A Canadian tech company plans to establish its US headquarters in Longboat Key, which will create dozens of well-paying jobs in Sarasota County.
The Economic Development Corporation County of Sarasota does not reveal the name of the company at this time, but a county document notes that the company “provides video creators with a way to host, manage, distribute and stream and monetize their online content “.
“Being able to have an American seat in Longboat Key, I think it’s quite unique, and it’s a unique opportunity,” Commissioner Christian Ziegler said at the county committee meeting on Tuesday.
The company has identified an 8,400-square-foot facility in Sarasota County for lease for five years, according to a county document.
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Erin Silk, vice president of business development services at EDC, presented the company’s plan to the committee on Tuesday.
“To me this project is exciting,” said Silk, “because it sends a clear message to growing businesses, both nationally and internationally, that Sarasota County is a place built for serious business success.”
She said the company is committed to creating 165 new tech jobs in Sarasota County over the next five years.
However, a county document notes that the Longboat Key facility, when renovated, will accommodate 50 to 70 employees. The Herald-Tribune asked Knight Strategic Communications, the public relations firm representing EDC, if employees would work in a hybrid format, and the company said EDC cannot disclose the job format for the moment because it is considered confidential information in Florida. Statue 288.075.
The county commission voted unanimously to provide an economic development incentive grant of $ 825,000 to the company to help it grow in Sarasota County. The company and the county have not yet signed a contract, which will have to be done for the company to receive the grant, which will be paid over several years.
Some commissioners have expressed concern that the company may hire remote employees for the US headquarters who live in other parts of the country.
The commission decided to make the grant agreement conditional on the company having all new full-time employees reside in Sarasota, Manatee or Charlotte counties. These employees do not have to live in these counties already – they could relocate to the Sarasota-Manatee area to begin their new employment.
Silk said the 165 new tech jobs the company will create in Sarasota County will have an average annual salary of $ 102,000.
The company plans to eventually have 41 executive employees at its US headquarters, who will earn an average of $ 170,000, and 124 non-executive employees, who will earn an average of $ 80,000.
Anne Snabes covers city and county government for the Herald-Tribune. You can contact her at asnabes@gannett.com or (941) 228-3321 and follow her on Twitter at @a_snabes.
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