One Stop Housing, a local organization that provides high-quality yet affordable housing to Sarasota and Manatee residents, hosted a breakfast last Monday to introduce its newest project, Forest Cove. A first for the organization, this project will bring together local employers who hope to provide low-cost apartments to employees through a partnership between One Stop and the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corporation.

Chief Executive Officer Mark Vengroff says his organization is looking for solutions to a widespread problem. “So many employers are struggling to recruit and retain good talent, especially because of the housing market. Housing is unaffordable for a lot of folks—76 percent of employees we surveyed spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent and utilities. That means they don't want to retain their work, or they're working multiple jobs just to sustain a livelihood and keep a roof over their head.”

By working with participating employers, Vengroff has found that offering affordable, luxury housing with amenities allows businesses to retain talent long-term. Before breaking ground on Forest Cove, One Stop is looking to finalize its list of participating employers. At the breakfast, companies that were interested in joining the project had the opportunity to ask questions and hear from employers who had already confirmed their participation. “We were looking for three more employers to jump in, and now we're down to two. There are quite a few interested employers that are circling the wagon. The first two that come in will be the ones we go with, and then we'll start breaking ground,” says Vengroff.

Once completed, Forest Cove will house around 328 families in a variety of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments across three buildings, all connected to shared amenities such as a pool, a barbecue and picnic area and a dog-friendly park. Vengroff hopes that this project will inspire other areas to adopt the solution his organization has found. “There are multiple solutions to our workforce housing challenge, and this is a really innovative and creative one. I hope others will start to note that Manatee County is creating a very innovative model that would be a great benchmark for others to follow.” 

Pictured: Forest Cove will offer affordable housing to local employees of participating businesses. Photo provided by One Stop Housing.

 Tervis, the nationally loved drinkware company founded in 1946, is pleased to announce the appointment of Roger Parsons as its new president and chief revenue officer, effective August 25, 2025.  With more than 35 years of leadership experience in the consumer goods industry, Parsons brings a strong track record of driving growth, strategic vision and a deep understanding of evolving consumer needs.  Over the course of his career, he has held senior executive roles at The Dannon Company, Yankee Candle and Wellness Pet Company, where he led initiatives that delivered significant revenue growth and brand expansion. Parsons has a master’s degree in business administration from Bentley University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management from Northeastern University. 

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 S-OneHoldings Corporation, a global company headquartered in Sarasota with a focus on the digital imaging industry, proudly announces its 2025 honor of being  recognized on the Sarasota-Manatee Top Workplaces list for the 3rd consecutive year. Additionally, 2025  marks the second year that the Herald-Tribune Top Workplaces has selected our company as the Best Mid-Size business in Sarasota-Manatee counties. Adding more excitement to this year's win, Ron  Simkins, S-One Holdings Corporation CEO and Co-Founder, has won the Leadership Award for mid-size businesses in our region.   

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Neal Land & Neighborhoods is celebrating two transformative milestones for its award-winning master-planned community of North River Ranch in Parrish: this Friday’s ribbon-cutting for HCA Florida North River Ranch Emergency and the opening of the innovative Barbara A. Harvey K-8 school campus earlier this month. These milestones deliver remarkable healthcare and educational opportunities to the doorstep of North River Ranch, while filling an essential gap in the Parrish area. Neal Land & Neighborhoods is a land planning and community developer led by John A. Neal. With the opening of the free-standing, 14,000-square-foot HCA Florida North River Ranch Emergency, this state-of-the-art facility offers round-the-clock access to expert emergency care, advanced CT and radiology imaging, and laboratory services, available within minutes for area residents. The future HCA Florida hospital and medical offices will also be the center of the wellness hub component of NRR Village at North River Ranch. 

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Great Place To Work® and PEOPLE® magazine have honored BayCare Health System as one of the 2025 PEOPLE® Companies that Care, ranking No. 17 nationally. This is BayCare’s fifth time being named to this prestigious list, and this year BayCare is especially proud to be recognized as the top-ranked health care system in the country and the highest-ranked Florida-based company. The PEOPLE® Companies that Care list is highly competitive and recognized as one of the most respected measures of purpose-driven workplace culture in the nation, spotlighting organizations that put their people and communities first. Survey responses reflect a comprehensive picture of the workplace experience. Honorees were selected based on their ability to care for employees, families and the communities where they operate.   

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Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMH) was named one of America’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers by Newsweek, a recognition that places its Rehabilitation Pavilion among the top in the nation for inpatient rehabilitative care.The annual ranking, developed in partnership with data intelligence firm Statista, highlights the top 320 inpatient physical rehabilitation facilities across the United States. Inclusion on this list shows that SMH delivers superior outcomes and care, based on an evaluation of quality measures, accreditation, and feedback from medical experts and patients. For more information about Sarasota Memorial’s Physical Rehabilitation program, visit www.smh.com/rehab. 

Pulte Homes has officially launched home sales in SeaFlower, a brand-new coastal-inspired community in West Bradenton. Blending timeless architecture with modern livability, SeaFlower introduces a fresh take on Florida living with three newly completed designer-furnished models that showcase Pulte’s signature open-concept floor plans and thoughtfully crafted elevations: coastal, craftsman, and farmhouse styles. Designed for flexibility and connection to the outdoors, SeaFlower offers a relaxed yet refined lifestyle just minutes from the Gulf Coast’s sun-drenched shores. For exclusive monthly updates as the community progresses, join the VIP Interest List for Pulte Homes at SeaFlower by visiting www.Pulte.com/SeaFlower or calling 941-352-4141. 

Sustainability experts, community organizers, decision-makers and more will gather Nov. 6 in Sarasota County for the 20th Annual Sustainable Communities Workshop. Slated for the Harvest House Learning Enrichment Campus, the day-long public workshop will feature the theme “Then, Now, Next: 20 Years of Sustainable Communities,” to reflect on the past, observe present challenges and actions, and plan for the future of our local region.
Questions? Visit www.scgov.net/sustainablecommunities, email sustainablesarasota@scgov.net, or call 311 (or, 941-861-5000 outside Sarasota County).