While economic development officials in the region remain concerned about long-term effects from denying a corporate tax incentive package this year, state leaders say the Gulf Coast has plenty to boast about in terms of maintaining a competitive edge. The subject was discussed at the most recent installment of SRQ’s series SB2, Good Growth: Economic Indicators. 

Joan McGill, vice president of business development for the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County, said she feared the end of the Project Mulligan debate, when an incentives package was denied by Sarasota County Commissioners to lure North American Roofing’s corporate headquarters here, would create problems. “It sent a message to site consultants, which is a small group of people who do hear these things,” she said. But she added that EDC officials will hard hard to overcome any problems.

Tammie Sweet, director of GrowFL and keynote speaker at the event, said there region shouldn’t be concerned about one deal failing to materialize. “At the end of the day, it’s on to the next thing,” she told SRQ. And she noted the Bradenton-North Port-Sarasota metropolitan area ranks fifth in the state in 60th in the nation in terms of job growth for 2015, something that shows plenty is going right here.

Steve Queior, president of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, said the region has done well, but that can sometimes quell pushes for change. He noted in numerous intercity visits to growing cities, the change and evolution was precipitated by a natural or economic disaster. “We didn’t have a burning platform that some of these communities faced,” he said. Peter Straw, executive director of the Sarasota Manatee Manufacturers Association, said every business in the area did get somewhat of a wakeup call a few years ago. “Complacency is a very dangerous thing,” he said. “But the Great recession disrupted every single business in the community.”

Moving forward, Jeff Maultsy, director of economic and business development for Sarasota County, said the region still provides information on many expanding businesses from here and outside the community. The biggest asset is not incentives but talent. “We have an education system that is very attractive,” he stressed. He did note county commissioners recently issued his staff direction to explore how business sectors will be targeted with incentives in the future.