Wesley Chapel Black Chamber of Commerce helping minority business owners

WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — A new chamber of commerce in Pasco County is helping minority business owners get their name out.

The Wesley Chapel Black Chamber of Commerce is still finding a permanent home, but already it is providing resources and making connections across the community. It comes at a time when the area is experiencing rapid growth.

The new chamber is stepping in to ensure minority-owned business owners aren’t left behind.

Hard at work inside their food truck are husband and wife duo Vanzelle and Debbie Nibbs, co-owners of Craving Donuts.

“My wife is a pastry chef, so that’s where the magic began,” said Vanzelle Nibbs. “We made it happen and 10 years later, we’re still doing it.”

For a decade, the two have been perfecting their craft in frying delicious golden-brown donuts.

But just like baking, starting their business took plenty of patience, with a few bumps along the way.

“Two of the main challenges that we face were, one, financing and two, marketing,” said Vanzelle. “Financing, just getting an available credit line that was big enough to take care of what we needed to do. And marketing, being able to have a marketing budget to constantly have our name out there.”

What helped the Nibbs’ was making a connection with the local chamber. Times have changed in the 10 years since they first started. Now, there’s a chamber dedicated to helping minority business owners.

“We decided that there were some gaps in some opportunities and some things — some services — that we could make available to business owners in the community,” said Chad Cooper, founding board member of Wesley Chapel Black Chamber of Commerce. 

Though they don’t have a physical location just yet, Cooper said they have hit the ground running. He said it’s a crucial time with development happening in Wesley Chapel.

“It’s critical to have an organization like ours that’s out here looking out for the best interest of those Black businesses in the community,” said Cooper. “That’s not to say that only Black businesses are able to join the organization, but it’s critical to make sure that when opportunities arise that those Black businesses in the community have a seat at the table.”

Their work is starting to pay off, like helping Nibbs and his wife, and those minority-owned businesses that are yet to come.

“Be passionate about whatever it is you want to go into business with because it’s going to be difficult, and the passion is going to help you get over the hump,” said Vanzelle. “But also do your research.”

That passion can be a recipe for success.

Cooper says the chamber is finalizing the organizational setup, and he expects to officially launch in the beginning of the new year.