After the Sarasota County Commission voted against offering an incentives package to one of the nation’s largest roofing companies, consultants working with the firm say they will look elsewhere to relocate corporate headquarters. “It’s a no-brainer,” said Rob Sitterly, a principal with Merit Advisors. “They are not going to be located in Sarasota.” Sitterly said the company felt spurned both by the local development community and by county commissioners, who voted 4-1 against offering incentives.

Commissioners were considering contributing $216,000 toward a $1.08-million Qualified Targeted Industry tax refund incentive offered by the state, as well as another $504,000 economic development incentive grant to assist in relocation expenses. But as soon as news of negotiations went public, local contractors rallied in opposition. The Gulf Coast Builders Exchange and local companies like Sutter Roofing argued incentives should not be offered when so many roofers are already headquartered in the region.

The firm offered to commit that it would not recruit from local companies or compete with area firms for projects. But Sarasota County Commissioner Paul Caragiulo, who voted against the incentives package, said there ultimately was no good way to enforce those provisions. “There were just too many questions,” he said, “and not too many answers.”

While the company was not looking at other Florida locations, Sitterly said immediately after the deal was rejected, offers from other locales came in. “We have received calls from multiple Florida communities that are aggressive and want to participate in economic development,” he said. “Sarasota’s loss will be someone else’s gain.”