Bill Cronin, the executive who helped steer more than $1.8 billion in capital investment and 11,600 jobs into Pasco County over the past decade, has been named Florida's Economic Development Professional of the Year.

The Florida Economic Development Council announced the honor on Monday, Aug. 10, awarding Cronin the 2026 Eunice Sullivan Economic Development Professional of the Year recognition for his 30-year career in the field. Cronin has led the Pasco Economic Development Council as president and CEO since January 2016.

Wesley Chapel reaps rewards of Pasco's recruitment push

The award lands as Wesley Chapel continues to absorb the results of the Pasco EDC's recruitment work. In the most recent fiscal year, the organization assisted 21 project expansions worth $116.3 million and 547 new jobs countywide, according to its annual report. Wesley Chapel-specific wins included Florida Avenue Brewing Co.'s expansion, two Soule Co. facility additions totaling $21 million and more than 205,000 square feet, and Vantagepoint AI's $4.6 million, 60-job project.

The Pasco EDC also operates a SMARTstart entrepreneur center in Wesley Chapel offering workspace, an incubator kitchen, conference rooms, a digital media studio and a makers space.

"While this award may have my name on it, I see it as a reflection of the extraordinary team we have at the Pasco Economic Development Council," Cronin said in a statement.

Beth Cicchetti, executive director of the Florida Economic Development Council, said in the announcement that Cronin's ability to build partnerships and deliver results has strengthened the entire economic development profession in Florida.

A decade of landmark deals across the county

Cronin's tenure has coincided with several of the county's largest deals. The Pasco EDC's Ready Sites Program attracted Amazon ($150 million, 500 jobs on 68 acres), Bauducco Foods ($233.9 million, 700 jobs on 85 acres) and MiTek (nearly $80 million, 150 jobs on 111 acres). In January 2021, the organization announced Moffitt Cancer Center's 775-acre expansion campus, estimated to support more than 14,500 additional jobs in the area.

Growth along the State Road 56 corridor continues

Closer to Wesley Chapel's State Road 56 corridor, Legacy Wiregrass Ranch is projected to generate $575 million annually for Pasco County and create more than 7,000 jobs, according to Florida Trend. Double Branch, a 965-acre master-planned development, is underway with plans for 5.5 million square feet of industrial space, 1 million square feet of offices, 500,000 square feet of retail, 3,500 housing units and two hotels.

Cronin: Pasco is shedding its "bedroom community" identity

In a July 8 op-ed in the Laker/Lutz News, Cronin wrote that Pasco spent decades as a "bedroom community" where thousands of residents commuted to neighboring counties. "We've historically been a bedroom community for many years," he told Tampa Bay 28 in July, when Pasco County approved the Monin manufacturing plant in Zephyrhills. "So the most important thing for us is to get those jobs back in our community."

A career rooted in international trade

Before joining the Pasco EDC, Cronin spent 10 years with Enterprise Florida, now FloridaCommerce, specializing in international trade and business development. Under his leadership, the Pasco EDC earned accreditation as one of only 92 economic development organizations worldwide recognized by the International Economic Development Council.