SARASOTA COMMISSION ACTIONS ON WEDNESDAY

SARASOTA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON WEDNESDAY APPROVED MORE THAN $700,000 DOLLARS IN INCENTIVES FOR TWO COUNTY BUSINESSES.  THEY APPROVED $350,000 DOLLARS FOR TERVIS TUMBLER, WHICH EXPECTS TO ADD OVER 200 JOBS OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS AS THEY WILL EXPAND ITS 55,000 SQUARE FOOT PLANT IN VENICE BY 35,000 SQUARE FEET.  COMMISSIONERS ALSO APPROVED $360,000 DOLLARS FOR SARASOTA MEDICAL PRODUCTS, A COMPANY THAT IS REPORTEDLY PLANNING TO ADD 60 JOBS IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.  THE START-UP COMPANY BASED ON SARASOTA CENTER BOUELVARD, MAKES MEDICAL DEVICES FOR THE ADVANCED WOUND-CARE, INFECTION-CONTROL AND OSTOMY MARKETS.  COMMISSIONERS ALSO APPROVED AN AMENDMENT TO THE COUNTY’S TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX ORDINANCE ALLOWING THE COUNTY TO COLLECT THE FULL FIVE CENTS ALLOWED UNDER THE STATE STATUTE.  THAT’S AN INCREASE OF A ½ CENT IN THE BED TAX, AND THEY WILL TAKE 75% OF THE PROCEEDS AND PUT IT TOWARDS THE AQUATIC NATURE CENTER.