Venice MainStreet receives $15,000 sponsorship from Neal Communities

Jun 15, 2022 | News

Photo: Kara Morgan (above left), CEO of Venice MainStreet, accepts a check for $15,000 from Neal Communities, which was presented by Carlos Puente (above right), Vice President of Sales and Marketing, at the gazebo in Centennial Park in downtown Venice.

Neal Communities donated $15,000 to Venice MainStreet to sponsor its Friday night concert series and marketing efforts. It is the first annual sponsor for this popular entertainment series in downtown Venice.

For 35 years, Venice MainStreet has supported the city of Venice’s historic downtown district by hosting special events like the Friday night concert series. On the second and fourth Fridays of each month, free music performances take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Centennial Park. The series, which is open to the public, has an annual average attendance of 10,000. It helps attract both tourists and residents downtown and stimulates economic spending in dining, shopping and recreational activities.

“Venice MainStreet is grateful to Neal Communities for supporting our mission through sponsorship of our annual concerts in the park series. The funds will be used to pay local artists to perform and support marketing efforts for downtown” said Kara Morgan, CEO of Venice MainStreet. “We look forward to an exciting roster of performers throughout the summer months and we hope everyone will try to catch a concert downtown this year!”

Venice MainStreet is an accredited Main Street organization through the Florida Main Street Program and Main Street America. Its mission is to preserve and enhance the character, beauty and economic vitality of historic downtown Venice. The organization achieves its goals through marketing, promotions, special events and historic preservation advocacy.

“We are proud to support an organization dedicated to economic development and business vitality in the Venice community,” said Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities.

During the company’s 50-year history, Neal Communities has built over 18,000 new homes in more than 90 acclaimed communities from Tampa to Naples. As a prominent builder in the area, Neal Communities has a core belief that “Where You Live Matters.” The private homebuilder has given more than $7.5 million to local charities throughout Southwest Florida and is committed to supporting the communities where it builds.

For more information about Venice MainStreet’s concert schedules, performers, or to join the Venice MainStreet e-newsletter visit www.visitvenicefl.org. For more information about Neal Communities, visit NealCommunities.com or call (941) 229-0630.

About Neal Communities
Neal Communities, based in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, is Southwest Florida’s largest and most established locally owned and operated private builder. During the company’s 50-year history, it has built over 18,000 new homes in more than 90 acclaimed communities from Tampa to Naples. The company consistently ranks among the nation’s top 100 home builders and has earned numerous awards including the prestigious Builder of the Year from Professional Builder in 2015 and America’s Best Builder in 2012 from BUILDER Magazine. With a core belief that “Where You Live Matters,” Neal Communities has given more than $7.5 million to local charities throughout Southwest Florida and is committed to the communities where they live, work and build. Company sales in fiscal year 2019 were $410 million. 

Venice MainStreet works on ecommerce business plan

Jun 8, 2022 | News

Venice MainStreet Inc., along with three other regional nonprofit organizations, have joined Margin & Mission Ignition, an entrepreneurial endeavor of The Patterson Foundation designed to build organizational capacity, boost revenue and strengthen mission impact. Venice MainStreet’s participation will unfold over a 30-month process in which the nonprofit will develop and implement an ecommerce website as an earned-income strategy in partnership with downtown businesses. It will serve as a sales continuation tool for those businesses to reach a broad online market. The project is under the guidance of No Margin, No Mission, a social enterprise and national consulting firm.

The Patterson Foundation created Margin & Mission Ignition to give nonprofits the opportunity to explore, develop and execute earned-income strategies that can help sustain and enhance the impact of their missions in the community. Since 2015, Margin & Mission Ignition has generated these 30-month consulting engagements to help organizations throughout our region strengthen their thrivability.

“Venice MainStreet has learned some hard lessons in the last four years. The take-aways from these lessons are to prepare for the future because business interruptions are inevitable,” said Tracy Silver, President of Venice MainStreet and owner of Venice Wine & Coffee Company. “We are deeply grateful to The Patterson Foundation for this opportunity. The effects of the last four years are deeply personal to our community and MainStreet wants to position itself as a leader for our local businesses to help them thrive now and in the future.”

Venice MainStreet demonstrated the leadership, willingness, readiness, capacity, and culture for success, along with fellow nonprofits Charlotte County Homeless Coalition, Resilient Retreat, and Selah Freedom. All participated in a series of learning labs with No Margin, No Mission prior to opting into the 30-month process to evaluate their readiness to engage in earned-income planning. Throughout the process, No Margin, No Mission will convene the cohorts and create opportunities for the organizations to learn and share their experiences in creating and implementing their earned-income plans. Margin & Mission Ignition is part of The Patterson Foundation’s Nonprofit Thrivability initiative. This initiative connects nonprofits with expertise and resources to learn concepts like strategic decision-making while adopting and implementing entrepreneurial principles to generate enough revenue to support and eventually grow their operations.

We will continue to post about our progress along the way and will be excited to share the launch of the new Venice marketplace website once it is complete. Please check back on our News Blog. To learn more about The Patterson Foundation and Margin & Mission Ignition, visit thepattersonfoundation.org or join the conversation using #TPFMarginMission on social media.

Photo: Tracy Silver (left), President of Venice MainStreet and owner of Venice Wine & Coffee Co.; Ronnie Fernandez (center), Venice MainStreet Treasurer and owner of Venice Florida Tours; and Rod Nafziger (right), Venice MainStreet Economic Vitality Committee Member and former owner of Ciao Gelato are part of the team working with The Patterson Foundation on the Margin & Mission Ignition project, along with MainStreet staff.

City of Venice names new Farmers Market manager

Jun 2, 2022 | News

The City of Venice has awarded Independent Jones with a one-year license agreement, renewable annually, as the new market manager for the Venice Farmers Market, effective July 2.

The Venice Farmers Market operates year-round, Saturday mornings, April – September, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and October – March, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Venice City Hall, 401 W. Venice Ave.

Vendors at the market offer an array of fresh baked goods, wild-caught seafood, Florida-grown produce, boutique cheeses, locally roasted coffee, handcrafted soaps, and fresh-cut flowers.

While supporting local vendors, guests can enjoy music and art from the community, coordinated by Independent Jones. Venice Farmers Market current manager Lee Perron shared, “After five years managing the Venice Farmers Market on behalf of the Friends of Sarasota County Parks, I plan to retire and spend time traveling. Finding a replacement that best met the needs of the City was no easy task, but the voting committee felt confident that Independent Jones was the right team for the job. I know I will be leaving the Venice Farmers Market in good and safe hands.”

City of Venice Special Events and Marketing Coordinator Carly Roderick stated, “I can’t wait to see what our partnership and collaborative efforts will become with Independent Jones, the City of Venice, and the Farmers Market! We are excited to be able to include more community partners and grow our market during the upcoming season.”

Independent Jones has collaborated with local farms like Honeyside Farm, Frog Song Farm, and Geraldson Community Farm, numerous nonprofits including Realize Bradenton, the Manatee Performing Arts Center, merchant associations, master-planned communities like Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, and local bands. Within the region Independent Jones has coordinated various markets in Manatee and Sarasota counties, including the Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton Public Market, Rosemary Night Market, Sarasota Farmers Market (interim market manager), and now the Venice Farmers Market.

Independent Jones Chief Executive Officer and owner Morgan Bettes stated, “Independent Jones will officially take over operations of the Venice Farmers Market on Saturday, July 2, 2022, and we can’t wait to be able to build upon the success and support that the local community has shown so far. We have plans to further the development and community collaboration by giving back and partnering with more local nonprofits in the region.”

Independent Jones Chief Events Officer and partner Antonio Hernandez added, “As a North Port native and residing in Venice for the past two years, the Venice Farmers Market has been a community staple! I am excited to be able to support the growth and future of the market for vendors and patrons. As a partner in Independent Jones, we value giving back to our community and providing the support they need to be as successful as possible, from our local farmers, artists, musicians and nonprofits.”

Become a Vendor | https://www.thevenicefarmersmarket.org/site/vendors/directory/

Social Media | https://www.facebook.com/independentjones/

https://www.instagram.com/indiejoneslive/

Follow Independent Jones on Eventbrite for the latest events | https://www.eventbrite.com/o/independent-jones-17338267201

About Independent Jones | https://www.independentjones.com/
Independent Jones is a privately-owned, premier events and entertainment company pushing the envelope and the standard of community events along the Gulf Coast of Florida.

About Venice Farmers Market | https://thevenicefarmersmarket.org/site/
The Venice Farmers Market’s mission is to promote local Florida growers and agriculturally related products focusing on four core values of nutritional health, education, sustainability, and a sense of community.

Photo: Independent Jones Chief Events Officer and partner Antonio Hernandez, and Chief Executive Officer and owner Morgan Bettes.

Thank you, 2B Kind Thrift Store, for joining!

May 31, 2022 | News

We are happy to welcome 2B Kind Thrift Store as a Nonprofit Partner! 2B Kind makes “lives better, one animal at a time.” 2B Kind engages with the local community to create animal outreach programs, such as finding solutions for animals and owners in need of medical assistance, medicine, or prescription food. They are investing in partnerships with local veterinarians to provide vaccinations, checkups, spaying, neutering, and other pet ownership items at reduced rates. 2B Kind’s goals are to provide assistance to keep companion animals in their homes and build a community of professionals, workers, volunteers, and donors.

2B Kind’s Thrift Store provides a means to construct its rescue for dogs and cats in Venice. Besides providing these much needed funds, the Thrift Store provides a fun space for people to shop and share their pet stories, pictures or pet needs.

2B KIND THRIFT STORE
2049 South Tamiami Trail, Venice, Florida 34293
Open 10am-4pm, Mondays through Saturdays; Closed Sundays
david@2bkind.org
(269) 908-9311
2bkind.org

Welcome, DND Cleaning Company!

May 31, 2022 | News

Venice MainStreet is happy to welcome DND Cleaning Company as a Business Partner! DND Cleaning Company, a home cleaning service, is dedicated to providing an outstanding customer experience with every visit. A team of trained professionals will make your home clean and fresh. “I have been running my business with integrity and honesty for about 6 years. I am responsible for my work and the work of my employees. If you choose our service you’ll receive a team of trained professionals at your door, ready to get your home back into tip-top shape in just a few hours. Your home deserves only the best,” says Daria Vernydub, Owner of DND Cleaning Company.

Contact DND Cleaning Company
(425) 577-0778
dndcleaning38@gmail.com
dndcleaningservicing.com

Thank you, First Baptist Church of Venice, for joining!

May 6, 2022 | News

Venice MainStreet thanks First Baptist Church of Venice for joining as a Nonprofit Partner! This historic church has been located on beautiful Miami Avenue West in downtown Venice since the 1930s. Sunday morning services are held at 11:00AM. Programs are available for children, students and connection groups including Bible study. For a calendar of upcoming events, CLICK HERE.

First Baptist Church of Venice
312 Miami Ave W
Venice, FL 34285
(941) 485-1314
fbcvenice.org