Imagine you are the Founder of a small company. You had an amazing idea that launched into a small high-tech manufacturing company. With hard work, the right people, and a new marketing strategy, you are now in a rapid growth phase. Your products are in demand nationwide. Your banker has agreed to fund your expansion. You are excited to expand your operations, provide good-paying careers to your community, and grow your company’s competitive edge.

The next step is finding a site — either a shovel-ready site for your dream facility or an available, modern business park that supports your needs for space, power, and access.

Sounds simple, right? Unfortunately, in Sarasota County, it is challenging in the current environment.

This is the real story we often hear from our local entrepreneurs. Sarasota County is undoubtedly an amazing place to live, boasting beautiful beaches, amazing schools, and a strong quality of life. Which is why companies want to be here. But when it comes to finding the right kind of space — flexible, purpose-built, ready business park — the options are limited.

Why does this matter? Because business parks are not just places where companies set up shop. They are the foundation of where businesses — large and small — can grow, they are places where jobs and career blossom, and they are the catalyst for economic growth.

Modern companies require specialized infrastructure: reliable broadband, high electricity, good logistics, proximity to talent and more. Without shovel-ready sites and modern business parks, companies looking to expand will look elsewhere.

In fact, the #1 biggest impact we can influence today, that will ensure a strong Sarasota County economic future, is the creation of ready and modern business park space. Here in Sarasota County, we are not just hoping it happens. We are working hard to invest in the future through business park development.

Take the North Port Business Park, for example. Thanks to the vision and investment of Benderson Development Company, 500,000 square feet of new, modern business park space is now operational. This is not just real estate; it is a launchpad. Lansing Building Products, World Electric Supply, and Wharton-Smith are thriving in these new spaces, creating jobs, and contributing to our economy.

Similarly, at Lakewood Ranch Corporate Park, Tavistock Development Company is constructing a new 93,000 square foot Business Park facility expected to be ready by Spring 2026.

At the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County, we collaborate closely with government leaders, developers, and businesses to identify, support, and activate these vital high-value sites. We are supporting the potential of 762,000 square feet of new business park in the next five years and the potential for 5,400,000 square feet over the next decade.

Because the stakes are high. When businesses grow here, they give back to our community, broaden our tax base, and open career pathways that benefit all residents. Looking ahead, Sarasota County’s economic growth depends on these strategic investments. They transform ideas into industries, foster innovation, and ensure our economy is dynamic and diverse.

Most importantly, to me, they make certain that our local entrepreneurs seeking to grow can choose Sarasota County first.

Erin Silk is the President & CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County. 

Photo courtesy of the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County.

Since 2009, Gulf Coast Community Foundation has conducted a Regional Scan every few years to better understand the challenges and opportunities shaping our region. What began as an internal tool to guide philanthropic investments has grown into a roadmap for community-wide impact.

Over the years, these scans have highlighted urgent priorities and inspired bold initiatives. Protecting our natural environment emerged as a priority in the very first Scan and has appeared as a priority in each one since. Affordable housing, mental health, and civility were raised in 2017, leading to efforts like the Because It Matters initiative. In 2019, workforce housing and mental health were again identified as critical regional needs. Each Scan has informed millions of dollars in philanthropic investments and helped launch initiatives that continue to strengthen our community today.

This year, we are taking the Scan even further. Launching at the end of September, the 2025 Regional Scan will be transformed into a Community Playbook, a resource designed not only for Gulf Coast, but for everyone. Like the Water Quality Playbook and Sarasota Housing Action Plan, it will be accessible, practical, and valuable for nonprofits, government agencies, businesses, and residents alike.

For it to truly reflect the heart of our region, we need your voice. From the northern border of Sarasota to the southern border of Charlotte County to the farmlands of eastern DeSoto County, we need to hear from you. Whether you are a parent, student, retiree, employee, neighbor, volunteer, or nonprofit leader, your perspective matters. When you receive the survey, in your inbox or forwarded from a friend or colleague, we encourage you to take just five minutes to complete it and then share it widely. Every response helps us capture the full story of our community.

We are deeply grateful to all the partners who have participated in past Regional Scans and to those helping to shape the 2025 Scan. Your insights and collaboration have guided this work from the beginning and continue to make it stronger.

The findings will be shared in early 2026. With your voice, the Community Playbook will not only highlight the challenges we face but also lift up the aspirations we share, helping us create lasting change, together. From listening comes understanding. From understanding comes the power to act boldly, collaboratively, and with lasting impact. We are committed to acting on what we learn so that together, we can continue building a region that thrives not just today but forever.

Erin Minor is the Vice President of Community Leadership, Gulf Coast Community Foundation.