How to create Community Wildlife Habitats

The NWF is offering a free webinar about how to create a community habitat in your community for wildlife - it's next week:

Webinar: Starting a Community Wildlife Habitat Project

Would you like to help your community become a Certified Community Wildlife Habitat? To learn how to get started, please join us for a free webinar. Presenters will include team leaders from certified communities around the country.

Date: Tuesday, September 27th

Time: 3:00-4:00pm Eastern time

More here.

Does Economic Development Work?

The most recent edition of This American Life, entitled "How To Create a Job," featured a segment on Economic Development - or, in this case, the myth of Economic Development. Adam Davidson of Planet Money attends a meeting of the International Economic Developers Council in San Diego and demystifies some of the claims made for the industry of Economic Development, putting in question the effectiveness of its impacts on local economies.

Apart from chanting "Jobs, jobs, jobs," like a deranged shaman, how are jobs created?

How to Create a Job.

Sheriff Issues 2010 Annual Report

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has published its 2010 Annual Report. The publication, available in print and online, recognizes agency-wide milestones and achievements in 2010, Sheriff Tom Knight’s second year in office.

In addition to providing an overview of crime statistics, the annual budget and accreditation, the annual report provides insight into the people that propel the agency forward and their professional achievements.

Click on the link above to view the report as a .pdf file.

Come out to SNOOK HAVEN for Parks

Come to Snook Haven this Saturday, March 12:

It Starts in Parks:

This Saturday at Snook Haven, at River Road near I-75, it's our first ever Outdoors Fest.

Visit the FOSCP Site for more about the event, the prizes and the purpose of FOSCP, a non-profit organization.

Find us on Facebook

Please note: We have new, unannounced prizes. More than 40 fantastic items will be won through our Chinese raffle. If any are not picked up, they'll go into Silent Auctions!

EDC's Digital Annual Report

This interactive digital annual report, the first of its kind for the EDC, provides fresh opportunities to showcase the work of volunteers, local governments, regional partners and staff who are all working toward the same ultimate goal: creating a more sustainable and prosperous community.

EDC Launches Microsite

Kathy Baylis: Sarasota County working to transform economy now

'BIG, BOLD IDEAS AND THE PEOPLE to carry them out. Sarasota County has what it takes to turn this economy around. And it's happening now."

That's the over-arching message from David Sessions, chairman of the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County, in the introduction to the EDC's 2010 annual report.

Recently launched as an interactive microsite, rather than a printed publication, the digital annual report "provides fresh opportunities to showcase the work of volunteers, local governments, regional partners and staff who are all working toward the same ultimate goal: creating a more sustainable and prosperous community" — to borrow more of Sessions' words. MORE>>>

EDC Launches Microsite

Kathy Baylis: Sarasota County working to transform economy now

'BIG, BOLD IDEAS AND THE PEOPLE to carry them out. Sarasota County has what it takes to turn this economy around. And it's happening now."

That's the over-arching message from David Sessions, chairman of the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County, in the introduction to the EDC's 2010 annual report.

Recently launched as an interactive microsite, rather than a printed publication, the digital annual report "provides fresh opportunities to showcase the work of volunteers, local governments, regional partners and staff who are all working toward the same ultimate goal: creating a more sustainable and prosperous community" — to borrow more of Sessions' words. MORE>>>

Gulf Coast Gives

Check out Gulf Coast Gives - a new site for local charitable and civic endeavors.

The beauty of Gulf Coast Gives is that every contribution counts…and you get to count along. Whether you pledge $25, or $100, you’re reducing the distance between a dream and a dream fulfilled. You’ll be able to keep track online and in real time: chances are, a kindred spirit will follow swiftly in your footsteps. It’s not unusual, in a matter of days or even hours, to find yourself part of your community’s history. And because the government recognizes the importance of your gesture, every pledge is tax-deductible, too.

Backed by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Gulf Coast Gives offers select, worthy local projects to choose from -- here's one -- helping FOSCP purchase life vests and paddles for Sarasota County Parks:

Full Press Release

Gulf Coast Gives

Check out Gulf Coast Gives - A new site for local charitable and civic endeavors.

The beauty of Gulf Coast Gives is that every contribution counts…and you get to count along. Whether you pledge $25, or $100, you’re reducing the distance between a dream and a dream fulfilled. You’ll be able to keep track online and in real time: chances are, a kindred spirit will follow swiftly in your footsteps. It’s not unusual, in a matter of days or even hours, to find yourself part of your community’s history. And because the government recognizes the importance of your gesture, every pledge is tax-deductible, too.

Many local projects to choose from -- here's one -- helping FOSCP purchase life vests for Sarasota County Parks:

Calling Volunteers to Help Friends of the Parks

Please consider this opportunity to volunteer for the good of our parks:



The March 12th event, sponsored by Friends of Sarasota County Parks, will be at Snook Haven. Volunteers are needed, and there are opportunities for vendors. Contact Marianne with FOSCP to get involved.

More here.

A few openings remain for new Civics 101 class

Some news about the upcoming "semester" of Civics 101 -- now's a good time to let people know who might be interested, it's filling fast:

Seats still open for Civics 101 

Sarasota County government’s popular Civics 101 program still has a few seats open for the session beginning March 10. 

Civics 101 is a 10-week program that introduces people to the operations and services of Sarasota County government. Each week, staffs from different county departments guide participants through a particular area, exposing them to the inner workings of county government. The classes give students a better understanding of how county government works, and allows them to build relationships with county staff. Sessions are offered at no charge in the spring and fall each year to Sarasota County residents and anyone working in Sarasota County. Twenty-five people are selected each term on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Applications are available here.

The course schedule is available here.

For more information about Civics 101, call the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000 or e-mail vfrench@scgov.net

Sanborn brings Film / TV Production to Region - Maybe

"We want people from Hollywood to come here and fall in love with Sarasota, just like we have," Sanborn said, standing in the hangar.

Entrepreneur to build movie and TV production campus

Kathy Baylis, president of the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County, called the deal with Sanborn "a game changer" for the local economy. Besides bringing an exciting, high-profile business to Sarasota County, this kind of business creates spin-off jobs, she said.

* * *

Tax credits like these were "critical" to Sanborn deciding to put his studio in Florida, he said.

Giving incentives to companies to build filmmaking infrastructure like this is the reason behind the big incentive package the Legislature approved.

"That's basically what he's doing, is building infrastructure," Lucia Fishburne, Florida's film commissioner, said of Sanborn's plans.

* * *

Ringling President Larry Thompson floated another idea for local filmmaking infrastructure last week when he asked county commissioners to help pay for a $1 million post-production center on campus. Thompson says he has commitments from producers and directors, including Werner Herzog and Paul Schiff, to do post-production work on their films at the school if the Ringling studio were built.

[ed. note: we live-blogged an earlier discussion of this proposal here.]

* * *

Both Sanborn and Behr are quick to admit that their plan to build a studio is no sure thing. If they can sell the "Miami 24/7" series idea at an upcoming American Film Market convention in California, for example, it would provide them with deal momentum that they presently lack.

A bracing call for support of the Bed Tax

Calling All Sarasotans (includes Business Leaders & Owners, Community Activists & Park Lovers, Elected Officials & Government Employees, Parents, Retirees, Athletes & Coaches, Seniors, Visionaries, and Rowing Aficionados),

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE HISTORY AND WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!!!  Next week, (Thursday, September 16th, at 3 pm, 1660 Ringling Boulevard), the Sarasota County Tourist Development Council is discussing future uses for the Tourist Development Tax (TDT).  We are asking them to approve an additional ½-cent portion of the Bed Tax to help fund the Nathan Benderson Park.  This request is vital.  Once completed, this community park will improve the quality-of-life for both residents and visitors.  As a rowing facility, it will attract domestic and international rowers, their coaches and families, and tens of thousands of spectators year-round.  The rowing park will make dreams come true and add to the economic sustainability of our community.
PLEASE ATTEND THIS IMPORTANT PUBLIC MEETING.  To show our solidarity, we are asking that everyone wear lime green shirts, the universal color from this year's regatta season.  If you don't have a lime green shirt, we can provide you with one that proclaims our message,

"SARASOTA ROCKS, LET'S ROW."

 

For more information, please call me at 941-400-7333 or e-mail me atops@environeers.com .

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND CONSIDERATION.

 Sincerely,

 John Krotec

 Member, Regatta Organizing Committee

 Chairman, Fruitville 210 Community Alliance

 

Home and small business owner

 

Workshop on Planning for the Fruitville exchange

Those interested in the future of planning and in the quality of communication among stakeholders in the community take note:

Tonight (Tuesday, August 31, from 6:30-8:30 PM), you are invited again to participate in the third of five workshops being conducted by the Sarasota County Planning Department at The Church of Hope, 1560 Wendell Kent Road (Fruitville Road to Coburn North. Coburn North to Richardson Road. Left onto Richardson Road. Richardson West to termination at I-75. Right onto Wendell Kent Road/Lakewood Ranch Boulevard. Travel North approximately 1/2 mile. Park on the South side of building).

This workshop is extremely important to the development of the Fruitville/I-75 area. As residents, it is vitally important for us to be part of the planning process and to offer our input on projects that will affect our quality-of-life for years to come. Tonight's workshop will include a discussion on existing land uses, potential zoning districts, and how much square footage (baseline) could currently be allowed on the 325 acres. They will review how much square footage could be allowed under scenarios such as the "Illustrative Plan," and options with transect planning, including discussion of general impacts that baseline and transect scenarios might have on the area and local residents. Input from local residents is encouraged in these discussions. Hope to see you there.