News from the Economic Development Corporation of SarasotaCounty
CONTACTS
EDC: Kathy Baylis (941) 309-1200, ext. 200
Gemesis Corp.: John Clement (941) 907-9889, ext. 120
May 25, 2005
Diamond-maker Gemesis Corp. expanding Sarasota headquarters
Sarasota-based Gemesis Corp, which manufactures diamonds for the jewelry industry, will expand its headquarters and manufacturing operations and potentially add more than 50 high-wage jobs by 2008, according to Kathy Baylis, president of the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County (EDC).
Gemesis Chief Operating Officer John Clement said the company is implementing a multi-million-dollar equipment expansion plan at its LakewoodRanchCorporatePark location. The company’s gem-quality yellow diamonds took the jewelry industry by storm, and now Gemesis is branching into additional colors and new markets.
“The greater Sarasota area is presently providing an excellent environment for our company’s growth, and we believe our company has a very optimistic future in Southwest Florida,” Clement said.
“Gemesis has been an outstanding corporate neighbor in our community, and this expansion demonstrates our region’s vitality as a home for high-tech, high-wage businesses,” said Baylis, whose team worked with SarasotaCounty government and EnterpriseFlorida, the state’s economic development arm, to assist Gemesis with the expansion. Baylis said the new jobs generated by the expansion will pay higher annual wages than both the state and national averages.
About the Economic Development Corporation of SarasotaCounty
The EDC is the private, not-for-profit corporation coordinating SarasotaCounty’s economic development effort. The EDC provides business assistance to companies in SarasotaCounty in partnership with chambers of commerce, local governments and other organizations throughout the county and the region. For more information, visit the web site at www.edcsarasotacounty.com.
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