When John Ringling opened St. Armands Circle to the public in 1926, he forever coupled Sarasota County with a legacy not only of the circus but also of elegance and cultural charm. What the circus magnate isn’t often credited with–but certainly should—is being one of the first to catalyze our destination’s tourism economy.

 A century later, tourism and hospitality stand strong as the top drivers of economic impact in our area. Neither luck nor resting on laurels built these industries. Decade by decade, neighborhood shops, restaurants, and attractions alike have designed our character, drafted our reputation with visitors near and far, and defined our way—and quality— of life. 

This year at Visit Sarasota County, our tourism team has the privilege of ensuring everyone who calls our community their getaway or home knows about the businesses commemorating 100-year anniversaries in 2026–and feels compelled to take part. 

The performing and visual arts put Sarasota County on the map, so it’s no coincidence several institutions are now generations deep in inspiring audiences. Art Center Sarasota has grown into an anchor for the visual arts and will expand its 2026 Members Show to all four of its galleries in honor of its 100 years. The Sarasota Opera House will host an open house that’s free to the public in April and put on nostalgic “A Century in Sarasota” mini-events with their company throughout the year. And the building that was once Sarasota Senior High School, now the Sarasota Art Museum, honors the moments made within this iconic structure through its ongoing Memory Project program.  

With its holiday parade last month, the City of Venice kickstarted its 18-month program of festivities, art installations, and community events —from a dedicated exhibition at the Venice Museum to a downtown block party. To mark Your City on the Gulf’s milestone year, we’ve created a Venice Centennial Pass to serve as your mobile guide to the area’s most iconic historic buildings, parks, and landmark sites. 

Next year will bring even more centennial charm, commemorating John Ringling’s decision to move the winter quarters of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey to Sarasota, one of our first–and Florida’s first–tourist attractions. Special tours, shows, and exhibitions curated by The Ringling and Circus Arts Conservatory are already in the works; but in the meantime, we’ll soon be unveiling another mobile pass–the Circus Legacy Trail–to give our area’s identity as the “Circus Capital of the World” the big-top treatment.

You can trust we’ll be flexing our media muscles to pitch circus-themed, centennial stories to national and international press, as well as leaning into these diversifiers to keep our coast competitive and connected to national moments like America’s 250th Anniversary.

If you’re just as eager as we are to rediscover Sarasota County’s legacy this year, we’ve devoted a full-page spread to all these celebrations and more in our new Visitor Guide, hot off the presses and available to grab at either of our Visitor Centers in Downtown Sarasota or Venice. You can also head to our website at VisitSarasota.com to tap into the many articles and passes we’re developing around these once-in-a-lifetime moments. 

For tourism, centennials provide an invitation for visitors to be a meaningful—if only momentary—part of our destination’s history. But for residents, they hold a more profound meaning–inspiring pride in place, encouraging all of us to embrace rediscovery as tourists in our own hometown, and reminding us why we continue to love where we live. 

 is President and CEO of Visit Sarasota County. 

Pictured: Photo Courtesy Visit Sarasota County.

When people think about the economic engines of Sarasota and Bradenton, they often point to tourism, healthcare, construction, or the arts. Each of these sectors is essential to our regional identity and prosperity. But there is another driver of economic vitality, one that is stable, scalable, and compounding year after year, sitting on Sarasota Bay.

That driver is New College of Florida.

As Chief of Staff and Vice President of Finance and Administration, my role requires me to evaluate how public investment translates into real outcomes, for students, families, employers, and communities. From that vantage point, the economic trajectory of New College during the past several years is not only notable for its growth, but also for the clarity of its return.

According to a recent independent economic impact analysis, New College’s direct economic impact grew from $61.2 million in fiscal year 2023 to $104.5 million in 2025, representing a 71 percent increase in just two years. With responsible enrollment growth and continued strategic investment, direct impact is projected to reach $159.6 million by 2027–2028 and $270.9 million by 2033–2034 – more than 400 percent growth over a decade.

Those numbers are significant. But they only begin to tell the story.

When indirect and induced effects are included, local spending by students, employees, visitors, and vendors, the regional impact becomes even more compelling. In 2024–2025, New College generated a total economic impact of $209.1 million. That figure is projected to rise to $319.2 million by 2027–2028, and to approximately $542 million annually by 2033–2034.

This growth reflects deliberate choices: strengthening academic programs, investing in campus infrastructure, and aligning the college’s mission with Florida’s workforce and civic priorities. New College today educates more students, attracts more talent, and draws more families, visitors, and investment into the Sarasota–Bradenton region than at any point in its history.

Universities also provide something increasingly rare in a volatile economy: permanence. They do not relocate when markets fluctuate. They create long-term jobs, attract research funding, and generate consistent demand for housing, services, and cultural amenities. Every student who chooses New College represents years of local economic participation, often followed by long-term residency and workforce contribution. More than 1,100 New College alumni live in Sarasota today, reinforcing the institution’s lasting imprint on the region.

Higher education remains one of the most reliable vehicles for public return on investment. Independent analysis shows that New College delivers what economists describe as big returns on a relatively small public investment. That is not theoretical. It is measurable, repeatable, and already underway.

Geography amplifies that impact. Situated between Sarasota and Bradenton, New College functions as a connective institution, and a key driver strengthening cross-county collaboration, and supporting a truly regional economy. Students live, work, intern, and volunteer throughout both communities. Faculty and staff serve on nonprofit boards, contribute to civic leadership, and support local businesses across Sarasota and Manatee counties.

This is the point where investment matters most.

Institutions either capitalize on momentum or allow it to stall. Every additional dollar invested in New College does not simply preserve what exists; it multiplies regional return. Enrollment growth drives housing demand. Academic programs strengthen workforce pipelines. Campus development supports local contractors and suppliers. And a thriving public liberal arts college enhances the region’s ability to attract employers who value talent, innovation, and quality of life.

Communities that have transformed their economic futures, Austin, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, did not do so by accident. They made sustained, disciplined commitments to higher education as a cornerstone of growth. Sarasota and Bradenton face that same choice today.

From my seat overseeing budgets, strategy, and long-term planning, one conclusion is clear: New College of Florida is not a cost center. It is a growth engine. The returns are visible in the data, evident in our neighborhoods, and reflected in the people who choose to live, work, and build their futures here.

When Florida invests in New College, and when regional leaders align around its continued growth, the result is not incremental benefit, but compounding value. The impact is durable. The returns are shared. And the opportunity before us is substantial.

That is not optimism.

That is strategy.

Christie Fitz-Patrick is the Chief of Staff and Vice President of Finance and Administration at New College of Florida.

Photo courtesy of New College of Florida.

If December is about reflection, January is about choice. Many of us are settling back into routines and deciding where to focus our energy in the months ahead. What will we start, stop, or continue doing? Where do we want to spend our energy, and why? How can we make the biggest difference?

Those decisions, repeated year after year, add up. They influence how a community works and what kind of ‘spirit’ it develops. And that spirit determines the fate of such community. Will it be a spirit, and thus, mindset of growth, where we find opportunities and silver linings? A successful community has people who are willing to get—and stay—involved, not just in the quick wins but when the work requires patience and follow-through, the work that changes systems for the better.

That’s one of the things I love about Manatee County. We live in a place where generosity continues beyond one event or campaign. Our nonprofit leaders make room for collaboration, even when doing so takes more time. The families, businesses, and volunteers care about how the area functions, not just how it looks. Over time, that kind of consistency changes what is possible for the people and neighborhoods those organizations serve.

MCF created the Spirit of Manatee event to celebrate that consistency. We’re honoring those who stay involved through the seasons and who pay attention to how their decisions affect others. Much of what they do happens out of the spotlight, strengthening our community across education, human services, civic leadership, environmental stewardship, and the arts. And though their work takes many forms, the common thread is their deep understanding that with wealth—be it time, talent, or treasure—comes a sense of duty and responsibility to pay it forward and create a better life for others.

Gathering to celebrate Spirit of Manatee is a highlight of my year. It creates a rare pause, opening space for conversations that usually get squeezed out of busy schedules. It brings people together across roles and perspectives—donors, nonprofit leaders, educators, business owners, volunteers, and public partners in the same room, not to promote their own work but to recognize the shared effort it takes to move a community forward. And I think recognition plays such an important role in civic life. It clarifies—and incentivizes—what a community values.

If you’ve ever attended, you’ll agree: you can feel, in the room, that no single organization or sector carries this work alone. Our community faces complex challenges, and the solutions often take time and the commitment of multiple partners. Progress depends on people who are willing to stay curious and to listen, to remain engaged as circumstances change. The honorees we’ll celebrate this year reflect that mindset of curiosity, of growth, of selfless care, and their work helps set the tone for how our community approaches our future.

This year’s Spirit of Manatee celebration will take place on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at the Palmetto Marriott Resort and Spa. We’ll be privileged to hear from keynote speaker Walt Piatt, Retired Lt. General and Director of the US Army Staff, now the CEO of Wounded Warrior Project. With more than four decades of military service and leadership, Lt. General Piatt will bring us on his journey from the battlefield to philanthropy with a grounded perspective on what it takes to stay committed over time. His experience offers a fitting parallel to the work being recognized.

January is about choice; I hope you’ll choose to join us. Tickets and additional details are available at manateecf.org.

Veronica Thames is the CEO of Manatee Community Foundation. 

Pictured: 2025 Spirit of Manatee Honorees. Photo courtesy of Manatee Community Foundation.