Focus on Manatee: Take a minute, watch a video, share good news

Are you interested in some good news for a change? If so, read on.

When 350 business and community leaders from the Manatee-Sarasota region gathered this month for the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corp.’s annual meeting, our message was upbeat, as you might expect.

We reported on our progress in assisting businesses that are creating jobs and investing capital in our community.

We honored Kevin DiLallo, chief executive of the Manatee Healthcare System, for his leadership in local economic development.

And we learned more about how the Pittsburgh Pirates contribute to our economy and quality of life as Frank Coonelly, the ballclub’s president, delivered the keynote address.

All good news.

But perhaps the lasting, take-home message came in the form of two short videos we premiered at the event. These good-news videos – each only a minute long – showcase accolades our community has earned in education, the economy, quality of life and more.

Here are some examples:

• A Gallup poll ranked Bradenton-Sarasota-North Port among the top three metro areas in the nation for well-being, beating other desirable areas in California, Colorado and Hawaii.
• According to MoneyRates.com, a favorable tax climate ranked the Bradenton-Sarasota-North Port metropolitan area No. 1 for business opportunities for entrepreneurs.
• Manatee County ranks No. 7 in Florida for incoming investments. A low cost of doing business, an abundance of educational opportunities and a skilled labor force are a few reasons global corporations and U.S.-based ventures find the area so enticing.
• Manatee Technical College students won 75 medals at the Florida SkillsUSA Skills and Leadership Conference in April 2017. First-place state winners advanced to nationals in June, when 10 champions brought home medals.
• Manatee County School District’s Technology Student Association (TSA) competitors dominated at the 2017 National TSA Conference for the 11th year in a row by bringing home more Top 10 trophies than any school district in the nation.
• Manatee County became Florida’s first platinum-certified green government, demonstrating the county’s commitment to protect and conserve its natural resources, enhance the efficiency of government and raise public awareness about the benefits of environmental stewardship.
• The health and science programs at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) are ranked among the top in the state based on student performance and affordability.
• LECOM Bradenton was ranked No. 9 in the U.S. by TopMastersInHealthcare.com for its Masters in Health Administration degree program.

We encourage you to watch the videos to be reminded why Manatee County is a great place to live and work.

Help us spread the word by posting the videos on your social-media platforms. Show your friends, clients and employees why this is a great home for you, your family and your business.

You can find the videos at BradentonAreaEDC.com/videos.

Take a minute. Share a video.

Let’s show the world our community’s good news.

This story was originally published November 19, 2017 at 8:35 AM with the headline "Focus on Manatee: Take a minute, watch a video, share good news."