Small business owners in Land O' Lakes and Lutz who've struggled with county permitting now have a dedicated guide through the process.

Pasco County announced its Work Local Small Business Support Program on Thursday, July 30, with a one-on-one Small Business Concierge Service as the program's first offering. The service pairs locally owned businesses with up to 25 employees with a county liaison who walks them through development and permitting requirements.

The service is free.

The program targets exactly the kind of shops and restaurants that line the US-41 and SR-54 corridors — businesses small enough that the owner is often the one pulling permits, filing site plans, and fielding questions from multiple county departments.

According to the county's official announcement on X, the concierge service helps businesses navigate permitting and development. A separate news report listed additional services including a personalized review of commercial project proposals and a dedicated liaison to county departments. The county's Facebook post confirmed there is no cost to qualifying businesses.

The county began staffing the program before the public launch. A Business Support Specialist job posting closed Thursday, July 2, according to Pasco County's careers page. That role, housed in Building Construction Services Administration, is described as providing expert guidance on permitting, licensing, and connecting business owners with relevant resources. The specialist also coordinates with Planning, Building, and Engineering departments to resolve permitting issues and ensure timely approvals.

The Work Local program is separate from the Pasco Economic Development Council's existing SMARTstart Small Business Program, which operates out of its Lutz office at 16506 Pointe Village Drive.

Business owners interested in the program can reach Pasco County Building Construction Services for details on how to access the one-on-one service.