One of the largest developments in Manatee County is taking place north of the Manatee River, in and around the city of Palmetto, a sleepy little town known more for its ties with agriculture. The new development, Riviera Dunes, promises to deliver an upscale lifestyle that includes 500 homes, hundreds of boat slips, a marina, hotels, high-end restaurants and other amenities typical of such communities (see story page 37). While Riviera Dunes isn't the only large development in Manatee, the fact that it is taking place north of the river might be considered by some observers as something of a "first" for the area. It is among several highlights that point to thriving growth in this west central Florida county where clean beaches, a world-renowned sports resort/academy, Tropicana Products Inc., and a growing sea of high-tech companies make a home. Consider, for example, Peek Traffic Ltd., a manufacturer of high-tech traffic control systems and devices, which recently decided to consolidate two of its facilities into one headquarters, based in Manatee. Peek Traffic had considered other locations, including sites in the Carolinas and other parts of Florida. But for a list of reasons, it chose Manatee to build a 50,000-square-foot facility at Gulfcoast Corporate Park. The unit will be completed in June and will add about 70 new jobs to the local economy.

Dennis Frey, a vice president at Peek Traffic, likes the high-tech company¹s new location in Manatee for proximity to a talented pool of workers. Photo by: Alan Ferguson

Dennis Frey, the firm's vice president of manufacturing, says that having Port Manatee and two international airports within a half hour drive from the building were important factors in making the corporate decision. Add to that the fact that there lies a large, trained pool of workers within the surrounding counties of Hillsborough, Pinellas and Sarasota, and the choice became easier. "That's a big benefit," Frey says of the labor force.

Peek Traffic joins a growing number of high-tech companies that either have operating facilities or headquarters in Manatee. Among the largest are Cisco Systems, which made its fortune selling high-tech routers for networking computers, and telecommunications firms such as Teltronics Inc. and Acterna Corp., both of which also make high-tech network gear (see story on page 40). PPi Technologies, a maker of technology for packaging equipment, carries a degree of prestige into the circle. It ranks No. 139 on the Deloitte & Touche Fast 500, which rates the fastest-growing tech companies in North America. It also ranks on the same consulting firm's list of the 50 fastest-growing tech firms in the Tampa Bay area. PPi had growth in revenues at 4,477 percent in five years from 1996 to 2000, which helped it earn its high marks.

"PPi is one of the fastest-growing companies in the Tampa Bay area," says Nancy Engel, executive director of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Council. "We're working with Sarasota to see how together the two counties can grow our technology companies. We have a good base to start from." The draw for firms like PPi and Peek Traffic begins with quality of life. The Sarasota-Bradenton MSA received a five-star rating from Demographics Daily and Expansion Management magazine gave the MSA, the only in Florida, its five-star rating for business. The rating is based on employment opportunity, education, training and housing affordability.

Port Manatee continues to add berths and warehouses to enhance facilities for its clients as they expand their business operations at the port. Photo: Courtesy of The Port of Manatee

These accolades sit well with other industries in Manatee, especially manufacturing. With 3,200 employees locally, Tropicana Products Inc. is the county's largest manufacturing employer. Italian immigrant Anthony Rossi selected Bradenton as the ideal setting for his citrus business in 1947 when he founded the company, which has since become one of the world's leading producers of juices. Tropicana holds 35 percent of the U.S. market for chilled juices and drinks. Its nearest competitor, Minute Maid, has an 18 percent marketshare, according to the parent company's most recent annual report. Tropicana continues to expand its corporate headquarters in Manatee and is soon to complete a 145,000-square-foot office building for 400 employees (see story on page 33).

A manufacturer of stone for commercial and residential construction has recently expanded into Manatee. Treasure Cove, based in Sarasota, provides architectural cast stone for exterior and interior use. Products include decorative window moldings, columns, balustrades, fireplaces, fountains and statuary. The firm is opening a 14,500-square-foot, 35-employee manufacturing facility at Interstate 75 and U.S. Highway 301. "This makes the north Tampa Bay area more accessible," says Patrick Hebda, the firm's president. "We provide the decorative elements on the homes in Lakewood Ranch and we've sent our product to the Caribbean and throughout the United States."

Another substantial segment of manufacturing is the county's marine industry. Although the nation has experienced a recession, Manatee's boat builders are on an upswing. "The boating industry has been hiring," says Engel. In March 2001 three investors acquired Chris-Craft Corp. (see story on page 35), which had ceased manufacturing and laid off 350 employees. Now the firm has resumed production. Donzi Marine has increased production and added staff since the beginning of the year. And Wellcraft Marine, a division of Genmar Holdings Inc., plans to add 100 employees to meet demand for production of its boats. "There are always buyers at the premium end of the market," says Stephen Heese, president at Chris-Craft. "The marine industry is the first hit in an economic downturn but it comes back the quickest."

Another boat builder has joined the scene along Manatee's coastline. Canadian firm SailTech International Inc. moved its headquarters and production plant from Vancouver, British Columbia, last fall. The 60-employee firm manufactures aluminum sail- and powerboats at a 33,000-square-foot facility in South Manatee. An industrial giant in itself is Port Manatee (see story on page 38). It has been a center of construction on several fronts. Gulfstream Natural Gas System LLC has staged construction of its 753-mile natural gas pipeline from the port. That project alone has brought as many as 1,000 workers to the port and revenues of $10 million to $12 million during the two years of construction. But the port also continues to expand its facilities for additional business. The 1,550-foot-long Berth 12 is under construction and is earmarked for adding an upscale cruise line to complement the port's existing cruise business. Del Monte continues to expand its port operations and a new tenant, Port Manatee Forestry Terminal Inc., is soon to occupy a 171,000-square-foot dry storage facility.

"They will be moving lumber and have an exclusive lease of that facility," says Steve Tyndal, the port's special projects director. "As fast as we can build, the new buildings are 100-percent occupied the day they open. That's a good problem to have. We've been fortunate with cargo movements." But it's not just new berths and port warehouses coming on line in Manatee. Benderson Development Co. Inc., which owns and manages more than 700 properties totaling 35-million square feet nationwide, has been adding retail, residential and industrial space throughout Manatee. "We have done 20 projects in the last year," says Wayne Ruben at Benderson.

Among those projects is the renovation of Sarasota Outlet Mall, which is part of Cooper Creek Center, a 604-acre residential and commercial development at Interstate 75 and University Parkway owned by Benderson. Natick, Mass.-based BJ's Wholesale Club has opened a new 110,000-square-foot warehouse club discount store at the mall. "We'll have another three anchor tenants to announce soon," Ruben says. "We're also building a Comfort Suites Inn at that location." Additional new retailers include Carrabba's, Ruby Tuesday, Wendy's, Shell Oil and Eckerd. The residential component, University Place, is a joint venture with Neal Communities. "It will have 500 home sites," says Ruben. "An Atlanta townhome developer will build 360 multi-family units."

Benderson is also developing Crossroads of Ellenton, with proximity to traffic at Prime Outlets. In addition to the 40,000-square-foot retail center, "a Comfort Inn hotel will be built at that location," Ruben says. Speculative industrial space developed by Benderson amounts to 350,000 square feet at the Bradenton Sarasota Commerce Center. "It's 70 percent occupied," says Ruben. "We're starting a 123,000-square-foot building."

Development is likewise continuing at a feverish pace at Lakewood Ranch, which currently has 2,800 homes and another 200 under construction (see story on page 36). When the community is completed, it will provide 6,000 homes to about 15,000 residents. "We had our best year ever in home sales last year," says John Swart at Lakewood Ranch Realty. "We sold 574 homes, up from 500 the year before, and had our best January ever with 64 sales, up from 52 the year before." But it's not just homes arising in the mixed-use development that crosses the Sarasota County line. Manatee Memorial Hospital is building a 120-bed hospital and 60,000-square-foot medical arts building at Lakewood Ranch. Northgate Commons is a 64,000-square-foot retail center that recently opened, anchored with a 44,000-square-foot Publix.

"The YMCA is breaking ground on a 35,000-square-foot facility," Swart says. "And the Manatee County School Board is starting another elementary school in Lakewood Ranch. There's enough property to do a middle school adjacent to it. With all this growth, we're keeping up with demand for classrooms." Another mixed-use development with luxury homes is under way in Palmetto (see story on page 37.) Riviera Dunes encompasses 214 acres, much of that land fronting on the mile-wide Manatee River, that will include 220 single-family homes and 250 condominiums, a marina, clubhouse and village shopping center. "About 30 homes have been completed," says Mayor Larry Bustle. "This is a very upscale community." Mike Carter Construction Inc. has developed the 220-slip marina. "I've boated all my life," Carter says.

Carter is also involved with redevelopment in downtown Bradenton. "We've just started a $4-million renovation to the Bank of America building," he says. "This will extend the Downtown Development Authority's streetscaping further south and will create a Class A office building for downtown."