Incentives keep firms bouncing

The often-warped logic of economic incentives to lure businesses to town is front and center yet again.

The latest evidence: Sarasota-based RND Automation & Engineering, a fast-growing robotics firm founded by 2013 Business Observer 40 under 40 winner Sean Dotson, plans to move to Manatee County. Actually, it's a move back to Manatee County, where Dotson and some business partners launched the firm in 2005.

Government subsidies aided both moves, first to Sarasota, and now back to Manatee County. In 2010, Sarasota County officials doled out $15,000 in performance-based incentives to seal a deal with RND. On Jan. 8, it was Manatee County's turn, when it offered up $8,000 in performance-based incentives for RND in return for eight new jobs over five years.