The Chamber Expands

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any more exciting or complicated for the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC), on June 28, the WCCC announced that it was merging with the Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce (GPCC), which immediately increases the WCCC from nearly 600 to more than 900 business members.

The announcement, made at the Culinary Institute at Land O’Lakes High, featured (photo, top left, l.-r.) Pasco Economic Development Council (EDC) president and CEO Bill  Cronin WCCC Board chair Jennifer Cofini and CEO Hope Allen, as well as GPCC Board chair Michael Cox and Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore.

Allen was excited to announce that the two chambers had formed an alliance back in January and “would become one Chamber of Commerce.” Under the agreement, current members of either chamber would have reciprocal membership in both.

And, even though Allen admitted the merged chambers didn’t yet decide on a name, the same joint task force that created the merger, “will continue to meet every two weeks to help make that decision. Our drop-dead date to come up with all the details is January 1.”

Other issues to map out include the fact that there are still other four other chambers also serving Pasco and how the new merged chambers will fit into that structure, as well as the fact that the WCCC also serves New Tampa, which is in Hillsborough County.

“I did some research and we actually have 160 business members located in Hillsborough,” Allen said. “We will continue to provide the same services and opportunities for those businesses as usual.”