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Business Expo Showcases Area Commerce

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By PAUL CATALA The Sun

Published: November 12, 2008

For the past 10 years, area business owner Dale Terjung has seen firsthand the benefits of getting out and meeting fellow merchants, neighbors and potential customers.

This year will be no different, as Terjung and other chamber members gather in one place for the eighth-annual Sun City Center Area Chamber of Commerce Sun City Center Business Expo.

From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Nov. 18, at the Sun City Center Community Hall, 1910 S. Pebble Beach Blvd., Terjung and about 160 chamber members and business owners will gather to promote their services. In return, visitors will be able to get more information on businesses they already know about, as well as find out what other services and trades are close by.

The Sun City Center chamber president, Elaine Brad, said the free business exposition is one of the best and convenient ways for Sun City Center residents to learn about the local business community. Brad, in her ninth year with the chamber, said in 2007, about 3,000 people visited the expo, finding out about businesses, using the services and generating revenue for the area.

"It's an excellent way for the (chamber) members to showcase their products and services," she said. "It's great for the community because they meet the members and learn about their businesses in a one-to-one environment."

She said in 2007, about 3,000 people visited the expo, finding out about businesses, using the services and generating revenue for the area.

According to an analysis of the property appraiser's records by the Hillsborough County Planning Commission, the average taxable value of land parcels in Sun City Center is $99,231 compared to the countywide total of $173,284. The total tax value of Sun City Center is 1.5 percent of the entire county.

Although it's not a huge piece of the county's economic pie, every bit of revenue generated locally through area businesses helps foster commerce in the area as it grows.

Terjung -- who owns and runs Dale's Designs, a stained-glass and sign business - said other than promoting his shop, the business expo is a way for him to personally meet current and future customers.

"It's fun meeting people and getting leads. It's really half for the businesses and half for the people," he said. "It's one-stop shopping for services. It's all there."

Besides getting insight into what's available commercially in the Sun City Center area, making a visit to the expo can also help with health.

At the expo, health screenings and services have been expanded to include flu, pneumonia and tetanus shots, administered by Sarasota Health Care. There will also be free cholesterol and glucose screenings by A Caring Kind of Place medical equipment and supplies, Largo, and blood pressure checks by Hillsborough County-Sun City Center Emergency Management Services.

Brad said each year, chamber board members try to get a broad and varied group of businesses and services together, giving visitors a thorough feel for what's available in their neighborhoods.

"This is an annual fun and informative event. People look forward to coming to this every year," she said. "There will be different types of businesses, different categories, different products and different services. I encourage everyone to show their community spirit and come to the expo."

For information, call (813) 634-5111.

Reporter Paul Catala can be reached at (813) 865-1554 or pcatala@mediageneral.com

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