Dan West, Mayor, City of Palmetto

July 2026 — In an interview with Invest:, Dan West, mayor of Palmetto, discussed the city’s growth, infrastructure priorities, tourism initiatives, and plans to position Palmetto as a destination community. “Through rebranding, we want to find a way to let the rest of the world know about Palmetto and what we have to offer,” West said.

What changes or developments have had the biggest impact on Palmetto over the past year, and how are they shaping the city’s priorities?

There is a lot occurring here. Palmetto has been here since 1868 on the banks of the Manatee River, and for a long time we were the agricultural hub of Manatee County. We are situated about 50 miles south of Tampa on the west coast of Florida, and this was historically a large agricultural area with packing houses downtown and farms nearby.

We have seen a major shift. Agriculture is not leaving completely, but we are starting to see other types of development come in. Since the pandemic in 2020, people have been moving into this part of Florida, not just Palmetto but Manatee County in general. People love this area because the weather is phenomenal, we are on the Manatee River, we are close to the Gulf of Mexico, and the beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world.

Palmetto is a great place to raise a family. We have great schools and things for people to do. We are seeing people inquire about developments, and we have prospective projects on the horizon. We are also looking to upgrade our main thoroughfares, especially Business 41, which runs through the middle of Palmetto as 8th Avenue.

A lot of what we are focused on is curb appeal: new restaurants and shops, and refreshing buildings that have been here a long time. The city is beautiful, but there is always work to be done. We have about 130 employees working for the city of Palmetto, and as the oldest municipality in Manatee County, incorporated in 1897, we take that responsibility seriously.

How do projects like the ferry stop, downtown enhancements, and riverfront improvements strengthen Palmetto’s regional competitiveness?

They are very important. The Manatee County Convention Center is located in Palmetto, and it has been upgraded. Right next to it is the Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa, so we expect more people to come to Palmetto for conventions and events.

That connects directly to the ferry stop, our parks, and the trail system we are trying to build. One day, someone staying at the Palmetto Marriott will be able to ride a bicycle or walk to different parks in Palmetto. To our west is Emerson Point Preserve, a 400-plus-acre park owned by Manatee County.

Once we have a ferry stop near one of our areas, people will be able to go to the Anna Maria Island beaches. There have also been discussions around kayaking rentals and bike rentals. When people come here, they are going to look for things to do, and we have to provide those amenities.

Restaurants are also part of that. We already have great restaurants, including Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant at the marina, Mila’s on the Manatee, Alvarez Mexican Restaurant, and Popi’s Place.

What makes Palmetto uniquely attractive for businesses and investors compared with other communities in the Tampa Bay area?

For a long time, it seemed like people kept going south toward Sarasota, Naples, Fort Myers, and beyond. Now they are stopping and looking at Palmetto and they like what they see. We are a historic community with historic neighborhoods, waterfront access, and proximity to St. Petersburg, Tampa, Orlando, and Sarasota.

We do not have large expanses of open land, but we do have smaller lots and areas available for possible construction or redevelopment. We have possibilities, and that is what people are seeing. Every week, people stop in wanting to know about possibly bringing their business to Palmetto. When there are prospective developments, people come in and ask when they will be ready. That is a good sign.

What is the broader vision behind Palmetto’s effort to move from a pass-through city to more of a destination community?

That idea started with something simple. As you enter Palmetto from any direction, there are signs that say welcome to beautiful, historic Palmetto. Those signs have been there for probably 20 to 30 years, and we started talking about updating them.

In no way do we want to change our history. We want to embrace our history. We are home to the Manatee County Agricultural Museum and the Carnegie Library, and people visit those places often. We take our history very seriously.

The question is how to show people what Palmetto is all about. That includes our history. Through rebranding, we want to find a way to let the rest of the world know about Palmetto and what we have to offer.

What infrastructure or resiliency investments are underway to prepare Palmetto for long-term growth?

As the oldest municipality in the county, some of our infrastructure has aged. For about a year, we have been working on a plan for a new wastewater treatment facility. Our current capacity is about 2.4 million gallons a day, and we are trying to get that to roughly 4 million gallons a day.

Right now, we can handle the potential developments that are on the books. But as we look to the future and consider other developments in different parts of the city, we will need that extra capacity.

We are also looking at traffic. We have some morning traffic issues, and the Florida Department of Transportation has been working on plans for a potential additional bridge across the Manatee River. As more people come, those challenges will grow, but we will work through them. We want Palmetto to be a destination, so we do not want people sitting in gridlock when they are here.

How are you ensuring residents remain involved in shaping the city’s direction?

We hold town halls throughout the city. We do roughly 15 town halls in the springtime. We meet at housing developments and mobile home parks to let people know what is going on and to answer questions. We take our directors with us, including public works, police, CRA, City Hall, and the city clerk, so we can answer questions with as much detail as possible. We definitely want to hear from our residents.

We also started Facebook and Instagram accounts last year, and in one year we reached around 2,500 followers. That helps us let people know what is happening, whether a road is going to be closed, water will be turned off, or there is information needed during an emergency.

I am at City Hall a lot, but I am also often at people’s homes. If people call me directly, I go see them face-to-face and listen to their concerns.

Looking ahead, what is your broader vision for Palmetto, and what would success look like during your time as mayor?

I would like to see stronger curb appeal along 8th Avenue and the main arteries coming into the city. I would like to see older structures renovated, businesses in those spaces, and more shops that benefit residents as well as visitors coming to the Palmetto Marriott or the Convention Center.

Growing up here, there was not a lot of nightlife, and there still is not. I would like to see restaurants, a sports bar and grill, and places where people can watch football or baseball, eat, shop, and enjoy themselves without leaving Palmetto.

I would also like to see us decorate more for the holidays and build out areas where people can walk, especially along our historic Main Street. That area has historic buildings, coffee shops, the Agricultural Museum, the public library, the Carnegie Library, and our big parks. There are events there all the time, and I want to see those parks and events full.

Success would also mean getting more people involved in the discussion. Palmetto’s population is about 14,500, and we are heading toward 15,000. We are in a great location, with Emerson Point Preserve to the west, hiking and biking trails, scenic overlooks, fishing, coastal areas, and views toward the Skyway Bridge. We are really sitting in a great spot in Tampa Bay, and we want more people to understand what it means to live here.