Data from Gulf Coast Community Indicators shows that the fastest growing sector of the regional population from 2000 to 2013 was from seniors aged 85 years and older, which increased by roughly 56%.  

When the finalists for the Gulf Coast Innovation Challenge were announced last week, Mote Marine Laboratory officials had four huge reasons to celebrate. Of the five teams awarded with $25,000 in prototype funding, four had direct ties to the Sarasota research facility. “Now what we have to do is continue working hard with each of the partnerships we have built with these proposals to really fine-tune the business plan, the science plan the undergirds as part of the foundation of the business plan and to develop the pitch,” said Michael Crosby, Mote CEO.

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation focused its inaugural challenge this year on “Blue Economy” initiatives, in large part because of the establishments research programs connected to Mote. Some 25 teams competed this year, and videos showing plans for a marine-based business effort remain in a challengers gallery on the gulfcoastchallenge.org website. The remaining teams are now competing for an additional $375,000 in funding through the foundation, and will compete in sessions much like those on the reality show Shark Tank. The following teams made the finals: “Advanced Solar-Powered Filtration Technology for Marine and Freshwater”; “Antibiotics from the Sea”; “Cancer Therapies from Sharks”; “Healthy Earth - Gulf Coast: Sustainable Seafood System”; and “Taking Back the Lion’s Share.” Only the last, a University of South Florida-led effort with restaurateurs and fisherman to trap lionfish, doesn’t list Mote as a major partner. The other efforts involve Mote scientists working with entities like the University of Washington and Robrady, Omeza, the University of Central Florida and Sun BioPharma, and Healthy Earth.

Greg Luberecki, spokesman for Gulf Coast, said all of the teams who applied have seen positive impact from the publicity of the challenge. “We are actively working to connect teams with people even if they didn’t get selected as finalists,” he said. Finalists, meanwhile, will work over the next three months and present pitches to a final selection committee in November.

Among other things, that means the four Mote teams are competing very much against one another, but Crosby said that’s the nature of independent scientific research in the first place. “This is the world we as researchers live in,” he said. “We always go out and compete for very limited research dollars, and we do it in a very collegial way.” 

To read more about the region's "Blue Economy," read SRQ Magazine's cover story in the August issue, on stands now.

At the Miami International Swim Show July 18-20, Shore introduced its first wholesale line for resort and spring 2016. The line features more than 150 swim pieces, cover-ups and apparel, and attracted interest from top Internet and retailer buyers with locations all over the world, including New York, California, the Caribbean and Europe, according to Susan Leonard, owner and designer at Shore. The line features environmentally friendly custom dyes and prints.  

Shore

Insula Companies, a Sarasota-based firm specializing in apartment community acquisition and revitalization, announced the acquisition of two apartment communities . These purchases marked the sixth and seventh for Insula Companies in 2015 and the 21st and 22nd since 2009. Making its first foray into the state’s capital, Insula Companies acquired the 120-unit Club at Lake Jackson in Tallahassee out of foreclosure on May 20. Insula plans an $800,000 renovation to reposition the asset. On June 25, Insula acquired the 164-unit Village Green Apartments in Altamonte Springs from a private owner, where it has planned a major $1.5 million makeover.  

Insula Companies

Impact Basketball announces its Sarasota facility will host a summer combine for the National Basketball League of Canada on Saturday.  The Impact Basketball gym is located on Mcintosh Road. This event is part of the NBL Canada Summer Combine Series, during which NBL hopefuls will be challenged via live full-court games and skill evaluation to showcase their skills for head coaches, general managers and owners who are seeking to sign new professional players. The Canadian NBL is led by Commissioner David Magley, who spent 11 years as head basketball coach at Bradenton Christian School.  

National Basketball League of Canada