Sarasota tries to outdo Manatee, others in quest to woo firm

SARASOTA — An IT and web hosting company based in New Jersey is considering relocating its corporate headquarters to Sarasota County, and area officials might provide $60,000 in performance-based incentives to lure the business.

The incentives, under the codename Project Panther, are scheduled to go before Sarasota County commissioners at a Feb 15 meeting. A portion of the funds, $20,000, is from the Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund Program and the other $40,000 is an Economic Development Financial Incentive Grant, according to county documents.

The company seeks to leave New Jersey “due to the cost of doing business,” according to the memo from Director of Business and Economic Development Jeff Maultsby.