Manatee County OKs $292K Bradenton EDC contract

Manatee County commissioners unanimously approved a new contract with the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corp. at their meeting today. The decision came more than six months after commissioners opted not to renew the agency’s annual contract in September, citing concerns over transparency and return on investment.

Following a change in leadership at the EDC, commissioners authorized county staff to restart discussions with the agency in January. Longtime Bradenton EDC CEO Sharon Hillstrom retired in December, followed by the appointment of interim CEO Amanda Parrish, who is COO and partner in Fawley Bryant Architecture, in early 2026. An executive search firm working to find the EDC’s next leader is sifting through a pool of more than 40 candidates, Bradenton EDC Board Chair Chris Cianfaglione told commissioners.

"As you can imagine, it's quite a process to go through all of those candidates," Cianfaglione said, "but we are excited to continue to move through that and find someone in short order."

In the meantime, Parrish has been on what she called a listening tour, conducting more than 150 meetings with community stakeholders as she seeks to move the organization forward.

“We know that we’re working to reestablish trust,” Parrish told commissioners. To achieve that, she said she heard from the county that it was important to have transparent metrics, a performance-based contract and a termination clause.

The newly approved contract is for $292,450 annually, a 13% reduction from the previous iteration. Payment will be made quarterly and is tied to reporting on performance metrics, like receiving 10 qualified leads per quarter and converting them into five active projects. In addition, the EDC must provide quarterly reports to commissioners and maintain audit-ready documentation, among other stipulations.

“Our main objective at the EDC is to recruit and retain target-sector industries that will create high-wage, high-skill jobs for our county residents,” Parrish said. Its focus is on five target sectors: advanced manufacturing, aviation and aerospace, corporate operations, sports performance and technology. The new contract will support the agency in achieving its mission, with $251,250 funding staff time and $41,200 dedicated to marketing efforts.

“There’s a lot of good projects in our pipeline,” said Parrish, who noted there were 27 projects in process.

Parrish noted the agency was not seeking payment for its work during the six months since its contract with the county expired in September. Instead, the new contract takes effect April 7 and ends Sept. 30, at which point the county and EDC can make adjustments as needed. After that, the contract is set to renew Oct. 1 and continue through Sept. 30, 2027. If the EDC fails to meet metrics, comply with standards and responsibilities or submit required reports and documentation, the county can terminate the agreement with 30 days' notice, according to the contract.

“We’re comfortable providing that [termination clause] here,” Parrish said, “because we’re confident that you’re never going to need it.”

The first six months will be considered “baseline-setting quarters” that will inform discussion and refinement of the performance measures, according to the contract.

“While it does hold you all accountable, it’s not failure if you’re not able to meet those metrics,” Commission Chair Tal Siddique said. “It just recognizes the reality that this economic development is an art and a science, and in more ways an art.”

To give insight into how the process works, Commissioner Mike Rahn asked Parrish to discuss a recent development connected to the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

The state reached out to the EDC with a potential opportunity, Parrish said, and asked if the agency wanted to submit a request for quote (RFQ).

“It was a German crane manufacturer, and they were looking for a plot of land close to a port,” Parrish said. After completing the qualification process, “We did get shortlisted. So we were able to go to Atlanta and present to the company.” 

Personnel from the Bradenton EDC, Manatee County and SeaPort Manatee as well as landowners near the port attended the presentation, she said, pitching why they would be the best fit for the company.

Other candidates being considered are Jacksonville, Port Canaveral, Port Everglades and some locations in Texas, according to Rahn.

The case represents how powerful partnerships can be for the EDC, an organization which Parrish described as a “dot connector” that links businesses with resources, agencies and people.

“Of the 11 RFQs that we have right now, seven of them have come from the state of Florida,” Parrish said.

Having visibility into the EDC’s activity was a positive sign for the commissioners.

“In the past, we just didn't really know or it was unclear where we were headed,” Commissioner Jason Bearden said. “Now I think we have a very clear path on where we're going.”