Corporate headquarters find a home in Manatee County
The term "corporate headquarters" conjures up images of Manhattan skyscrapers or vast, suburban campus-style office development. So when we at the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corp. talk about attracting corporate headquarters operations to Manatee County, you might wonder if our vision is realistic.
Actually, this vision is a reality. Whether it's a family-owned retail giant born locally in the 20th century (Beall's Inc.), or a leader in family entertainment relocating its global headquarters here in the 21st century (Feld Entertainment), the Bradenton area already is home to a variety of corporate headquarters.
The recent announcement of SUNZ Holdings LLC is another case in point. SUNZ is relocating and expanding its corporate headquarters into downtown Bradenton, bringing more than 200 high-impact jobs over time. The move is also likely to act as a catalyst for more job creation downtown, as well as validate Manatee County's attraction for headquarters operations.
The Bradenton area has the assets that many corporate decision-makers seek for their home base. A regional workforce of 1.9 million and a wide range of business services support companies that need to grow their headquarters' functions. Executives and employees are attracted by Florida's coastal climate and lifestyle, which makes it easier for companies to recruit and retain talent.
Developable land is plentiful in Manatee County, and a robust package of local incentives -- including rapid response permitting for qualified projects -- helps to accelerate relocation and expansion of corporate headquarters.
The EDC's collaborative partnerships with CareerSource Suncoast and the area's educational institutions provide customized and flexible training programs, with access to funding for employee skills upgrades. Our region's highly responsive workforce development ecosystem adapts to employers' needs as evolving technologies place new demands on training headquarters staff.
The executives who have decided to locate here are among the Bradenton area's strongest proponents in attracting more corporate headquarters. They bring customers here for visits and vendors for training and sales calls. Those companies then are exposed to all that Manatee County has to offer as a business location.
In addition, these executives are among our most vocal supporters.
Said Kenneth Feld, chairman and CEO of Feld Entertainment, "Manatee County government's busi
ness-friendly strategic thinking, the region's diverse workforce and the EDC's ability to work with state and local governments to structure the right package allowed us to locate our global headquarters in the Bradenton area."
From Mark Pentecost, the founder and CEO of It Works!: "When we relocated It Works! from Michigan to the Bradenton area in 2011, we were attracted by the active lifestyle, incredible climate and beautiful surroundings that would appeal to our employees and global team of distributors who would be invited to travel to us for training. We couldn't have made a better choice, and in 2013, we expanded our global headquarters in downtown Palmetto."
And, most recently, from SUNZ CEO Steve Herrig: "SUNZ's new office space (in downtown Bradenton) is critical for us to increase our capabilities in key areas that align with our current and future growth goals. The new location allows us to continue to support the personnel growth we are experiencing while giving us dedicated facilities to host customer meetings."
Corporate headquarters considering a location in Manatee County aren't looking for skyscrapers. We have what they are looking for: a business-friendly community, excellent higher education, an eclectic cultural scene, and a quality of life that is second to none. Those assets, and more, help us attract top-notch companies that are proud to call Manatee County home.
Sharon Hillstrom, president and chief executive officer of the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corp. (thinkbradentonarea.com), can be reached at info@thinkbradentonarea.com or 941-803-9036.