All entries tagged with “Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County”Kathy Baylis, EDC founding president, Dies
Kathy Baylis, founding executive director of the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County, has died following a years-long battle with cancer. She was 67. Baylis ushered the creation of the economic development agency, retiring in 2010 to address her health concerns. In in years since, she had continued in consulting capacity with a number of organizations, including The Patterson Foundation, which confirmed her death. Baylis worked on EDC issues before there was an EDC, working at The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce as vice president of economic development. Between 1999 and 2004, she worked with business leaders, notably the late John Cox, to help establish an independent entity to address the recruitment of new businesses and assist in the expansion of existing ones. During a lengthy interview about the history of the EDC, she told SRQ Magazine that the idea was at first controversial, but grew in momentum. “We started getting people who hadn’t worked together before. It was very rewarding and everyone was excited about it.” In 2004, she helped oversee the creation of the first strategic plan for the EDC, a documented which she also helped update in a comprehensive process in 2009. Along the way, she proved instrumental in the establishment of an incentives program through Sarasota County, including a successful campaign for the passage of a property tax to fund incentives. During her time with the EDC, the agency attracted such companies as Boar’s Head while assisting companies like Tervis and PGT with facilities expansion in the region. US Nano Moving to Sarasota
US Nano, a nanotechnology company, announced it is relocating to Sarasota to triple its workforce and expand its facilities. The company previosuly was headquartered in South Bend, Indiana. "Sarasota is not only a beautiful location, but there is growing high tech industry in the region," said Dr. Louise E. Sinks, vice president of US Nano. "Being part of Florida's High Tech Corridor is extremely appealing to any high tech start-up. The network of resources available is extremely attractive." From the company's release: US Nano develops flexible electronic devices based on nanomaterials printed on plastic. The proprietary nanomaterial are nanowires, which have the potential for industry-transforming commercial applications because of their ability to measure and manipulate light and heat, which is at the core of numerous sensing, imaging, fiber optic and energy harvesting and storage applications. The ability to produce materials with semiconductor properties at nanoscale holds breakthrough technological potential for a wide range of industries, including energy (photovoltaics, batteries, and lighting), consumer devices (displays, actuators), healthcare (biological sensors), communication (RFID, fiber optic systems), and defense (chemical sensors, infrared imaging, security surveillance). The move was announced by the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County, and the firm will recieve $3,000 in incentives through Sarasota County for each job created. The company plans to create 10 jobs over the next two years. The company is moving to a 5,000-square-foot facility on Independence Boulevard. |
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