Rev. Wallace Bowers, Secretary HART Board

As a native Floridian and a resident of Hillsborough County for more than 45 years, I have had the privilege to see this community blossom over the years. The great opportunities this area offers young entrepreneurs make it desirable for expansion of existing businesses and those seeking to start a business. These opportunities sealed my own decision to make Tampa my home.

This edition of A Community with HART focuses on small businesses in our community. As a small businessowner myself, I understand the economic challenges we have faced with determination over the past several years and I applaud you for your continued commitment to this community.

Over the years, I have worked in many capacities providing services for this community. To name a few, owner of Bowers' Barber Shop since 1965; Wallace Z Bowers Realty since 1970; co-owner of Bay Area Concession since 1985, Progress Village Civic Council since 1985; board member of the Florida Housing Finance Agency, 1983 - 1988; and Pastor of St. Mary M.B. Church since 1996.

Serving this community in these various capacities made me very aware of the need for an effective transportation system and the role HART plays in transforming this community into the city of the future! I have now served on the HART Board for four terms, and believe more than ever that our transportation system is a vital element to this community.

We must continue to be proactive if we are to meet the challenges that lay ahead, both in the near-term and long-term. I am very excited with the direction that HART is taking to keep pace with our changing times.

Meet Lani Harless and she impresses with how she truly owns every part of her small business.

But spend some time with Lani Harless and she wows with her visionary leadership and never-say-die attitude.

Lani owns Rapid Staffing, a local staffing company since 2002 and recently recognized by HART as an Outstanding Small Minority Business.

Staff of Rapid Staffing, small business located in Brandon

With this recognition comes television and bus advertising worth more than $10,000. Lani says this boost in publicity should give Rapid Staffing the added exposure it needs to put even more people to work. Rapid Staffing has more than 3,000 employees ready to work in a variety of specialized trades, clerical, sales, hospitality and information technology.

"We hope this exposure will increase our business so we can get at least up to 50 percent of our employees placed," Lani said.

Rapid Staffing was selected for this recognition by HART because of its commitment to this community, in more ways than one.

Walk through the doors of its Brandon location, and thank you cards designed with small hands are posted on its walls, revealing the warmth that's at the heart of everything this office does.

"At the end of the year, we take supplies we didn't end up using and give them away to schools," Lani Harless. "Paper, pencils and pens, computers - anything in good shape, but we're no longer using for whatever reason."

For Lani, commitment to this community has meant keeping the doors of Rapid Staffing open, and tough decisions were made to weather the economic climate.  

"A few years ago, we participated in a study that recommended we operate out of one office only." Lani closed Rapid Staffing's Tampa office, and centralized operations at its current location in Brandon.

Lani Harless, Owner Rapid Staffing

"We kept things tight so we can get through the economy, and we started doing a lot of networking," Lani said. "Now we have six in-house employees, whereas we used to have two back when our economy was falling, and we've opened a second office again."

Lani also demonstrates her commitment to this community by promoting its local services, such as public transit.

"We like to recommend the bus system with HART," Lani said. "If they take HART to work, they can get home from work. HART runs a lot of different routes, a lot of different hours - early mornings and late evenings."

She squints her eyes for a split-second as she recalls the HART Customer Service line (813-254-4278), proving how frequent she calls it to help Rapid Staffing employees plan their trips to work.

But the most important person HART serves is her brother, Steve Nunez, who depends on HART to get to and from work from Seffner to MacDill.

"That's a long way and it would be hard to rely on friends and family for that commute!"

See related story below:  Depending on HART for Independence

This school year, go green and save money by riding HART! Several bus routes serve the University of South Florida, University of Tampa and all Hillsborough Community College campuses.

As part of their tuition, students who show their valid USF identification can ride HART local, limited express and flex routes at no extra cost. Faculty and staff ride for just 25 cents! HART operates 10 bus routes in the USF area, including several that operate until midnight. In addition, the Bull Runner (USF's campus shuttle service) connects to the University Area Transit Center, the main HART bus hub for all routes operating in North Tampa.

 Map of bus routes in USF area

Schools participating in the HART Adult Student Fare program sell HART 31-day bus passes for $45, a 25 percent discount from the regular price of $60. Students must purchase these discounted passes at their respective school.

List of the schools participating in the HART Adult Student Fare program 

Map of bus routes serving the University of Tampa 

Map of bus routes serving Hillsborough Community College campuses