Economic Development Programs
Florida provides a cost-effective and business-friendly environment for businesses looking to thrive. Sarasota County offers a multitude of additional benefits for businesses seeking a prime location. We are excited to explore the endless opportunities to expand your business in this picturesque paradise.
What We Do
We are focused solely on growing and diversifying Sarasota County’s economy. We support companies in establishing, expanding, thriving, creating jobs, strengthening the economy, and reducing vulnerability to external shocks. By targeting businesses that align with the local community and fostering strategic partnerships, we maximizes public return on investment.
Services are not limited to but include the following:
- Promoting Sarasota County to recruit new diverse businesses
- One-stop-shop, confidential project support
- Acting as a government liaison to growing businesses by connecting to and navigating county and city governments' on-site assessments, permitting, and government processes and services
- Providing economic and community data/ inside information to support business decisions, including economic activity, industry information, policy trends, demographics, and quality of life indicators
- Workforce attraction marketing


Joshua Ewen, CEcD
Vice President, Economic Development
We stand ready to help with your business relocation or expansion. Contact Josh today. Josh has a diverse background in capital project management, real estate, redevelopment, economic development, governmental, and finance. Before joining the EDC in 2022, Josh served as a Senior Analyst at the City of Brentwood, CA. Josh’s educational background includes a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree from California State University-Stanislaus, along with a Certificate from Louisiana State University.
- (941) 309-1200 ext. 111

State Incentives
Florida offers advantages for long-term profitability to all types of businesses. As a whole, our state believes in making it worth your while to relocate or start your business here. And for industry sectors targeted for investment, the state offers even more tax advantages and workforce programs to make it happen.


Local Incentives
Our local incentive programs are designed to provide even more support for businesses looking to locate and grow in Florida. They solve three key problems your business faces: time, cost, and uncertainty.
Business Resources
This searchable tool is intended to guide businesses through the landscape of assistance that exist in Sarasota County. There is a myriad of local organizations whose core missions are to help local businesses grow through the provision of workforce assistance, consulting services, regulatory assistance, industry expertise, networking, access to capital and more.