∎ The Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County held its board meeting and an economic development tour at North Port’s Wellen Park on Dec. 16.

Officials from North Port, Venice, Nokomis and Englewood were joined by local business leaders and EDC members to highlight efforts around regional collaboration, South County’s economic growth and the pressing need for continued recovery and resiliency following the devastation of Hurricane Ian.

North Port City Manager Jerome Fletcher noted that the master-planned community of Wellen Park serves as a gateway for people entering the city of North Port on U.S. 41.

The board meeting concluded with a tour of Downtown Wellen Park, where 55,000 square feet of commercial, retail and restaurant space is nearly built out in the fully leased Phase One, which will begin opening in early 2023.

Businesses include its flagship waterfront restaurant The Banyan House, Foxtail Coffee Co., Oak & Stone, Breakwater Home Fashions, Paint Nail Bar, Kind Vibes Outfitters, Agility Physical Therapy, Florida Lakes Spa and Capstan Financial Consulting Group.

The Yard, a downtown food park and entertainment hub, will feature outdoor eateries Agapi, Atlanta Braves-affiliated Pop Dawgs and Claw & Co., and a playground and splashpad area.

An additional 300,000 square feet of commercial space is being developed along the U.S. 41 corridor within Wellen Park for businesses including Costco and Bayside Pet Resort.

∎ Holiday Desoto Beach Club has been honored with the 2023 Caring Star award. The award is determined solely by reviews of seniors and their families on Caring.com, a senior living referral service.

Holiday Desoto Beach Club joins 48 other communities receiving this award, making its owner, Atria Senior Living, the operator with the most winning communities nationwide.

∎ Elite Home Watchers, of Lakewood Ranch, has earned accreditation from the National Home Watch Association for the second year.

The NHWA was formed to establish and maintain the highest industry standards for home watch services throughout the United States and Canada.

Tom and Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, owners of Elite Home Watchers, are both graduates of the NHWA’s Home Watch Boot Camp and have earned the designation of Certified Home Watch Professional.

She attended the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and has owned several successful businesses.

Tom Fitzpatrick graduated from Kansas State University, earned an MBA and a master’s in project management, and spent 20 years in various roles that took him around the world.

They worked together as a real estate team.

Elite Home Watchers works in Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton and Sarasota.

∎ The Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County hosted its Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon on Dec. 12 with a record turnout of over 450 people.

During the event, the EDC team revealed data from its 2022 Annual Report and recognized two outstanding community leaders with the Clyde Nixon Business Leadership Award and the Ringling College Innovation by Creative Design Award.

The luncheon, moderated by Ian Black Real Estate founder Ian Black, came after it was postponed from October due to Hurricane Ian.

In a presentation led by Erin Silk, EDC chief operations officer, data from the 2022 Annual Report showed record business and economic growth findings, due in part to the launch of over 10 major projects and its work with 70 growing and relocating businesses in the community.

Rob Lane, managing shareholder of Kerkering Barberio, was honored with the Clyde Nixon Business Leadership Award and received a standing ovation. The award is given each year to an individual in Sarasota County who embodies the personal and business values that were so clearly demonstrated by Clyde Nixon.

Cordell Jeter, president of EcoRover Chairs, who also received a standing ovation, was presented with this year’s Ringling College Innovation by Creative Design Award.

Prior to his recognition, Dr. Larry Thompson, president of Ringling College of Art & Design, moderated a panel featuring Jeter and two other outstanding finalists, Adam Sulimirski​, managing partner​ of Cruise Car Inc., and TJ Toce, ​vice president of Go-To-Market Transformation​ for S-One Holdings Corp.​

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Touring Wellen Park, Caring Star award for Holiday Desoto Beach Club