Businesses that choose to locate or expand in Manatee County are scheduled to receive $2,819,920 in incentives over the next five years as a result of Manatee County’s popular Economic Development Incentive Grant. Since rolling out the grant in 2009, Manatee County Commissioners have awarded the grants that will go to create 2,241 new jobs and retain 227 jobs in our county. That means the incentives have helped 2,268 local families find work in Manatee County.

So, how can a company cash in on the EDI grant? First, a company must show that it will be adding new jobs that pay 115 percent of the average Manatee County annual wage which was $38,619 in 2009. Manatee County will pay $1,000 for each high-paying job your company creates. It doesn’t have to be a one-time grant, either. If your company expands incrementally over the years, all you’ll have to do is reapply for the grant for each new batch of jobs created.

The grant provides an array of incentives that can be customized for a business to promote high value job creation and capital investment. It’s just one of the many business-friendly measures our County Commission has taken in recent years to jumpstart the local economy.

Manatee’s Economic Development Manager helps companies through the process. Along the way she may be able to alert a company to other local, state or federal incentives to help a business grow. Karen is a shining example of Manatee County’s business-friendly and customer service-oriented way of doing business.

To learn more about the Economic Development Incentive Grant or about any of Manatee County’s many business-friendly incentives, visit Manatee County's Economic Development area or call Economic Development Manager Karen Stewart at (941) 749-3029, ext. 6832.