A Sarasota County nonprofit focused on workforce development plans to buy a former restaurant to house a new apprenticeship program. The Building Industry Institute, doing business as Suncoast Apprenticeship Academy, is purchasing 5921 Fruitville Road for approximately $1.8 million, including closing costs and legal fees, project officials say.
The Fruitville Road building, just off Interstate 75, houses an old Perkins restaurant, which Suncoast Apprenticeship Academy aims to transform through a $7 million renovation project into a modern training campus for those seeking careers in construction. The academy was established in response to the shortage of licensed and trained trades professionals in Sarasota and Manatee counties, which are also experiencing population growth and increased construction demand. The organization is in the fundraising stage and does not have any students yet, officials say.
The property sale is expected to close in the late fourth quarter of 2026, according to David Hunihan, CEO of Lee Wetherington Homes. Hunihan and his wife, Lauren, were among the first to donate to the initiative to build out the campus for the academy. He is also a life director and board member of the Suncoast Builders Association, an organization representing more than 400 builders and developers with which the Suncoast Apprenticeship Academy plans to operationally align…