MANATEE COUNTY, FL (May 6, 2025) – The Manatee Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has voted to move forward on the purchase of a property that will serve as an additional campus for Manatee County Government.

“There is a lot of benefit to this,” said Manatee County Commission Chair George Kruse. "We have a unique opportunity to buy a property at a tremendous discount to purchase that is turnkey with cubicles already in place to create better efficiency for this government.”

The BOCC unanimously approved the execution of a $24 million contract for the purchase of a property located at 9000 Town Center Parkway in Lakewood Ranch. This move will not change the county seat. BOCC and Land Use meetings, including workshops, will still take place in the downtown Commission Chambers at 1112 Manatee Ave. W. in Bradenton. 

This approval is the first step toward moving some departments to a new building that better aligns with the County’s growth pattern. The property is approximately 11.28 acres and includes a two-story, 101,000-square-foot, partially furnished office building with over 600 parking spaces. The additional campus positions some County services closer to where much of the residential and commercial growth is occurring.
 
Purchasing an existing building is significantly more cost-effective than constructing a new facility. A tenant currently occupies the first and second floors. The move(s) would occur in phases to accommodate the tenant’s departure. Even after closing ─ anticipated to be on or before September 1, 2025 ─ several weeks of preparation will be necessary before any employees or departments can relocate.
 
Space created in the downtown Administration Building will be used to accommodate the future growth of the State Attorney, Supervisor of Elections, County Attorney, Probation and Guardian Ad Litem. Other facilities would be repurposed to support EMS, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office and housing empowerment initiatives, while also helping the County comply with new state requirements to provide shelters or designated areas for individuals experiencing homelessness. 

“I’m excited about bringing this forward,” said Manatee County District 2 Commissioner Amanda Ballard, “and I think it will be good for the entire county.”