Promoting Business Growth & Success since 1925.
BUSINESS RESOURCE GATEWAY
Community Foundation of Sarasota County
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County works to empower organizations with the tools and resources to enhance their impact and plan for their future. This includes no cost consulting services in leadership, governance, fundraising, and communications, workshops to help nonprofit board and staff become more effective, and on-demand resources.
Phone: 941-955-3000
Website: https://www.cfsarasota.org/
Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County
The Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County is a public/private partnership focused on growing existing businesses and strategically diversifying the economy of Sarasota County. It assists new and existing businesses by providing confidential project management, rapid permitting, building/site review, market research, workforce assistance, incentives/financing, and export assistance.
Phone: 941.309.1200 x 105
Website: http://www.edcsarasotacounty.com/resources/entrepreneurial-resources.html
FL Department of State | Division of Corporations FL Department of State | Division of Corporations
The Division of Corporations is the State of Florida's official business entity index and commercial activity website. Content to do business in Florida includes general information, available resources and frequently ask questions to start or manage/change an existing business, obtain forms and fees, or perform a records search
Phone: 850-245-6000
Website: http://Sunbiz.org
Florida SBDC at University of South Florida Florida SBDC at University of South Florida
The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at USF assists existing and emerging business through no-cost confidential business consulting, information, and low-cost training.
Phone: 941-309-1200, ext. 107
Website: https://sbdctampabay.com/sarasota/
Gulf Coast Community Foundation Gulf Coast Community Foundation
Gulf Coast offers a range of resources for nonprofit organizations and for businesses that want to give back. The foundation’s Invest in Incredible initiative provides free online resources, training workshops, and professional consulting for nonprofits.
Phone: 941-486-4600
Website: https://www.gulfcoastcf.org/nonprofit-partners/invest-incredible
SCORE Manasota
SCORE, a national non-profit network of over 10,000 volunteer business experts, is a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Locally, over 90 volunteers provide free and confidential mentoring, low cost education and online resources to existing and emerging businesses to support small business starts and job creation.
Phone: 941-955-1029
Website: http://www.Manasota.SCORE.org
FREE CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS MENTORING WORKSHOPS, ONLINE RESOURCES
Manasota Chapter: 941.955.1029
Port Charlotte Chapter: 941.743.6179
Southwest Florida Chapter: 239.931.9807
Sarasota County Libraries and Historical Resources
Access our digital resources for your business goals from creating business plans, marketing materials, grant writing, conducting competitive analysis, networking and more. Business Resources include Business Economics, Business Plans Handbook Series, Demographics Now, Florida Small Business Development Center Network, Mergent First, Reference USA, Small Business Collection, Administration and Resource Center.
Phone: 941-861-5000
Website: https://www.scgov.net/government/libraries/research-help-and-more#Business
Sarasota County Office of Business and Economic Development
Sarasota County’s Office of Business and Economic Development is ready to assist with regulatory or permitting concerns. “Doing Business in Sarasota County” is a directory (available online and in print) of services and contact information. Use this resource as a starting point for answers to many questions.
Phone: 941-861-5247
Website: https://www.scgov.net/government/economic-development/links-of-interest/business-assistance
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), an independent agency of the federal government, helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, and online resources SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.
Phone: 305-536-5521
Website: https://www.sba.gov/offices/district/fl/miami
United Way 2.1.1.
A free resource for Sarasota, Manatee and Desoto County residents. Information includes: Where to get basic needs; Consumer services; Criminal Justice and Legal services; Education and Health needs, Environmental and Public safety; Income support, Employment services, Mental health and Substance abuse services, Family life, Organizational and community services.
211 provides unmatched, critical services- Free and confidential assistance
211 provides expert help – No matter the situation, 211 Specialists listen, identify underlying problems, tackle root causes, and connect people to community resources and services.
211 meets real needs in real time – In 2018 alone, 211’s in the US answered more than 11 million calls and almost 1 million texts, chats and emails helping millions with life changing support.
Phone: Call 2-1-1 or 941-308-4357
or visit
Website: https://211.gs-humanservices.org
Venice MainStreet Venice MainStreet
Doing Business in Venice - To help you plan and get your business going, here are a few links.
Phone: 941-484-6722
Website: http://www.visitvenicefl.org/venice-mainstreet/business-in-venice
Latest News & Additional Resources
– TOURISM UPDATES-
Visit Sarasota County’s October. 2018 Visitor Statistics click here – VisitSarasota.org
Although Sarasota County is still experiencing sporadic impacts from red tide, the VSC recovery efforts are in full swing. In November, we hosted 20 travel journalists in Sarasota County from the U.S., Canada, and Germany. This also includes a group of journalists from Sweden brought to us by Norwegian Air to support their expanded air service into Florida.
VSC also hosted 19 travel agents with DER Touristik from Germany for 3 days in November. These are agents who are high-performing in sales. They got to experience everything from a Ghost Tour to an all-American hamburger cook-out on Siesta Beach. This will help them in selling Sarasota County to the vital German market.
Now for the numbers for October. Visitation to Sarasota was flat compared to October last year, growing 0.9%. Frankly, I think this is good news given the red tide crisis. However, because there are more hotel rooms, lodging occupancy dropped -2.1% to 57.6% and room rates dropped -15.4% to $108.67.
Virginia J. Haley, CDME
President
VISIT SARASOTA COUNTY
Explore the Enhanced Entrepreneurial Exchange Series
for 2018-19
Pay it Forward Biz Tips is a monthly peer-to-peer tip column shared with Venice Area Chamber of Commerce members, written by area experts representing a variety of business fields and backgrounds.
“An enriching collaborative think tank venue”
promoting growth and success within our local business community.
Women Empowering Women is a one-day event empowering others through conversations,
panel discussions, a keynote speaker and motivational speaker. It offers personal development and enriched resources.
Leadership Venice is designed to expose current and future leaders to all aspects of the Venice community.
FORUM
An enriched entrepreneurial exchange event for young professionals in our greater Venice area.
