The Laker-Land O' Lakes-August 12, 2020

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The LAKER

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LAND O’ LAKES EDITION

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Union seeks ‘online-only’ school option

By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

Pasco County Schools is continuing its plans to offer face-to-face instruction as one of its options when school resumes on Aug. 24 — but, the union representing teachers and other school district employees is continuing its efforts to block that. In a posting on the United School Employees of Pasco’s website, union officials inform their members that they are continuing efforts to seek an injunction that would prevent a return to brick-and-mortar

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classrooms when school begins. The union is waiting until this week for formal actions to avoid interfering with efforts by the Florida Education Association, which is pursuing legal action on behalf of educators across the state, the posting says. This latest USEP announcement follows a rally by teachers and parents at school district headquarters on Aug. 4, seeking to persuade the Pasco County School Board to adopt an online-only opening of schools, until the number of positive COVID-19 cases declines. Don Peace, president of USEP, appeared

at the school board’s meeting that day, again urging the board to only open schools online. “We are not saying we don’t want a return to brick-and-mortar. We are saying we don’t want to return to brick-and-mortar now,” Peace said. “Pediatricians and CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) are saying that we should not be heading back to schools at this time. “When the positivity rate shows a downSee UNION, page 7A

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LILLIAN CUCUZZA

Not your typical vacation pic Land O’ Lakes photographer Lillian Cucuzza often shares her photographs of local wildlife with readers of The Laker/Lutz News. This shot was taken, however, during her vacation out West this summer. This photo of the Neowise Comet, was taken on July 15, when the comet was closest to earth — still about 70 million miles away, the photographer said.

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When experience matters Soule Company plans expansion to you!

COURTESY OF PASCO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL INC.

Soule Company, based in Compark 75, plans to add a new 100,000-square-foot building.

By B.C. Manion

bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

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B THE HISTORY OF A HISTORIAN INSIDE, PAGE 1B

An economic incentive from Pasco County is supporting the expansion of a manufacturing business in Compark 75, off Wesley Chapel Boulevard. Soule Company plans to construct a 100,000-square-foot building on a 7.7-acre parcel, at 26543 Wild Fern Circle.The new facility represents an $8 million investment, according to Pasco County figures. The structure will be built next to the company’s existing 62,000-square-foot building, in the industrial business park. Soule Company has two divisions: One fabricates packaging products made to customer specifications; the other fabricates disposable foam positioning products for the medical community. The professional packaging division distributes a full line of packaging and shipping supplies, including corrugated boxes, poly bags, strapping, stretch films, tapes, among others. The medical division works closely with medical entities to design, develop, manufacture, and distribute products that assist in patient care, recovery, and healing. The Pasco County Commission approved an economic incentive package worth $177,172 at its Aug. 4 meeting, to support the company’s plans. The new manufacturing building will generate 25 full-time jobs, according to David Engel, the county’s manager of the office of economic growth. The incentive package includes $50,000 for creating the 25 new jobs; a five-year reimbursement of tangible taxes, which totals $107,171; and, an employee training grant of $20,000 for Pasco-based employees, Engel said.

Amazon plans $40 million investment in Pasco By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

“The project will generate $4.69 million annually in gross county product, so the return on investment is very substantial,” Engel said, in recommending approval of the agreement. Jennie Sammurr, who oversees business retention and expansion for the Pasco EDC, told commissioners “the Soule Company is a perfect example of why we have the BRE (business retention and expansion) program and why we do what we do. “The Soule Company was incorporated in the state of Florida in 1956.This company has been very resilient, has overcome many economic climates that have been challenging — and have continued to grow and expand. Our small businesses are the backbone of our economy, our local economy and they are the backbone of our business community.” When the Pasco EDC staff met with Jerry Flatt, the company’s CEO, they learned that the company has been considering an expansion for several years, Sammurr said. “Their company manufactures packaging and shipping supplies and now they’ve added a medical division that allows them to service many of our health care facilities in the area, but also in the Southeastern United States,” she said. The company has been located in Pasco County since 2001. Flatt addressed commissioners, via a remote video feed, during the board’s hybrid remote-live meeting. He told board members:“We’ve grown to the point that we need to add an additional facility. “We do a lot of packaging with different companies, different manufacturers, both in Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough county.We

The Pasco Economic Development Council has announced that Amazon plans to invest $40 million in Pasco County. The company is planning a new 110,000-square-foot facility in Lutz, according to a Pasco EDC news release. The facility will be located on a portion of the Hayman-Fuentes property near the northeast corner of State Road 54 and the Suncoast Parkway, according to Lauren Miceli, marketing and communications manager for Pasco EDC. “This new facility will add hundreds of direct and indirect jobs to Pasco County,” Bill Cronin, president/CEO of Pasco EDC, said in the economic development agency’s release. The new delivery station in Lutz “will power Amazon’s last-mile delivery capabilities to speed up deliveries for customers in Pasco County,” according to an Amazon news release. “Delivery stations enable Amazon Logistics to supplement capacity and flexibility to Amazon’s delivery capabilities,” the company release says. The Lutz delivery station is expected to open in 2021, according to Amazon. Local officials are delighted by Amazon’s decision to invest in Pasco. “Amazon’s jobs are unique in the sense that some will work directly for the company and others can essentially open their own business and work as a third party with them. It’s a great opportunity for our residents to start their own small business,” Cronin said. “The county and Pasco EDC have worked hard to create mixed-use neighborhoods and attract a variety of industries to Pasco,” Pasco County Commissioner Mike Wells said in the Pasco EDC release. “Amazon putting their trust that Pasco is the right place for them shows that our team’s

See SOULE, page 7A

See AMAZON, page 7A


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