At the recent Miami International Boat Show, visitors and exhibitors were anxious to see the newest offering from Sarasota's own legendary boat builder, Chris Craft.  The Carina 20 did not disappoint anyone in Miami: This is a luxury yacht tender to the old days of the vertical stainless steel bow plates, custom deck hardware, upscale upholstery, and total comfort for passengers and crew.  The Carina 20 comes at a time when Chris Craft is very optimistic about its prospects and the growth of the regional economy.

The last couple of years have been crucial for Chris Craft.  According to a recent article by Stephen Frater of the Bradenton Herald, the manufacturer is producing as many as 350 boats a year.  This may be a far cry from the 1,000-plus boats delivered in the early 21st century, but Chris Craft is confident that a full financial rebound is in the horizon.

The boating industry is crucial to the Southwest Florida economy.  Boat builders and boating enthusiasts have been a staple in Sarasota and Manatee counties for many decades, but the industry suffered a great deal when the housing bubble burst and the Great Recession set in.  Local boat builders, dealers and marinas suffered as a result, and Chris Craft was able to hold on thanks to its longevity.

Now that conditions are improving and economic confidence is returning to the region, Chris Craft is returning to its luxury roots with models like the Carina 20.  This is good news for the industry as a whole since other boat builders are likely to resume production and start hiring.  Southwest Florida and the Gulf of Mexico is a paradise for fishing and boating enthusiasts, and thus home shoppers interested in properties with marina and dock access will likely turn their attention to real estate in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

"America needs a world-class STEM workforce to address the grand challenges of the 21st century." - President Barack Obama, November 23rd, 2009.

One of the strong White House initiatives during President Obama's first term was to stimulate education in the science, technology and mathematics (STEM) fields.  The goal behind the Educate to Innovate initiative is to call attention to the fact that the U.S. needs to refocus on producing STEM graduates for the purpose of staying relevant amidst strong global competition.

The Manatee Technical Institute

Bradenton is doing its part to answer the STEM challenge with the new Manatee Technical Institute (MTI), a gorgeous, state-of-the-art new public education campus specially designed to teach students technical skills they can put to work right away, including information technology, computer networking, surgical technology, digital video production, and more.

The MTI campus opened in early January 2013 after almost a decade of planning and construction.  A lot has happened in those 10 years, but the MTI has opened its doors at the right time.  Southwest Florida is one of the regions leading the economic recovery of the Sunshine State, and not just in terms of real estate.  More families are attracted to our region's high quality of life, which means that we will see a greater need for a skilled workforce.

All the courses of study offered at MTI are focused on preparing students for the workplace.  Aside from the STEM-related careers, MTI students can also learn the skills necessary for various health sciences subjects like nursing, pharmacy technology, emergency medical services, and others.  The health care industry is expanding at a very fast pace in Florida, and with the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in the next few years, demand for jobs in this industry is expected to grow exponentially.

The new, 210,00 square feet MTI campus is located on State Road 70, near the Braden River High School.  Homeowners in the neighborhood can expect their property values to appreciate accordingly as more families become interested in living close to educational facilities.  The MTI fire science program will still be taught at the Lakewood Ranch facility.

Great news for beer lovers in Southwest Florida: Bradenton is getting its own microbrewery right in the Village of the Arts and just around the corner from the revamped McKechie Field baseball complex.  City Council members are expected to issue a final vote of approval right before Valentine's Day.  If everything goes as planned, the brewery will be open to the public on the same day the Minor League Bradenton Marauders begin their season.

The proposed site for the brewery and pub is precisely at 1014 Ninth St. West. The plans call for conversion of the existing building into a 15,000 square foot brewery complete with a beer garden and tasting areas.  The yet-to-be named brewery will also offer tours to the public and maybe even beer to go, which will require a special permit to accommodate to the liquor retailing rules in the Sunshine State.

The future owners and operators of Bradenton's own microbrewery already know their way around the craft beer world.  Frank and Denise Tschida have hosted craft beer festivals in Tarpon Springs through their own liquor store, which carried one of the most comprehensive selections of microbrewery products from around the United States.  Denise Tschida recently told Nick Williams of the Bradenton Herald that she enjoys the friendly welcome from her new neighbors.

For those who can't wait to enjoy Bradenton's very own craft beer after enjoying a Pittsburgh Pirates or Brandenton Mauraders game at McKechie on a hot day, the sixth annual Bradenton Beer Festival will take place on Saturday, February 2nd from 4-8 pm right on Old Main Street.  Beer lovers will be able to taste offerings from the Darwin's on 4th microbrewery from nearby Sarasota.  This could be the start of a brewing industry in Southwest Florida.