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Free Press (Sara/Mana edition)
Sarasota Magazine grabs awards
at the magazine convention
Gulfshore Media, publishers of Gulfshore Life, Sarasota Magazine and Sarasota/Manatee Business, received 15 awards at the annual 2004 Florida Magazine Association convention. Gulfshore received five first-place awards, including best overall magazine, Sarasota Magazine; best special theme or show issue for "Tales for the Wind," Gulfshore Life; and best feature for "The Finest Kind" by Ceil Nelson.
Tax service lends helping hand
in Hurricane Charley's aftermath
Many local businesses have been strained in the aftermath of Hurricane Charley. So, Jackson Hewitt Tax Services will expand its annual employee benefits program to all Sarasota, Venice, North Port and Englewood/Cape Haze Chamber of Commerce members. Jackson Hewitt will provide free certificates for reduced tax preparation costs for services starting in January.
Local nonprofit plans
to increase wages in Sarasota
The private, not-for-profit corporation, the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County Inc. (EDC) plans to increase high-wage jobs in the community. The EDC is targeting clusters of industries including specialty manufacturing, creative services, life and environmental sciences, and high technology and entrepreneurship. The EDC, formed this summer, brings together representatives of business, education, the arts, tourism, workforce development and local governments.
New Store caters
to Sarasota homeowners
Westfield Shoppingtown of Sarasota is introducing a new concept store, The Contractor Connection, a collaboration of home service vendors. The Contractor Connection offers various home improvement services such as landscaping, flooring or custom storage systems. Shoppers can browse a variety of specialty services including Affordable Closets Inc., B&S Cement, landscaping, Curbing & Decorative Fixturing, Kitchen Wizard, Patio Outlets, Sun Shade Concepts, West Coast Carpet & Tile and Windshutters.
Building lessons
from Hurricane Charley
The Construction Specifications Institute Suncoast Chapter hosted a dinner meeting called "Hurricane Charley - Lessons in Detail." Brian Stirling of Stirling & Wilbur Engineering Group discussed the effects the storm had on the built environment.
Stirling discussed building code changes that helped make structures more resistant to hurricane force winds, as well as those codes that didn't work. Despite new and stricter building codes, storm damage to some buildings could still be extensive due to the failure of design and construction professionals to properly consider all of the details related to the entire building, he said.
Manufacturers group raises more
than $60,000 for hurricane relief
The Sarasota/Manatee Area Manufacturers Association created the SAMA-Hurricane Relief Fund on Aug. 19 as part of its efforts to help neighboring businesses and individuals restore their lives in the wake of the hurricanes.
Manufacturers have contributed over $60,000 to the fund, and SAMA matched contributions from its treasury, through a fund matching arrangement with the Gulf Coast Community Foundation.
Suncoast Workforce Board
holds seventh annual meeting
The Suncoast Workforce Board held its seventh annual meeting in Bradenton. The topic of the meeting was "Creating a Competitive Workforce Advantage," and Ed Barlow, president of Creating the Future Inc., was keynote speaker. The group tries to provide leadership to build an effective and efficient workforce.
The Sarasota Convention
and Visitors Bureau earns award
The Sarasota Convention and Visitors Bureau (SCVB) earned the Shining Example Award for tourism awareness from the Southeast Tourism Society (STS), which promotes travel in 11 southeastern states.
The SCVB was recognized for having the best program to promote National Tourism Week as an opportunity to communicate to Sarasota citizens the value of tourism in their community.
Two Manatee County
businesses win state awards
Manatee County's Biolife LLC and New England Machinery Inc. recently received Business Diversification Awards from the state. Biolife earned the Major Market Entrepreneurship Award as a company less than five years old that sets the standard for entrepreneurship and creativity, while New England Machinery received the Major Export Excellence Award for showing a significant increase in export sales.
Marketing By Design
grabs another sports account
Jacksonville's Karate America chose Lakewood Ranch's Marketing By Design as its marketing and advertising contact. Marketing By Design will handle the direct marketing and Internet program for Karate America. This is the firm's second new major sports account this year.
MPO wants public to view
amendment before approval
The Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization wants the public to review an amendment to the 2004 through 2009 Transportation Improvement Program prior to the board's Oct. 25 meeting. The proposed amendment would roll forward funding for certain phases of 23 projects to the 2004/2005 fiscal year, which is necessary to obtain federal project authorization and funding. The complete draft can be viewed at www.sarasota-manateeMOP.org.
Sarasota company names
firm as agency of record
Sarasota's Bio-Pro Research, a developer and manufacturer of odor and stain removing technology, named KSC Advertising and Public Relations as its agency of record. KSC, also based in Sarasota, will handle all of the advertising creation and placement, media relations and public relations consulting for Bio-Pro.
ETC¦
× The Secret Room moved to 1839B Northgate Blvd. in the Northgate Business Park.
× The Sarasota/Manatee Division of U.S. Home moved its corporate office to 551 N. Cattlemen Road.
× Gravity Free developed New Balance Sarasota's Web site. It's located at www.newbalancesarasota.com.
× Hyatt Sarasota will offer T-Mobile HotSpot Wi-Fi service in its hotel.
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