Nonprofit to buy building for Sarasota apprenticeship academy

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.

“As a builder and employer in this region, we see firsthand the urgent need for a strong, skilled workforce,” Hunihan says in the statement. 

The apprenticeship academy will provide instruction and certification across 10 trades, including carpentry, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, masonry, solar installation and building construction technology. It will be designed for students 18 and up with a focus on low- to moderate-income students, according to the statement, which adds the state of Florida has awarded the academy a $200,000 grant toward the property purchase and/or buildout.

“This academy is about creating real opportunities to build lasting trade careers while ensuring our industry and our communities continue to thrive,” Hunihan says in the release.

Through a phased redevelopment project, the Fruitville Road property will provide classrooms, instructional labs and workshop spaces for hands-on learning, according to a statement

Suncoast Apprenticeship Academy has launched a fundraising campaign on its website where people can donate toward the $1.8 million property purchase and $7 million renovation. In addition, donations will support workforce training equipment, program staffing and “long-term operational readiness,” according to the website.

Renovations are scheduled to begin this spring, according to the statement.

“This milestone reflects years of collaborative planning and a shared commitment to workforce readiness,” Suncoast Builders Association CEO Jon Mast says in a statement. “This is an innovative, community-driven solution to a regional challenge.”

Classes are expected to begin in early 2030, Mast says in an email, once the acquisition and construction are complete.