Bradenton Economic Development Corp. update: Manatee should become 'the business address'

LAKEWOOD RANCH -- Another year into an economic recovery that has seen many local economic indices recover to near pre-recession levels, the area's lead economic development agency is pushing for wider business growth.

At its fourth annual update event Friday, examples of the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corp.'s recent successes were at the center of talk about attracting and retaining diverse local industry. Through 2021, the organization projects that its efforts to grow business in Manatee County will add 3,800 jobs to the local economy, representing $1.9 billion in new wages.

Sharon Hillstrom, the EDC's president and CEO, said companies are choosing Manatee County to relocate, expand and start up operations. Keying on that, the EDC in August rolled out its new strategic plan, the Build Bradenton Area Plan. The idea behind it, she said, is to make the area "the business address" in the Tampa bay region.

Hillstrom told an audience of about 300 people at Friday's event at Polo Grill in Lakewood Ranch that forward thinking is a critical factor in executing the plan. The plan identifies industries the organization will target to recruit more corporate relocations.

"Creativity and imagination is really where it all begins," Hillstrom said.

The organization's highlights from the past year included attracting ergonomic product manufacturer Ergotech Inc. to expand its Connecticut operation in Oneco, and to assist startup aircraft cooling company Verde GSE find manufacturing space to begin satisfying $2.8 million in new contracts.

Keynote speaker Kenneth Feld, CEO of Feld Entertainment, headlined the update by running down some company statistics that showed the results of one of the EDC's biggest coups. The company, which puts on live entertainment shows including Disney on Ice and Monster Jam, moved all its operations into a former General Electric plan in Palmetto in 2011. The EDC had a hand in convincing the company to make the move.

Since then, Feld said, the company has delivered jobs, wages and local spending "that communities across the nation would love to have." It has exceeded a hiring goal of 235 new employees and is on track to have 600 full-time workers on the local payroll by the end of 2016.

Feld Entertainment has also put money into the local economy. Feld said his company has made a $400 million in direct economic impact locally. Over the next 20 years, he said the company's wider impact will hit $7.5 billion.

"By moving our company here, together we have created an unprecedented economic engine for the region for decades to come," Feld said.

The good business news drew applause from EDC members and guests. But the most emotional part of the luncheon came when EDC officials publicly renamed its annual economic development award for the late architect Rick Fawley. Steve Padgett, a principal with Lakewood Ranch-based Fawley-Bryant Architects, choked up when he came to the stage to take part in the of the dedication of the Rick Fawley Economic Development Award of Distinction.

"Rick was our leader, he was our mentor and he was our friend," Padgett said. "He spent all of his effort and his tireless energy to make this a better place for us to live, work and prosper."

Chris Ciaccio, the vice president of marketing and outreach for IMG Academy, is the 2015 award recipient.

Also during the event, Mike Moschella, an executive with Hancock Bank, was announced to be the EDC's incoming chairman for 2016.

Matt M. Johnson, Herald business reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7027 or on Twitter

This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 5:37 PM with the headline "Bradenton Economic Development Corp. update: Manatee should become 'the business address' ."