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Volum  e 1 December 2007 Iss  ue 8 Holiday Edition
The staff of the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County would like to wish you, and your employees, a happy holiday
season and a new year full of joy and prosperity!
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EDC staff and their families are giving back this year by providing gifts to a family in need through Sarasota's "Adopt-A-Family."
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INVESTOR PROFILE: WESTFIELD GROUP
Registers Ring in Holidays at Westfield’s Sarasota Properties
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Personally Speaking
If you’re under the gun to finish holiday gift shopping, consider Joanna Caputi: She works in malls all day long and still hasn’t fulfilled her gift-buying list. “I’m starting to panic!” she said last week. Maybe the mall’s Santa will help out.
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Many retailers count on the holiday season to generate up to 30 percent of annual sales. Westfield Group, owner/manager of two major retail destinations in Sarasota County, has a large stake in retailers’ success. So far, the 2007 holiday season is treating shop owners well at both Westfield Southgate and Westfield Sarasota Square, says Joanna Caputi, the company’s marketing director in Sarasota.
“Our indicators show a healthy, strong selling season,” says Caputi, who is promoting results of a recent $60-million renovation at Sarasota Square. Word on the street is that expansion plans also are in the works for Southgate, although Westfield has made no official announcement. “Westfield invests in strong markets and continually reinvests in its properties,” Caputi says.
Australia-based Westfield Group (ASX: WDC) owns interest in 120 shopping centers in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. Westfield’s U.S. portfolio includes 57 shopping centers with 9,000 specialty stores and almost 65 million square feet of leased space in 13 states.
By the Numbers
-Westfield has 15 employees and approximately 60 additional contracted employees in Sarasota County.
-Westfield’s tenants at the Sarasota County properties employ approximately 3,200 people.
-Total annual property tax bill for the two centers is estimated at $2.4 million.
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Through Sleet and Snow, EDC Representatives Travel to Recruit New Businesses
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Braving the Cold to Bring Jobs to Sarasota County
EDC President & CEO Kathy Baylis (left) and Joan McGill, V.P. of Business Development (right) traveled to Minnesota earlier this month to visit with a financial services company considering relocation to Sarasota County. John Swart, past chair of the EDC, also participated in the trip. The relocation could mean up to 400 new, high-wage jobs for the area.
| Though the EDC focuses on helping local businesses expand and prosper, project managers and the organization's leaders actively recruit businesses to Sarasota County. Active projects include:
-Project Future is a financial services company that is considering Sarasota County for its headquarters. A decision is expected after the first of the year.
-Three representatives from the EDC recently visited the headquarters of a financial services firm in Minnesota. They are considering a move to Sarasota County. A decision is expected during the first half of 2008.
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Jan. 25 Economic Outlook to Feature Alex Sink, Panel
 Florida CFO Alex Sink will address EDC Investors and partners during Economic Outlook 2008. The event will be held on Jan. 25, 11:30 a.m. at Michael's on East in Sarasota.
The event will also feature a panel discussion about the economic status and forecast for Sarasota County, the region and the state. The panel, moderated by CJ Fishman, includes:
Randy Benderson, Executive Director, Benderson Development Henry Rodriguez, President, Rodriguez Investment Management Mark Vitner, Senior Economist Wachovia Bank, N.A
Registration: Individual ticket $65.00, half corporate table of five $375, full corporate table of ten $750.
For more information please contact Ronnie Meurs at 309-1200 ext. 103.
Mark your calendars for these upcoming Cluster events:
Diversity in the Workplace: a workshop for Sarasota County business leaders will be held on March 13, 2008 form 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Gulf coast Event and Conference Center. The keynote speaker and roundtable topic discussions will center on organizational development, tools for conflict resolution, education, best practice sharing and resources.
College Workforce and Internship Programs: a workshop for manufacturers will be held on January 18, 2008 at PGT from 8:00 – 9:30 a.m. The workshop will feature a panel discussion of representatives from Manatee Community College, University of Florida, Keiser University and University of South Florida.
For further information on either of these events, please contact Diane Andrews.
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