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Sponsors Can Save Blooms

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By TOM BRENNAN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 23, 2008

BRANDON - The Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce isn't looking for green thumbs, just groups with some extra green.

The chamber wants to create a business sponsorship program to keep the landscaping lush in the 14 medians along State Road 60 between Interstate 75 and Valrico Road.

If someone doesn't step up, all the flowers, shrubs and trees will be dug up and replaced with sod.

The county and the Florida Department of Transportation have given the chamber a few months to find a way to pay for maintenance of the existing plantings.

"If we can't find a way by that time, all the plants will go away," said Laura Simpson, the chamber's marketing vice president.

The state allowed the county to plant the landscaping at the request of residents looking to spruce up S.R. 60's appearance - as long as the county agreed to handle the upkeep.

But because of the current budget crunch, Hillsborough County can no longer afford the cost of maintaining landscaping on state roads. Officials are considering turning upkeep back over to the state, which only allows grass in medians because it is cheaper to tend.

Simpson said the chamber is exploring hiring a landscaper and then recruiting businesses or civic groups willing to help defray the cost of paying for work on the medians. She said chamber leaders would like to find sponsors for each of the 14 medians.

There aren't any firm cost estimates, and some medians will be cheaper to sponsor than others because they have fewer plants.

"That way, smaller businesses and civic groups could still participate," Simpson said.

The chamber is asking for a two-year commitment from any potential sponsor.

The chamber's Government Advisory Council voted unanimously in favor of the program July 10. Its board of directors will decide Aug 23 whether to proceed.

So far, three landscaping businesses, all members of the chamber, have made maintenance proposals. Their price quotes ranged from $13,800 to $39,990, with variances depending on frequency of upkeep.

For information, call Simpson at (813) 689-1221.

Reporter Tom Brennan can be reached at (813) 657-4528 or tbrennan@tampatrib.com.

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