North Port city officials hosted 84 new businesses on Saturday for a ceremonial ribbon-cutting and welcome to town. The Quarterly Business Welcome included presentations of public commendations and certificates to all companies founded in the South Sarasota City from January through March.

Economic Development officials in the city said it was critical to maintain relationships between the burgeoning businesses and local government.

“Establishing connections during the critical early-growth phase of a local business's journey is paramount to our team," said Vinnie Mascarenhas, interim North Port Economic Development manager. "This is the time when our team and community partners can make a significant difference, helping new businesses create connections and discover the resources available to them as they navigate the North Port market."

Companies included everything from new franchises like Wendy’s to upstart businesses like Otter Water Solutions. A list of new companies covers numerous industries from professional services to real estate and construction. 

"The rate at which small businesses are sprouting and thriving here is nothing short of phenomenal,” said City Manager Jerome Fletcher. “It's not just growth, it's transformative growth – reshaping our economic landscape at a pace that's been both exciting and inspiring." 

WalletHub recently ranked North Port as the No. 38 Best Small Sized Cities to Start a Business, putting it in the top 3% of municipalities in the country. The same list put Sarasota at No. 24 and Bradenton at No. 29.

The Saturday event served as more than a photo op.

Representatives from Service Corps of Retired Executives attended to connect entrepreneurs with SCORE mentors and corporate advisors. The Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of South Florida (SBDC Tampa Bay) officials CareerSource Suncoast participated and informed businesses of available resources offered by those organizations. The North Port Chamber of Commerce attended to share its offerings to new businesses in town. 

Photo courtesy City of North Port.

Last month, members of The Realty Alliance, a network of real estate experts, came together at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Sarasota to discuss their perspectives on Florida real estate at a breakfast event hosted by Michael Saunders, the founder, and CEO of Michael Saunders and Company. She led the group in discussions about recent housing trends in the Sarasota area and across the state of Florida. Industry leaders from across the country shared their take on current patterns, exploring why Florida appeals to so many people.

“There is something about the weather and the active lifestyle, those are the two key things we hear from people who are coming. People are not necessarily leaving because something is wrong, but they are finally executing on their plans,” says Vice President of Sales at John R. Wood Properties Ron Howard. Robin Sheakley, the president of Sibcy Cline Realtors in Cincinnati agreed. “I think it’s the sunshine,” she added. “And I’ve also seen people who come down and get involved in philanthropy here. I think Florida’s art scene has a general diversity.” Saunders, who has a great deal of experience with local residents, has observed a similar trend. “These people come for the arts but they also bring an enormous amount of talent that they lend to different arts organizations and every other kind of organization,” she said.

In terms of the homes that people are looking for, it turns out that many northern residents are not abandoning their lives in the north, but rather are eager to add a second home. “A lot of people want a second home or condo, whether it is for a brief respite or an extended one in the sunshine and the warmth,” said Sheakley. “Then they’re here and active, whether physically or philanthropically. People want to be doing things, and we’ve seen people enjoy this coast for that reason.”

Modern design dominates the properties sold, and people are looking for more space. “The Mediterranean style is out,” added Mike Pappas, president of the Keyes Company. In particular, they want outdoor space and to experience the indoor-outdoor lifestyle, boding well for Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Learn more about The Realty Alliance at therealtyalliance.com. 

Robin Sheakley and Michael Saunders share real estate insights at the Realty Alliance breakfast. Photos courtesy of Michael Saunders and Company.

https://www.therealtyalliance.com/

Shumaker, a nationally recognized law firm, has announced the acquisition of a team of experienced insurance recovery attorneys, expanding its presence in Ohio. The addition of these 12 partners, associates, paralegals, and an e-discovery manager will provide a significant boost to Shumaker's insurance recovery practice, an area of law that has been rapidly growing over the past few years. As part of the acquisition, Shumaker will open an Akron office, where the attorneys will focus on insurance recovery cases throughout the United States. The team includes the addition of Akron Managing Partner Amanda Leffler and Partners Stacy Berliner, Wes Lambert, Lucas Blower, Drew Miller, Joe Cole, and Joe Thacker; Associates Sarah Sears and Michael Class; Paralegals Evelyn Evans-Eck and Rebecca McCoy; and E-Discovery Manager Natalie Bargy. The acquisition is set to take place on May 15, 2023. 

Christopher Alan Homes President and CEO Ian Schmoyer was a featured panelist at the 2023 Builder 100 Leadership Summit, an annual conference attracting the nation’s top homebuilders, developers and industry leaders. Schmoyer participated in the panel discussion, “Building on Margins: Lessons from the Top Private Builders,” sharing the innovative, strategic and personal approaches to business which have guided Christopher Alan Homes’ success in the highly competitive Florida market. As a nationally ranked builder-owned company, Christopher Alan Homes is the only local homebuilder among Southwest Florida’s top five builders for permitted single-family homes in 2022. The 2023 summit was held May 1-3 at The Ritz-Carlton in Dana Point, Calif. Presented annually by Builder Magazine, the conference is considered a must-attend event for the country’s senior-level builders, developers, financial experts and sales and marketing executives. During his panel presentation, Schmoyer also discussed Christopher Alan Homes’ impressive growth, from its 2017 founding in Southwest Florida and 2023 expansions to Florida’s East Central Space Coast and a planned Tampa division. Christopher Alan Homes is also the exclusive builder in the Creekside Run neighborhood at Babcock Ranch, America’s first solar-powered town, builds single-family homes in Burnt Store Village and recently introduced the second development phase of The Hammocks in West Port. The company also builds on scattered homesites in Lee, Charlotte and Sarasota counties in Southwest Florida and Melbourne and Palm Bay on Florida’s East Central Space Coast, and is planning to open a new division in Tampa mid-2023. For more information about Christopher Alan Homes, call 855-44-MYCAH or visit online at www.ChristopherAlanHomes.com. 

Local Relief, a groundbreaking nonprofit organization and social media app, is on a mission to revolutionize the way communities communicate during natural disasters. By harnessing the power of technology and community support, Local Relief is empowering locals to stay connected, informed, and supported when they need it most.Natural disasters can strike unexpectedly, leaving communities in chaos and disarray. In such challenging times, the ability to communicate effectively is crucial for coordinating assistance, sharing critical information, and offering support to locals in need. Local Relief recognizes this need and has developed an innovative platform that acts as a lifeline during emergencies. The Local Relief platform serves as a centralized hub where individuals and communities can come together, communicate, and coordinate relief efforts. With features designed specifically for disaster scenarios, users can post real-time updates, request assistance, provide shelter, and share vital information with their neighbors. In essence, it's Locals helping Locals.