and administration of economic development projects and programs, including initiatives within Planning and Development Department, the Tourism Development, and the Public Information Office. Jennifer maintains and analyzes economic trends and serves as a resource for tracking measures regarding economic development initiatives within the Board's Strategic Plan.