County to consider $200K in economic development funds

Though some details remain secret, Sarasota County commissioners next week will consider spending $216,000 to attract a new corporate headquarters to the region.

On Tuesday, the county’s office of business and economic development will recommend funding that amount over the next eight years for an unnamed national roofing company to create 180 local jobs in that timeframe. The firm is also negotiating with officials in North Carolin and Georgia for relocation.

The initiative, codenamed Project Mulligan, is split between $1,080,000 from the state’s Qualified Targeted Industry Tax Refund and a local match of 20% for a total of $1.3 million. Because it is considered a company “within the designated high impact sector”, it is eligible for an additional $2,000 per new job from the county.

Last month, The county committed $34,800 over a six-year period to bring two companies planning to generate 48 jobs in the area.