Harbor58 breaks ground on $4.5 million housing project in Manatee County

It’s been a year since 19-year-old Airanna Gibbons attended her first monthly meeting at Harbor58, a Lakewood Ranch nonprofit that supports young adults who have aged out of the foster care system. 

That meeting was in October, so it doubled as a Halloween party. Annie Wilson, a Harbor58 mentor, had been inviting Gibbons to meetings every month since they met at the group home where Gibbons was living.

“She was very (persistent),” Gibbons said of Wilson. “She would text me every single time to say, ‘If you want me to come pick you up, just let me know.” 

That month, Gibbons hadn't heard from Wilson so she initiated the contact to ask if she could attend the Halloween party. Wilson’s response was, “Oh my gosh, yes, I’ll be there in five minutes.”

Gibbons had fun, so she attended Harbor58's Friendsgiving dinner the next month, but that event was more of a challenge due to her anxiety. Between the holiday and all the new people and activity surrounding her, Gibbons said she became overwhelmed.

Missy Parmenter, the president of Harbor58, noticed. 

At the Christmas dinner, there was a separate room set up for anyone who needed to get away from the crowd and relax.

“Missy came into the room and saw me there,” Gibbons said. “She told me the room was created for me, and that warms my heart because it made me realize that people do care.” 

Gibbons is now preparing to enter Harbor58’s 18-month housing program, where she’ll receive life skills training, career coaching, and help in buying a car. She was able to see the apartment on Thanksgiving and will be moved in before Christmas. 

Once Gibbons turned 18, she was "dropped" into a program in Sarasota County which wasn't comfortable for her because her group home, job, and support system all had been established in Manatee County. 

Now she is looking forward to the impending move to Harbor58. 

Besides working at Starbucks, she is one of Harbor58’s first paid interns, thanks to grant funding from the Sisterhood for Good nonproft. 

Harbor58 operates out of Oasis Church on Lorraine Road. The housing program Gibbons is entering is a pilot program and will operate off-site, but plans are moving forward for a $4.5 million housing complex on the church’s campus. 

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The new community will include 12 individual villas within six buildings and a community center. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Nov. 17. 

The church is paying for all the ground work, which will take up to nine months to complete. As for going vertical, Parmenter said $3 million out of the $4.5 million has been pledged so far, including numerous in-kind donations. 

Mill Creek’s Tim Parker is the president of Red1 IT. His company will be donating the materials and labor for the fire alarm system, which would otherwise cost Harbor 58 up to $10,000. 

Parker is a member of Bayside Community Church on Lorraine Road, so he considers Oasis Church a neighbor. Red1 often looks to give back, but with so many needs in the community, Parker said he looks for projects that he and his staff are passionate about. 

Parker and his wife Cassie adopted two children out of the foster care system, so this project fit that requirement. 

“The older kids get, the less adoptable they become,” Parker said. “Then, they age out of the foster care system and the state pretty much says, ‘Go do something and find a home, just don’t get in trouble.’ That’s no way to treat these kids.” 

Parker’s not alone. Members from around the community have offered their support and services. 

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Erick Packwood, owner of The Way Plumbing in Parrish, offered plumbing services. Wilfredo Hernandez, owner of R.O.H. Mechanical LLC in Bradenton, offered HVAC services, and Bryan Dotson, owner of Palmetto Smart LLC in Palmetto, offered electrical services.

That’s only to name a few. Cabinets, painting, flooring, roofing, fencing, landscaping and more services have been offered. Private foundations, private donors and Manatee County are also stepping up with financial assistance. 

The Esplanade Women’s Pickleball Association presented Parmenter with a check for over $22,000 at the groundbreaking. 

The assistance through the county is coming from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Home Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program. On June 3, commissioners approved funding in the amount of $573,740.

“It’s beautiful to see the collaboration and support from the community,” Parmenter said. 

The project is anticipated to be completed sometime in the first half of 2027.