« Back To SRQ Daily Archive

SRQ DAILY Nov 7, 2016

Monday Business Edition

Please allow images to view this email properly

Monday Business Edition

"Overall, redevelopment is really hard work. It takes a lot of time and commitment and perseverance, but it's something that can have great benefits to the community."

- Geraldine Campos Lopez, Manatee County Government
 

[Community]  Level of Trust in Government Leaders
,

Citizens’ trust levels dip when they believe government is not responsive, not transparent and not very effective in serving them, which is why it's important to continue to track trust levels in citizen satisfaction surveys. The 2016 survey for Sarasota County conduced by Dr. Susan MacManus asked respondents how satisfied they are with Sarasota County services overall. As seen on this survey, respondents gave higher marks to Sarasota County government leaders than to both state or federal government leaders for doing the right thing for county residents. Sixty percent of residents stated that they trust county officials to do the right thing for local residents “almost always” or “most of the time.” 

[Government]  Lopez Helps Join Redevelopment, Economic Development Efforts
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

The related missions of community redevelopment and economic development in Manatee County will now operate out of the same government department, and new hire Geraldine Campos Lopez will lead that effort as director. Lopez says connecting the two missions should reap benefits for the region’s future. “We can have more concentrated improvements in an area to benefit everything,” Lopez says.

When companies consider relocation or expansion in an area, owners often need information on the available workforce and what sort of business is allowed in different zoning areas. As Manatee County encourages redevelopment to make certain areas more attractive for commerce, it will benefit planners to know exactly what private sector players need in areas where they want to do business. The hope is that the county can pursue changes that drive focused economic development efforts precisely in places where planning benefits the community. “We will have a focus on job creation and job retention with existing companies here, and we can see what they need to expand,” Lopez says.

The Manatee County Redevelopment and Economic Opportunity Department will take over redevelopment efforts, particularly in the southwest district. It will also include the Housing and Community Development and Economic Development divisions that previously resided in the Neighborhood Services Department. 

The county particularly wants to find ways to stimulate economic growth in the south end of the county and to utilize urban corridors, Lopez says. Her staff will explore the revitalization opportunities there and look to promoting special nodes and siting business at critical intersections. To assist with workforce development, that could mean mixed-used projects, the sort that Millennials right now seek out in order to live close to where they work. But planners will also see how siting parks and other recreational amenities can make regions more attractive to employers.

County Administrator Ed Hunseker says he brought Lopez on in part because of her understanding of attracting private capital to the area to encourage reinvestment in Manatee County’s urban core. Lopez holds a master certificate in city planning and urban design from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She most recently worked in private consulting but also spent 14 years working for the City of Clearwater, overseeing economic development programs, including incentives. This job attracted her back into the public sector, she says, in part because of the opportunity to work jointly on economic development efforts while also overseeing changes to land development codes and comprehensive planning efforts.  

Pictured: Geraldine Campos Lopez

[Recognition]  Fiorica Named SMH Associate Medical Officer

Sarasota Memorial has appointed GYN Oncologist James Fiorica, MD, as associate chief medical officer. A highly respected clinician and medical staff leader, Fiorica will join Sarasota Memorial Chief Medical Officer Steve Taylor in serving as the liaison between hospital administration and the 900 members of its medical staff and overseeing strategies to improve quality, population health and patient safety. Before joining Sarasota Memorial’s First Physicians Group in 2005, Fiorica was the program leader of the Gynecology Oncology Program at the Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. Fiorica currently serves as director of the SMH Women’s Cancer Specialty Program. 

Sarasota Memorial Hospital

[Recognition]  Regional MarineMax Stores Top Sales Worldwide

MarineMax has announced that during the Boston Whaler’s 2017 Dealer Awards, five regional MarineMax stores were awarded the Boston Whaler’s Top Five Highest Sales locations worldwide. MarineMax Naples took top honors followed by neighboring MarineMax Fort Myers. In third place, was MarineMax Sarasota. MarineMax Clearwater came in fourth with MarineMax Pompano rounding out the field in fifth place. Headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, MarineMax is the nation’s largest recreational boat and yacht retailer. 

MarineMax

[Opening]  Goodwill Opens New Location in North Port

Goodwill Manasota celebrated the grand opening of its newest attended donation center, located at 2250 Bobcat Village Center Road in North Port. The 2,000 square-foot facility will provide southern Sarasota County residents with another location for dropping off donations of unwanted goods. This facility will bring the total of Goodwill attended donation centers to 36 in its service area of Sarasota, Manatee, Desoto and Hardee counties. The new facility employs two new team members, and has the potential to increase the number of donations to Goodwill Manasota by more than 12,000 annually.  

Goodwill Manasota



[SOON]  THEATER: Million Dollar Quartet , November 9 – January 1

A smash-hit musical, Million Dollar Quartet, tells the story of legendary music icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. This musical gives audiences a unique behind the scenes look at these musicians before they were icons. Single tickets and subscriptions are available online or by calling the FST box office. 

Gompertz Theatre, 1241 N Palm Ave Sarasota, 34236

SRQ Media Group

SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email

Copyright © 2024 by SRQ Media Group, 331 South Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236.
Powered by Sarasota Web Design | Unsubscribe

Read More

Where Oil Meets Water

Where Oil Meets Water

Phil Lederer | Mar 1, 2024

Freedom to Wander

Freedom to Wander

Laura Paquette | Mar 1, 2024

Drive and Dine

Drive and Dine

Laura Paquette | Mar 1, 2024

A Mesmerizing Journey

A Mesmerizing Journey

Barbie Heit | Mar 1, 2024