County, under criticism, revamps coronavirus relief program

Facing heavy criticism from residents and business owners, Sarasota County is adjusting its requirements for businesses and individuals to receive coronavirus relief.

After opening applications Sept. 16, making it one of the last Florida counties of its size to do so — Manatee County opened its in July — many residents were thrown by the complex application process, according to a story in the Sarasota Observer, sister paper of the Business Observer. To date, the county has received 1,463 phone calls about the process, and that doesn’t include local organizations sharing the burden, such as the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and the Argus Foundation.