April 2024

An Update From the President & CEO

Spring is officially here, and we are moving fast and forward with various projects, initiatives, and news. It is a great time to be a part of the EDC of Sarasota County and our vibrant business community. 

I would like to congratulate Vice President of Economic Development, Josh Ewen for earning the designation of Certified Economic Development (CEcD) from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The CEcD is the highest level of accreditation and professional development that is earned in the industry of economic development.


Josh has been with the EDC of Sarasota County for a year-and-a-half leading the business development team. In addition, he has over 17 years of experience in economic development and local government.


Congratulations, Josh! We are very proud of you, and we are excited to see your bright future evolve here in Sarasota County.


Regards,

Erin Silk, CEcD

President & CEO

Tickets are selling fast!


Join us Thursday, May 16th, at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. Networking starts at 7:00 a.m., and the event starts at 8:00 a.m.


We will be joined by an esteemed panel, including Nathan Ohle, President & CEO, International Economic Development Council, Shari Bower, Regional Executive of the Miami Branch, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, and Dr. Michael Snipes, Associate Professor of Instruction, University of South Florida.


The focus of the event will be looking at state, regional, and local economic predictors, and their implications for Sarasota County.


If you are interested in being a Specialty Sponsor, please contact Anna Eger at aeger@edcsarasotacounty.com for more information.

Click Here to Purchase Tables and Individual Tickets

Join us Wednesday, April 24th, from 4:00-6:00 p.m.


The EDC will host an engaging and informative program highlighting four companies that have expanded in Sarasota County. Event attendees will hear their journey, why they chose Sarasota County, and how we can collaborate to continue creating an ecosystem that fosters growing companies.


Panel Discussion with:


This event is exclusively for EDC Investors.



For reservations or information on becoming an EDC Investor, please reach out to Anna Eger at aeger@edcsarasotacounty.com.

Economic Development Update

Supporting the Expansion of Local Businesses


EDC team members recently toured Commercial Residential Aluminum & Fabricating, LLC. (CRA) expanded 8,000 sq ft manufacturing and welding facility in Venice, FL. CRA specializes in custom swimming pool enclosures and screened lanais for commercial and residential properties. The company is headquartered in Sarasota County, and it has over 200 team members between Tampa and Naples.


We look forward to assisting CRA as they continue to grow their headquarters in Sarasota County.


To learn more, visit craluminum.com.

Behind the Scenes Tour of Mote SEA


EDC Board of Directors and staff visited Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium's new site of Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA). The construction is significantly underway, and Mote SEA has a highly anticipated opening date of early 2025.


The spectacular new facility will embody Mote's vision of Oceans for All, doubling the number of visitors whose lives are enriched by marine science each year and providing no-cost opportunities for schools to utilize specialized teaching labs to ensure that every child in Sarasota and Manatee Counties has the opportunity for hands-on marine science and technology.


If you are interested in donating to Mote SEA, you can learn more by clicking the link here: https://mote.org/support/donate.

Thank You for Joining Us at Business in the Ballpark!


In collaboration with Sarasota County and the City of North Port, the EDC hosted Chair Advisors and special guests for Business in the Ballpark: Atlanta Braves vs. Tampa Bay Rays. Attendees enjoyed an afternoon of baseball, networking, and economic development with fellow community members and business leaders. A great time was had by all.

Welcome New Investors!

The Creative Empowerment Program teaches high school students advanced skills in the film, television and graphic arts industries. They strive to keep this talent local AND employable at a younger age due to the AI high velocity skills demands.


Caring for Children Charities is the driver of this exciting new program.


To learn more, visit CaringforChildrensCharities.org.

Since its founding in 1997, John Galt Staffing has helped thousands of organizations and professionals succeed. While understanding technical requirements is necessary for this process, it is not sufficient. They also focus extensively on the intangibles – culture, personality, and values – to ensure that we match the right person with the right organization.


For more information, visit J-Galt.com.

As a nonprofit strategic consulting service, The Corley Company aligns nonprofit leadership teams and board of directors through strategic planning and facilitation. 


To learn more, visit TheCorleyCompany.com.

Web  LinkedIn  Facebook  Instagram