Planning for Sarasota County's Future Economy

We believe that Sarasota County is a special place. Our county offers a high quality of life and is consistently rated as one of the best places to live or start and grow a business. Yet, we also have our share of economic challenges that must be addressed if we are to continue to experience the type of quality development and stable tax base that provide services to all segments of our population, and supports our community's schools, parks, infrastructure and cultural amenities.

Final Report now available:

pdf document Sarasota_Economic_Plan_2004_Final.pdf

THE PLAN

The Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners and the Economic Development Board recognize that sustaining our quality of life will require us to look to the future and proactively plan for the type of businesses and jobs we want in our region. For this reason, Sarasota County is committed to designing a five-year economic development plan that will guide our resources toward a shared vision of a healthy economy. This plan will be a comprehensive, systematic effort to enhance our business climate and specifically:

  • Identify the opportunities and challenges for existing businesses to grow and prosper, and seize opportunities for new businesses to be created;
  • Provide quality jobs that offer younger adults career opportunities in the region, and that attract a more highly skilled workforce necessary for today's economy;
  • Distinguish industry clusters where existing assets can be brought together in new ways to develop a competitive advantage in state, national and global markets;
  • Integrate workforce, tourism and development efforts to leverage public and private resources and maximize the benefits to the community; and
  • Identify the partnerships and operating structures that can most effectively implement our economic goals and strategies.

THE PROCESS

The process for developing this economic plan will take approximately ten to twelve months, starting in November 2002 and finishing by October 2003. During this time there will be multiple opportunities to provide input to and participate in various phases of this project. This website is intended to keep you informed of our progress. We encourage you to view our calendar for events that may be of interest to you, read about the county economy, review our reports and findings, and share your ideas and thoughts.