County Administrator Jim Ley’s "musings 2010" e-mail also suggested redirecting funds out of the North Port escheated lot sales, from the affordable housing budget, to that for economic development, especially for business incubators and what he termed "The Year(s) of …."
In addition to a fraction of the escheated lots money, Ley may ask the county commission to enact the final half-cent remaining in the tourist development tax to go to a "tourism investment fund." The fund would provide grants for "tourism improvement initiatives."
Regarding the "The Year(s) of ….," Ley suggested the first, for 2010 and 2011, would be called "The Years of Rowing" to celebrate the new Nathan Benderson Park national and international rowing competitions. Others could be cultural, including a series of festivals, as well as sports-related, (such as focusing on swimming).
Business incubators would provide assistance to start-up businesses. Sarasota County is in talks with the University of South Florida Sarasota/Manatee to establish such a center. But Ley reminded the commissioners the idea is not about geography but about support.
February 6th 2010 - 2:32PM