Rich County, Poor County

Bradenton

In the past five years, the city has added 4,005 residents from major developments and 873 residents from infill for a total population of 54,382. The city's population is projected to climb to 68,790 by 2010, according to Jones, Edmunds & Associates. Major projects include a new 223,000-sq.-ft. judicial center project and several condo projects, including the Promenade at Riverwalk, which will house 350 units, the old City Hall site, which will contain 100 condos, and Villas Point Pleasant, which will have 17 units. ... The Bradenton City Council recently approved a controversial "no camping" ordinance, a move that critics complained was an unfair effort to crack down on the homeless.

Key Newcomers

? Jim McMillen, president and CEO of Thermodyn, an Ohio-based manufacturer of molded rubber products that recorded approximately $25 million in sales in 2004, is moving the company to Bradenton, bringing an estimated two dozen jobs to the area.

? Chris Miller moved from New York to Bradenton in 2004 and opened Florida Precast Specialty Products, a company that manufactures lightweight cement panels that resemble stone but are about half the weight. Last year, Miller moved his company into a 30,000-sq.-ft. facility.

Manatee County

Haemacure Corp., a Canadian company that develops biological adhesives, biomaterials and surgical devices for acute surgical wound care, is funding a $10.8-million expansion and renovation of its manufacturing operations in Manatee that will create 51 jobs with salaries from $65,000 to $100,000.

Naples

Ten years ago, the percentage of Hispanic students attending Collier County schools was approximately 25%. Today, it's about 39%. The increase comes as thousands of people on Florida's east coast have moved west. Miami-Dade County contributed the second-greatest number of new residents to the Collier County and Naples area in 2003-04, according to IRS data. "There's a lot more developed land over there, where there's a lot to be developed over here," says Tammie Nemecek, president of the Economic Development Council of Collier County. That is if you can afford it. Last year, the median price of a home in Naples rose to $482,000, making it one of the most expensive places in the country. ... Collier County commissioners recently approved a plan to speed up the county's permitting process to help lure companies offering higher quality jobs. ... Collier Regional Medical Center, a $75-million hospital that will employ between 300 and 350, will be completed later this year.

Brian Holley will oversee a master plan that calls for creating a "world-class subtropical garden paradise" at Naples Botanical Garden.

Key Newcomers

? Brian Holley, executive director of Cleveland Botanical Garden, has also been named executive director of Naples Botanical Garden and is splitting his time between Ohio and Florida. He will oversee the implementation of a new master plan for the Naples attraction that is intended to turn the 160-acre property into a "world-class subtropical garden paradise."

? Domino's Pizza founder Tom Monaghan recently held groundbreaking ceremonies for Ave Maria University. Since 2002, Monaghan has invested more than $230 million in the school and the surrounding town also called Ave Maria.

Tags: Southwest