Forest Cove Project Brings Employers Together to Tackle Affordable Housing in Manatee County
Local businesses gathered Monday morning at the Anna Maria Oyster Bar in Bradenton to collaborate with One Stop Housing and the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corporation on the launch of Forest Cove, a housing development aimed at addressing Manatee County’s critical shortage of affordable housing.
Forest Cove will feature 154 units reserved for employees of businesses that invest in the project, offering rents significantly below market rates. Goodwill Manasota is among the first employers to participate, ensuring its workers access to housing at reduced costs compared to the county’s average rent, which now stands at $1,848 per month.
The project was designed in partnership with One Stop Housing and the Bradenton Area EDC after a survey conducted by Oysters Rock Hospitality revealed that 76 percent of local employees are cost-burdened, with more than half spending over 50 percent of their paychecks on rent. These challenges have forced many workers to move outside of Manatee County, resulting in commutes of an hour or more each day.
Employers such as CareerSource Suncoast and Spirit Movers have joined the effort, emphasizing that Forest Cove provides a pathway to keep employees closer to their jobs and within the community. One Stop Housing has also pledged units for law enforcement officers, including those in the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
Currently, six employers are committed to the project, with One Stop Housing seeking two or three additional partners. Once construction begins, the development is expected to take about two years to complete.
