Company keeps the faith in construction

The mission of Sarasota-based Gravitas, a group of investors with high confidence in the comeback potential of the Gulf Coast construction market, has turned to mason.

That's the core behind Gravitas' latest reclamation project: a masonry block manufacturing facility in LaBelle, the county seat of Hendry County. Led by longtime Sarasota banker Susan Flynn, Gravitas bought the masonry firm, formerly Kenton Industries, in a deal announced July 12.

Gravitas executive Randy Whitmer declined to elaborate on what the firm paid for Kenton, only to say it was “a fraction of what was left on the debt.” Gravitas bought the business from Synovus Bank.