After $2.5 million in damages from the 2024 hurricane season, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium officially reopened its Manatee Rehabilitation Center and welcomed its first new patients: three young manatees named Sabal, Orchid and Vora.
From Cargo to Community
By June, Clearwater will start constructing a mini-mall of repurposed shipping containers. The project – called The Grove @ 1105 – is a collaboration between the North Greenwood Community Redevelopment Agency and the Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition. With an expected opening by year’s end, the village aims to revitalize North Greenwood’s historically Black business district. Clearwater approved $500,000 for the project in February 2025.
FOOD
- Tampa-based dining company Bloomin’ Brands revamped its leadership lineup to include Eric Christel – formerly CFO of The Campbell’s Co. and a PepsiCo executive – as CFO and John Bettin – formerly CEO of Miller’s Ale House – as Bonefish Grill president.
ENVIRONMENT
- The state agriculture department’s Rural and Family Lands Program paid $9.4 million for a conservation easement on 2,559 acres of Hardee County ranchlands that connect to the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
EDUCATION
- Southeastern University unveiled a 13,000-sq.-ft. campus in the heart of downtown Winter Haven that will support academic disciplines such as health care, logistics, business and other emerging fields tailored to workforce needs in Central Florida.
ARTS
- Depot Arts District – a new working hub for artists in Lakeland – offers 35 affordable artist studios, two expansive galleries and multiple workshop rooms for art classes.
- The Florida Orchestra received a $10-million gift from an anonymous donor, representing the largest single donation in the orchestra’s 58-year history.
HEALTH CARE
- Sarasota Memorial Health Care System broke ground on a $507-million hospital campus in North Port. The nine-story hospital and adjacent three-story medical office building should be completed in 2028.
- The U.S. Department of Defense awarded a $22.4-million grant to Moffitt Cancer Center for clinical trials and studies on leptomeningeal disease, caused when advanced cancers spread to the membranes and fluids surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
- Tampa General Hospital paid $22 million for a 48,000-sq.-ft. property on Davis Islands that holds a new endocrinology clinic and University of South Florida Health offices. The academic health system also opened a 32,000-sq.-ft. innovation center in Ybor City anchored by Denver-based tech giant Palantir.
- After a $20-million renovation, the 24,000-sq.-ft. Naples Comprehensive Health Marco Island Urgent Care has opened with 12 exam rooms, advanced imaging, two negative pressure rooms and expanded physician offices.
NONPROFITS
- STARability Foundation, a nonprofit supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, broke ground on a new Naples campus.
WORKFORCE
- The Heights Foundation – a nonprofit serving low-income families in Fort Myers’ Harlem Heights community – received $2.5 million in state funding for the Heights CareerTech Institute, a $42-million post-secondary career technical school under construction.
HOUSING
- Riverview-based homebuilder Homes by WestBay is planning 306 single-family homes and 178 townhomes for a new Pasco County neighborhood called Pasadena Ridge.
- Houston-based real estate developer Hines broke ground on Kinfield, a 785-acre master-planned community in Pasco County.
INDUSTRIAL
- Sarasota developer Benderson Development plans to add nearly 1 million square feet to the 2-millionsq.- ft. Florida International Tradeport industrial park in Palmetto.
ENTERTAINMENT
- On April 1, the 474-room Naples Grande Beach Resort will start major renovations to its guest rooms and suites, dining options, lobby, spa, pools and event spaces.
TRANSPORTATION
- Tampa Executive Airport has completed a five-year, $33-million upgrade of its airfield and facilities.
Robots for Affordability
A robot is bringing more affordable housing to Tampa Bay. Using a 3D-construction machine – equipped with a robotic arm and purchased using a $500,000 grant from Hillsborough County – the Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa is planning at least three affordable housing projects with 3D-printed outer shells. The area’s typical home averages around $180 per square foot to build; the 3D models will cost around $125 per square foot.
Riverside Buildouts
A new mixed-use development is rising in the heart of downtown Bonita Springs. Imperial 41 will revitalize two long-vacant lots on the Imperial River with 120 apartments, two public parks with amenities, and 19,000 square feet of commercial areas. Naples-based Barron Collier Companies, Maryland-based CAPREIT and the City of Bonita Springs celebrated the public-private partnership with a groundbreaking ceremony in December. It’s expected to be completed in early 2027.