Sunshine, tranquil gulf breezes and bright blue skies combine with a remarkable quality of life to make Manatee County a desirable place to live, work, play and own a business. As the Manatee Chamber of Commerce celebrates its 130th anniversary, dating back to the founding of the Bradenton Board of Trade in 1889, we are focused on economic vibrancy and a stellar quality of life. Whether you are a visitor looking for a dream vacation experience, a new resident needing to connect, a longtime resident wanting to make an impact, a jobseeker looking for opportunity or a business person who cares about your customers and your community, the Manatee Chamber is here to help.
Composed of distinct yet cohesive communities including Anna Maria, Bradenton, Bradenton Beach, Cortez, Ellenton, Holmes Beach, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat Key, Myakka City, Palmetto and Parrish, Manatee County’s best asset is its people. Every area of Manatee County is home to friendly people who are working to grow the business community while maintaining a quality of life that has garnered the region so much attention. Residents and visitors of all ages will find our community’s personality to be warm, open, friendly and authentic.
Our area continues to garner accolades. Lakewood Ranch recently ranked as the second-fastest growing community in the country.
Movoto.com — an online real estate brokerage — named Bradenton as its “Best Suburb for Buying Your First Home.” Likewise, Gallup News recently reported the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton area was sixth-highest in the country for overall sense of well-being. Factors leading to this honor include purpose, financial support, social life, community pride and being in good physical health. MoneyRates.com named our region as tops in the country for young business entrepreneurs. National Geographic Explorer and best-selling author Dan Buettner included our region as one of the top 20 happiest communities in the U.S. According to Buettner, “(in happier places) locals smile and laugh more often, socialize several hours a day, have access to green spaces, and feel that they are making purposeful progress toward achieving life goals.”
A big advantage to life in Manatee County is our vibrant arts and cultural assets. Every corner of our almost 900-square-mile county offers unique attractions, history and experiences. Internationally recognized sports and sports performance industries have placed our area on a big stage to attract visitors, residents, businesses and investment. A superior post-secondary education sector offers high quality education and training for today’s workforce while equipping students with skills for the jobs of tomorrow.
With an eye on the future, Manatee County and city officials encourage business development, job creation and prosperity for the entire community. The Manatee Chamber is dedicated to helping businesses thrive by providing opportunities to connect to customers and resources to support success. Opening, relocating or expanding a company in Manatee County makes good business sense. Our area boasts numerous advantages that encourage business growth and sustainability, including economic development incentives that qualified applicants can use to create new, high-wage jobs through expansion or relocation in Manatee County.
You’ll find that Manatee County is not a community that simply rests on its laurels of “location, location, location.” We welcome you to a community with an eye on the future.