North Port welcomes 71 new businesses

Over the course of three months, North Port expanded by 71 businesses. 

An event was held by the city of North Port to highlight the milestone that was achieved in the second quarter of 2023, while also establishing an early connection with those businesses. 

"Building these relationships during the critical early-growth phase of a local business's journey is our team's priority," Vinnie Mascarenhas, the newly appointed manager of the city's Economic Development Division, says in a news release. "This is the moment when we, along with our community partners, can make a real impact helping new businesses forge vital connections and navigate the North Port market."

The new members all received certificates and met community partners during the Business Welcome event.  

The city, which is located in the southeast corner of Sarasota County, has been on a growing streak of late in population and development. 

The U.S. Census Bureau recorded a 13.8% population increase between April 2020 and July 2022 while development has been on the rise with Wellen Park, which is on 11,000 acres with a planned 22,000 homes, an Anna Maria Oyster Bar expansion and the addition of Myakka Crossings Commercial Park, a 7.5-acre mixed-use development currently under construction. 

"The rapid emergence and success of small businesses here is nothing short of extraordinary," City Manager Jerome Fletcher says in the release. "It's not merely growth – it's transformative, reshaping our economic landscape at a pace that's exhilarating and awe-inspiring."