Tickets are on sale for the Pasco Economic Development Council's 38th Annual Awards, a $150-per-person gala themed "An Evening in Paris" set for Thursday, Oct. 1, at the Pasco-Hernando State College Instructional Performing Arts Center in Wesley Chapel.
The event honors companies that have driven economic growth and community impact across Pasco County. Past ceremonies have drawn more than 400 business leaders, state legislators, county commissioners and city officials.
Doors open at 4:30 p.m. with a networking and dining reception that runs until 5:45 p.m. The award celebration begins at 6 p.m., followed by a coffee and dessert reception from 7 to 8 p.m. Admission includes heavy hors d'oeuvres, a seafood station, drinks, the awards program and dessert.
The $150 ticket price marks a $25 increase from the $125 charged at the 35th, 36th and 37th editions of the event. Last year's ceremony was held at Saddlebrook Resort; this year it returns to the PHSC Performing Arts Center at 8657 Old Pasco Road, where the awards were staged from 2022 through 2024.
Award categories in recent years have included the Pasco Establishment Award, Economic Excellence Award, SMARTstart Entrepreneur of the Year, Special Recognition and Leadership Award. The 2025 Leadership Award went to Dewey Mitchell of Berkshire Hathaway Properties. Finalists for the 2026 ceremony have not yet been announced.
The hospitality-level sponsorship tier is sold out, according to the Pasco EDC event page. Confirmed sponsors include AdventHealth, Speros, FL Sports Coast, CareerSource Pasco-Hernando, Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative, BayCare, TECO/Peoples Gas, Florida Design Consultants and Kimley-Horn. Additional sponsorship tiers remain available.
Bill Cronin, who has led Pasco EDC as president and CEO since 2016, said in August 2022 when announcing finalists for the 34th Annual Awards that the event gives the organization "the opportunity to recognize businesses who have made an impact in our community." The organization also received two Excellence in Economic Development Bronze Awards from the International Economic Development Council in September 2025 for programs reaching more than 500,000 residents.
Tickets can be purchased through the Pasco EDC website.
Upcoming community events:
- Oct. 1 — Pasco EDC 38th Annual Awards, PHSC IPAC, Wesley Chapel. Doors at 4:30 p.m. $150 per person.
