During this period, the State of Florida was developing an innovative housing model for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through a partnership between the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, led by former Executive Director Steve Auger (now IL Board Member), the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, and disability advocates.

The initiative gained momentum during the tenure of Senate President Andy Gardiner, a parent of a child with intellectual disabilities, whose leadership helped advance policies supporting housing opportunities for individuals with disabilities. These statewide efforts provided the framework that inspired communities such as Independence Landing.

Allison Tant, who has a son with IDD, researches the housing model and traveled throughout Florida to learn firsthand from communities already putting it into practice. And asks, “How can we do this in Tallahassee?”.

Independence Landing, Inc. was established by Allison Tant as its Incorporator and initial Resident Agent, as a Florida not-for-profit corporation and was granted 501(c)(3) status by the Internal Revenue Service.

As Independence Landing’s founding Board Chair, Allison did far more than establish a nonprofit, she built the foundation for the project itself. She researched the housing model and traveled throughout Florida to learn firsthand from communities already putting it into practice. She worked closely with Florida Housing Finance Corporation officials and coordinated the competitive selection, bid, and interview processes for the project’s developer, property manager, and services coordinator.

Allison also took the vision into the community—appearing before the Southwood Community Development District, SouthWood HOA, City Commission, County Commission, and Planning Commission to build support and secure the site control necessary to move Independence Landing forward.

Establishing the nonprofit was, as Allison puts it, “the easiest thing ever.” The real work was building the partnerships, approvals, team, and foundation needed to make the vision possible.

Gil led Independence Landing through some of its most critical years. He helped identify the potential land site, worked with City officials on land-use and site issues, and helped secure the 2020 FHFC grant approval that moved Independence Landing from vision toward reality.

He continued fundraising through COVID and coordinated among FHFC, credit underwriters, Southport Community Development, and Mad Dog Construction to keep the project moving. He also oversaw land clearing and helped bring the community together for the 2022 groundbreaking; a milestone marking the beginning of construction!

Gil kept the pieces moving and the partners connected as Independence Landing became a reality.

Served as the developer/principal partner for the Independence Landing development, supporting the financing, development, and construction process.

Provided critical financing support through competitive housing credits and grant funding that helped make construction of the affordable housing community possible.

Supported the project through a long-term ground lease for the city-owned land where the Independence Landing community was developed.

A local builder, owned by Kelly and Laurie Dozier, that oversaw construction of the Independence Landing campus, turning years of planning, fundraising, and community collaboration into the physical homes and shared spaces that serve residents today.

Brice became volunteer Board Chair in 2022, just as Mad Dog Construction and Southport Community Development began building the community center and residential buildings. She worked closely with the builder and Southport to keep construction on track and ensure deadlines were met: from choosing colors and finishing details to preparing for the ribbon cutting.

Independence Landing welcomed its first residents, marking the official opening of the community. This milestone represented the culmination of eight years of vision, planning, advocacy, fundraising, partnerships, and construction, as adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities began calling Independence Landing home.

Denise has brought the utmost professionalism, positive energy, contagious joy, and inclusiveness to her leadership as Board Chair. She has guided Independence Landing through the stabilization of the project, full occupancy, thriving resident life, and continued fundraising, while helping strengthen the community we have become.

Under Denise’s leadership, Independence Landing inaugurated the popular Challenge Run, and our most recent signature event, the B3 Bash, set a new record for funds raised. Through every chapter, Denise has helped ensure that Independence Landing is not simply a place where people live, but a place where people connect, celebrate, participate, and belong.