Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation into law that will remove anxiety nonprofits may feel when the tax bills come in. State Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, sponsored the legislation this year after the Sarasota Property Appraiser’s Office said Marie Selby Botanical Gardens would need to pay tax on its entire property as if it were a for-profit business.

Gruters’ legislation makes clear only a portion of property being used for a private sector venture, such as a separate gift shop, can be taxed. In the case of Selby Gardens, that means Sarasota may start charging property taxes on land being used by a privately-run restaurant on property, but the land willed by Sarasota matriarch Marie Selby as a garden space for the community to enjoy will remain exempt from any levy.

“All nonprofits in the state are going to be excited,” Gruters said.

Leadership at Selby Gardens praised the passage of the bill. ““This legislation reaffirms that accessory uses will not put any other nonprofits’ property tax exemption at risk, and the fact that it passed unanimously through committee with such broad bipartisan support confirms what we have been saying all along,” said Jennifer Rominecki, Selby Gardens’ president and CEO. “Regardless of incidental accessory uses, when you are putting revenues back into your mission and back into your community, your property should remain tax exempt. This important legislation would not have been possible without Sen. Joe Gruters’ leadership, and we are deeply grateful to Gov. DeSantis for signing it into law.”

While the legislative fix was inspired by the dispute at Selby Gardens, it impacts some 94,000 nonprofits statewide. Gruters said that’s important so the mission of these organizations doesn’t stop over a tax burden. The issue, he said, is these nonprofits gather expertise in science, social work or any number of arenas that benefit society, but often must rely on different types of skills for fundraising.

“These nonprofits are good certain things, but flipping burgers is probably not one of the things they are good at,” he said. The nonprofits don’t get into the business of warming sandwiches and selling souvenirs to profit, Gruters said, but to meet their bottom line.

“My thing is, if they want to outsource flipping burgers, let them do that,” he said.

Gruters said in the Sarasota dispute, he doesn’t begrudge the Property Appraiser’s Office for aiming to assess taxes on the property. Rather, the situation showed a lack of clarity in Florida tax law. Ultimately, the change was supported by property appraisers in the state. 

Rendering of Michaels on the Bay at Selby Gardens.

Coastal Orthopedics, a full-service provider of comprehensive orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, spine care, pain management and physical therapy services, recently broke ground on a second new facility on 17th Avenue W, just north of Blake Medical Center in Bradenton. The 34,000-square-foot facility will be built on a 4-acre site and will take the place of its west Bradenton space located at 6015 Pointe West Boulevard once it opens in spring 2022.  

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Sabal Palm Bank is pleased to announce their partnership with the Sarasota and Venice Art Centers. Sabal Palm Bank recently completed renovations to their Fruitville and Venice offices. The focus has been on using local contractors, and they now want to enhance their wall space with art from local artists. They have partnered with two local art centers and put out a call to artists. However, any local artist is welcome to send in examples of their work for consideration. Please follow the Call to Local Artists link on the Sabal Palm Bank website for more submission details. Art work will be reviewed as received and installed starting June 15, 2021. 

Lakewood Ranch Medical Group and Lakewood Ranch Medical Center (LWRMC) welcome Dr. Joel M. Hallam and Dr. Terrell Martin to the Obstetrics and Gynecology practice located at 6310 Health Park Way, Suite 200 in Lakewood Ranch. The Lakewood Ranch Medical Group-OB/GYN team is delivering babies at the new LWRMC Women’s Center. Book an appointment online with LWRMG-OB/GYN at: lakewoodranchmedicalgroup.com. 

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JFCS of the Suncoast is hosting a free virtual fatherhood class.The IGNITE program is a federally funded fatherhood program that helps struggling fathers and father figures enhance their parent-child relationship(s), sustain healthy relationships and identify and support their financial independence and job goals. The IGNITE program will begin a free, virtual 12-week fatherhood class on Thursday, June 17 and Tuesday, June 29.  To register, call 941-225-5660. 

The Children's Cancer is having a poker evening for individuals in this community on June 17th.  It will be a virtual event  for the Children's Cancer Center. If interested please contact Julien Borbon at jborbon@childrenscancercenter.org. 

As the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic continue, there are many community members who are struggling to pay their rent and utilities each month. To better reach and assist those people, Goodwill Manasota is providing space at its Selby/Newtown Job Connection office (1781 Dr. Martin Luther King Way, Sarasota) Mondays through Fridays,  8am to 4pm, so that residents can receive help in applying for Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funding. 

The popular Kids’ Summer Beach Runs begin June 8. These free one-mile fun runs are presented by Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, Sarasota Crew, and New Balance of Sarasota. Kids’ Summer Beach Runs are Tuesdays and Wednesdays, in June and July. Registration opens at 5:30pm and races kick off at 6:30pm. Tuesdays, June 8 through July 27, Siesta Beach. Meet near the playground. Wednesdays, June 9 through July 28, Brohard Park. Meet near the Venice Fishing Pier.

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A thank you and farewell to the community I’ve called home since 15. Sarasota has been more than a place I lived and a community I served.

Although to many I’m recognized for my work with CareerEdge, prior to that I was an entrepreneur, small business owner and economic development professional. A Sarasota High School graduate, a mother to three and grandmother to four, this community is where my family put their roots.

CareerEdge recently celebrated its 10^th anniversary and an accomplishment of helping 1,259 people gain promotions, 327 internships and 4,284 raises earned in that time. During COVID, like many, I spent time reflecting on my career past and future. Recognizing the connections, opportunities and outcomes gained while with CareerEdge now seemed as good a time as any to step away.  This month, I’m stepping down at CareerEdge and departing Sarasota, relocating to Dahlonega, Georgia.

Personally, I plan to spend time with my husband adventuring mountains and trails. Professionally, I’m excited to launch Mireya Eavey Company, where I’ll work closely with Meraki Strategic Group to architect workforce solutions, do fund development and create program infrastructure for organizations across the U.S. I will also work with local organizations, such as the Financial Access Federal Credit Union, helping individuals develop pathways toward financial stability.

Sarasota will always be my home. My legacy here isn’t only from my work but it’s with my children and grandchildren who will leave their own footprints in our community.

In 2010, I became the inaugural Executive Director of CareerEdge. I’m indebted with gratitude to Sherod Halliburton, Mark Pritchett and Meredith Hector for recognizing my potential to launch a national workforce model in our region. My hope for CareerEdge is to continue its momentum engaging employers and educators and evolving to meet the workforce climate in real-time.

Passion drives purpose. My passion for helping those without access to the tools necessary for success fueled my career. Being a first-generation college graduate while working as a single-mom and attending school in my thirties to accomplish this goal deepened my passion to help others achieve what would have otherwise been unattainable. Someone has to step-up and be the mentor for those who are easily forgotten—the ones growing up in systemic poverty, the underserved, unskilled and underemployed. One of my greatest accomplishments was launching Bridges to Careers, which focuses on upskilling, employing, and promoting disadvantaged individuals. Helping so many go from unemployment to gainful employment making upwards of $20/hr. was a highlight of not only my career, but my life. I plan to continue advocating for those who feel their voices aren’t heard and do this through engaging partners and communities to achieve outcomes and system changes like we accomplished here.

To the community I’ll always love— thank you. Thanks for a great career, for being a great place to raise my family and to the countless friends, colleagues and acquaintances who in time have become life-long friends. Thank you all for being a part of my journey.

Mireya Eavey is executive vice president of CareerEdge.