Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties has been selected as a member of the University of South Florida’s Fast 56 Class of 2023! The Fast 56 identifies, recognizes, and celebrates the world’s fastest-growing USF Bull-owned or Bull-led businesses. Habitat President & CEO Mike Sutton is a proud USF graduate. He has served in his role at Habitat since 2014.
Under Sutton, Habitat has gone from $6 million in annual revenue to over $32 million. Habitat is coming off a record year in which it built 73 new homes in our community and will build 75 homes this year. When Sutton took over Habitat, the affiliate was at 280 new home builds. Today, that number is over 830 new homes built in our community.
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties has served the community since 1985. Volunteers and future homeowners construct the homes sold at no profit and financed with a zero-interest loan. Habitat homeowner candidates earn 30 to 80 percent of the area median income. Candidates must demonstrate the need for adequate shelter; the ability to pay back a zero-interest loan and the willingness to partner with Habitat to complete a robust homebuyer education curriculum and invest 350 to 450 “sweat equity” hours.
In 2022, Habitat had a regional economic impact of nearly 40 million dollars. It helped support over 275 jobs, with north of 13 million dollars of wages paid into the local economy. And Habitat homeowners paid more than 1.3 million in taxes.
USF Fast 56 is run by the USF Alumni Association. The awards are designed to honor Bulls alumni while also inspiring the next generation of USF entrepreneurs. Sutton and the Fast 56 Class of 2023 will be honored at the 11th Annual Fast 56 Awards ceremony on September 8th at the Marshall Center on USF’s Tampa campus.
To learn more about the USF Fast 56 Awards go to usfalumni.org/Fast56.
