BRADENTON – Recession-battered merchants here are feeling more confident about the future as ambitious projects, such as the new theater, bring positive attention to the city’s urban core.
The multimillion-dollar home for the Manatee Players caps off a string of new developments near downtown Bradenton that many officials and merchants believe can lift the community out of its slump.
To be sure, Bradenton faces a slew of economic hurdles, including a grim commercial vacancy rate, rising foreclosures and a job market that continues to struggle with relatively tame consumer spending.
But a $50 million influx of new investment during the last 10 months has many thinking the area is poised for a rebound.