Tourist season may not be the only reason you have been experiencing longer travel times and more crowded beaches over the last few months. That’s because as many as 10,000 new people have taken up residence in Manatee County since July 2016.
According to a March 23, 2018 article in the Bradenton Herald, nearly 10,000 new residents have flocked to Manatee County between July 1, 2016 and July 1, 2017. This influx of new residents has helped make Manatee County was the 44th fastest growing county in the United States between 2010 and 2017. Over the last seven years, Manatee has added nearly 62,700 people and seen a population increase of 19.5 percent. This population boom has also given a boost to the local economy.
Manatee Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Jacki Dezelski “Manatee County continues to see new businesses open and existing businesses expand as we continue recovery from the recession,” Dezelski said. “Our chamber member companies are optimistic about growth this year and beyond.”
Those businesses are also adding employees, Dezelski added, noting that unemployment rates are another indicator of expansion. Manatee County saw a jobless rate of 3.5 percent in February, down from 3.8 percent in January, according to data released by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity on Friday.
To read more, please visit http://www.bradenton.com/news/local/article206602659.html.