WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — A new chamber of commerce focused on supporting minority business owners has opened its doors in Pasco County.
The Wesley Chapel Black Chamber of Commerce celebrated its grand opening this week. With a mission to help small and minority-owned businesses get started and grow. Business owners and community members celebrated the new resource.
“We’re bringing the support to all businesses of every size,” said founder Darlene Hill.
Hill says this has been years in the making.
“I’ve been a resident of Wesley Chapel for 16 years,” said Hill. “I am a business owner myself, so I know the challenges that entrepreneurs and business owners face with no support and no resources.”
With Wesley Chapel growing fast, she says the timing is critical.
“Families are coming here, their kids are going to school, so many things are going on. You can’t always work from 9 to 5, so a lot of families are switching, especially the younger generation. They are starting businesses.”
The chamber is focused on helping minority-owned and small businesses, including start-ups, first-time entrepreneurs, and those without access to traditional networks or funding.
Two of the biggest hurdles? Marketing and money.
“If you need funding, if you need marketing for your business, because — let’s be honest — lots of times, you’re paying out of your own pocket. Is that the best way to do it?” said Hill. “Is that the only way to do it? We’re just providing those resources that otherwise would not have been either available or it’s not being advertised that, as an organization, we help businesses with that and we’re just filling that gap.”
The organization provides connections to resources, funding options and business leaders. Even before opening its doors, the chamber has already helped business owners like Vanzelle and Debbie Nibbs, who own Craving Donuts.
“It feels awesome, it feels sometimes a little overwhelming, but it feels inviting,” said Vanzelle.
Vanzelle says that support is already making a difference, helping them gain access to decision-makers.
“The mayors, the politicians, the heads of big companies and corporations. Maybe get us in a room with those, even get a conversation with those people to maybe pitch my idea of where I would like to be and see if it works or works into any of their plans,” he said.
Connections that could create lasting opportunities.
“We are open for business,” said Hill. “We want to be that conduit to put together those larger organizations and those small businesses that just really need a foot in the door.”
Providing a new pathway for people working to build something of their own.
