SRQ DAILY Jan 19, 2015
Monday Business Edition
"The trail will also be a huge asset for our community and the homes and businesses around the trail."
Employment projections released by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity for Manatee and Sarasota counties predict greater than 46 percent growth in the construction and contractor industries between 2014 and 2022. Health care services is expected to see just under 30 percent growth in that time, but remain the biggest employer in the region.
An online fundraising drive and the work of a number of business and philanthropic leaders could soon mean a massive expansion in the length of the Legacy Trail, potentially running it from Venetian Waterway Park all the way to Downtown Sarasota. The Gulf Coast Community Foundation, developer Jesse Biter and hundreds of donors big and small provided the needed funding to continue a feasibility study on extending the popular trail.
“I know there are thousands like me that will utilize the trail once it's complete,” said Biter. “The trail will also be a huge asset for our community and the homes and businesses around the trail.”
Donations in a major crowdfunding effort were directed through Gulf Coast Community Foundations’ GulfCoastGives.org website. The drive, spearheaded by Biter and the Friends of the Legacy Trail, launched after Sarasota County Commissioners in August 2013 authorized $72,251 for a study but called for the private sector to raise the rest to match that amount and cover the expense. The $72,251 goal was met last week through donations as small as $10 along with contributions in the thousands. Groups like Friends of Sarasota County Parks and Friends of the Legacy Trail held fundraisers to contribute to the cause.
The 10-mile trail, which opened in 2008, extends now from south of Sarasota to the city of Venice primarily following an old CSX railroad corridor. The original trail land was purchased in 2004 for $11.75 million by the county. The ultimate goal of the fundraising efforts are to find a way to extend the trail to 30 miles. County staff is now reviewing an early draft of the feasibility report, and a final study should be completed and ready for review by county commissioners later this winter.
“The Legacy Trail connects our community’s parks and people,” said Teri A Hansen, president and CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation. “This grassroots fundraising effort to help extend it also connected diverse community members, and it demonstrates broad regional support for expanding the trail.”
Manatee County Commission: The board meets Tuesday for a workshop that will include discussions of Children’s Services, transit changes, sewer collections and disposal of public lands. The workshop will be held at the Manatee County Administrative Center at 9am.
Sarasota City Commission: The board meets Tuesday and will discuss city investment policies, its naming policy on donations and a potential whistleblower claim connected with a negative audit of the Information Technology department. The evening session begins at 6pm at City Hall.
Jennifer LaHurd has been named director of human resources at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. LaHurd, who has been a human resources leader for 17 years, previously served as the SCF director of human resource operations since 2005. Prior to coming to SCF, she was director of human resources at Pines of Sarasota for eight years. LaHurd was named the Sarasota-Manatee Human Resources Association 2013 Human Resources Professional of the Year for serving as a role model for the human resources profession and 2007 Volunteer of the Year for her community service. She also is a 2011-12 graduate of the Leadership Manatee Program. She is the past president and executive board member for the SHRA and served as the chair for the 2013 SHRA Annual Conference.
Dr. George Rozelle, owner of Sarasota-based MindSpa, presented the preliminary findings of a study he’s leading about the use of electroencephalograph, or EEG, biofeedback to help retired professional athletes suffering symptoms of prior concussions. The findings were presented to a conference hosted by the International Society for Neurofeedback and Research, held in San Diego. Rozelle reported all 10 subjects in the study, who were all located in Tampa or Los Angeles, showed significant improvement with the use of pulsed ultra-low power electric current EEG Biofeedback. EEG Biofeedback or Neurofeedback is a learning strategy that enables individuals to alter their brain waves. EEG refers is the device used by clinicians to record electrical impulses from the nerves located on the head. MindSpa is moving into a 14-office suite at the Ridgegate Center on Bee Ridge Road in Sarasota. The relocation is expected to be completed before the end of February.
Blaze Pizza has announces an official opening date of January 29 for its new Sarasota store. Blaze will host several events for the opening, including a Free Pizza Day on January 30, when anyone who comes to the store a free 11-inch build-your-own pizza, all day.
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