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Good Morning!

We made it to Friday. This week’s edition is a little lighter on the news side, but the weekend is packed with things to do around town. If you’ve been waiting for a good excuse to get out, this might be the one.

We’re also pushing through the last stretch of the cold snap. Overnight lows will dip into the 30s this weekend, but warmer days are right around the corner after that. You can already feel the change with the daylight starting to stick around a little longer each evening, which is always a welcome sign.

Oh, and enjoy the Super Bowl. When you get to work this morning, you might want to start planting the seed that Monday you might be catching that bug that’s going around.

If you’re feeling antsy: jump to all of our event links here:

And let’s get to it.

-Mike

In this edition of the North Tampa Buzz:

⚾ Rays Offer To Fund Half Stadium
🏫 Pasco School Tax Vote Returns
🍽️ Food Incubator Helping Entrepreneurs Launc

…and more!

Feel free to follow us on Instagram for more local updates.

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Rays Offer to Fund Half Stadium

As promised, the updates keep coming, whether you want them or not, and it really does sound like the scenario many people were hoping for may be lining up. The Tampa Bay Rays say they are willing to cover at least 50% of the cost for a proposed new stadium at Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus, according to a newly released county document. The idea is still early, with no formal negotiations yet, but local leaders see it as a possible path to bringing the team into Tampa if the numbers make sense for the community and taxpayers.

The team has suggested possible funding sources like hotel tax revenue and money generated from development around the stadium, rather than relying directly on the county’s general budget. Under the early outline, the Rays would also be responsible for construction cost overruns, along with future maintenance and upgrades. County officials say the next step is for the team to present a clearer financing plan, with another update expected within about 90 days.

Beautiful renderings are starting to come out as well.

School Tax Vote May Return

It’s a strange time for local government with various tax consequences on the horizon with property taxes. Pasco County schools want voters to decide again this November on renewing a local property tax that has helped boost employee pay by about 12 percent over the past three years. The tax, which can be up to $1 per $1,000 of assessed value, is set to expire next year, so the school board is asking the county commission to place it back on the ballot. Leaders say keeping this funding has helped reduce job vacancies and improve student performance across the district.

District officials say losing the tax could put Pasco at a disadvantage compared to nearby counties that already have similar measures supporting teacher pay. Without it, starting teacher salaries could fall about $11,000 behind Pinellas and nearly $20,000 behind Hillsborough for more experienced teachers. The board also wants to use about 5 percent of the funds for added school security, including more officers and deputies on campuses, with a resident-led oversight group continuing to track how the money is spent.

For some, the article will fall behind a paywall with Tampa Bay Times.

A Huge Thank You to our wonderful local partners!

From Incubator Idea to Community Impact

A thoughtful use of local resources is taking shape in Zephyrhills, where entrepreneur Lexa Duno launched the LILLY Education Foundation in 2024 with support from Pasco EDC and the SMARTstart business incubator. The incubator helps small businesses grow by offering guidance, training, connections, and workspace, and it helped Duno turn her idea into a foundation that has already supported nearly 200 local families and educators looking for nontraditional learning options.

To keep building those connections, LILLY is hosting a free “Find Your Match” event on Feb. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at SMARTstart at The Grove. Families can meet one-on-one with local providers offering services like tutoring, therapy, and alternative education support in a structured setting designed to help parents find the right fit for their child.

$270K Boost for Local Nursing Programs

Pasco-Hernando State College is receiving $270,000 in state matching funds to support its nursing programs, a major increase from $10,000 the year before. The funding is part of a statewide investment approved Jan. 20 and requires local health care partners to match the dollars, with contributions from Tampa General Hospital, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and Dade City, and BayCare NorthBay Hospital. The money will help pay for student scholarships, faculty recruitment, updated equipment, and improvements to the college’s simulation training center. PHSC students are already performing well, with a 97.27% first-time pass rate for the registered nursing exam and a 100% pass rate for practical nursing students, both above national averages.

Food Incubator Helping Local Dreams Grow

More incubation in this edition. The SMARTstart East Pasco Incubator Kitchen in Dade City is a place where local residents are working to turn food ideas into real businesses. The shared facility at 15029 14th St. offers kitchen space, classrooms, packaging tools, and access to mentors for about $100 a month, giving people a low-risk way to test their products. Since opening in 2019, the program has helped launch more than 80 food-related businesses and supported the creation of hundreds of jobs.

The latest group includes a mix of food concepts, from Puerto Rican catering and flavored honey to mobile coffee and trendy dirty soda. One Wesley Chapel resident joined after leaving the Air Force to build a business around the Puerto Rican dishes she’s cooked for years, while others are using the space to prepare items they couldn’t legally make at home. Participants also get guidance, networking, and access to microloans, making it easier to try ideas before investing heavily in a full restaurant, food truck, or store product.

I hope this answers the question, “What is there to do around town without having to drive down to Tampa?”

Instead of listing every single event here, I’m going to start highlighting/featuring a few things each day to keep this section easy to scan. So these are just some standouts.

If you’re looking for everything happening around town, the full Community Calendar is still the best place to go. Or, you can find the full list here.

If you’re thinking about making a trip to the Florida State Fairgrounds, the State Fair is running now through February 16. Gates are open daily from 11a to 9p, so there’s plenty of time to fit it into your plans.

The Market Elaine
The Grove at Wesley Chapel
Fri 2/6 5p-9p

The Market Elaine is one of the busiest and best night markets in the area, filling The Grove with 150 plus vendors, live music, food, kids activities, and pet adoptions. It feels like a full community festival and is always packed with energy every first Friday.

Historic Downtown Dade City Farmers Market
Agnes Lamb Four Seasons Park
Sat 2/7 10a-2p

The Dade City Farmers Market at Agnes Lamb Park brings a relaxed, charming vibe with fresh produce, baked goods, local meats, handmade gifts, and artisan finds. This Sweetheart edition adds a Valentine’s twist, making it a perfect family-friendly Saturday stroll under the oaks

Commandough’s 10 Year Anniversary Party
Sat 2/7 1p-11p

Commandough’s is marking 10 years in Zephyrhills with a full day celebration featuring music, throwback menu favorites, anniversary drinks, and local vendors. The event includes DJ Kenny in the afternoon, Southern Knights live in the evening, carnival-style games, giveaways, brewery samples, and limited-edition merch. It’s a community-focused celebration of a decade of growth, loyal customers, and the people who helped shape the business along the way.

We’ll be on Instagram with updates wherever we end up. Feel free to slide into our DM’s.

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