Nathan Benderson Park, a project that WRA is heavily involved in, just recieved $5 million from the State budget to put towards the completion of its rowing facility. This money will ensure that the rowing facility is built to the standards and requirements of the World Rowing Championship, in an effort to win Sarasota the bid to host their 2017 event. All of this came as a surprise as the Senate and the House had cut the funding for the project down to $1 million. Representatives realized that this rowing facility would be crucial to boosting the Florida economy. Furthermore, bringing an event like the World Rowing Championship to Sarasota would definitely draw postive attention to the city and to the state as a whole. http://politics.heraldtribune.com/2013/04/29/state-budget-doubles-funding-for-sarasota-rowing-venue/