Sarasota’s incredible shrinking space || Business Observer | Tampa Bay, Bradenton, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Naples

Buried deep in a new Sarasota County Business Competitiveness survey that asked 74 local companies to rate the health of the region’s business climate and macro conditions was a troubling finding: Space is at a premium.

RELATED HEADLINES:
Banks grapple with young ones
Let them eat cake
Gopher gets good news
Students for Bloomberg
Nearly one-third of survey participants indicated they “cannot expand in their current facility and will need to evaluate alternative real estate to support their growth.”

For some of the manufacturers and distributors, business and technical services firms and finance and insurance providers — hospitality operators, retailers and construction companies were purposely excluded — that may mean going elsewhere to accommodate growth.

EDC officials, including President and CEO Mark Huey, say the results show a need to “develop a real estate plan that meets the near- and long-term needs of growing businesses.”

The good news is, the 74 companies surveyed are growing. Some 85% said they are creating new products or services, a majority believe revenue will climb by as much as 49% over the next year, and collectively they expect to hire 1,370 new workers by the end of 2018.

Today, the firms employ a cumulative 8,130 full-time workers and maintain a $375 million payroll, and have annual revenue of $5 billion, the survey taken between October 2014 and Aug. 15 with input from site selection firm Moran, Stahl & Boyer LLC of Lakewood Ranch found.

Participants also had positive things to say about the area’s available business services, tax structure and quality of life.

But the companies said workforce development should be a “top priority” for civic leadership, followed closely by housing affordability and availability.

EDC officials acknowledge recruiting, research and development support, transportation, communications and housing affordability are “areas to strengthen.” Availability of viable commercial real estate was also cited as a primary need.

That could prove critical, because if the collective 3.75 million square feet the survey found the 74 companies occupy isn’t capable of expansion, the area could lose some prime economic drivers and diversifiers.

By the numbers
Nearly one-third
Companies that cannot expand in their current facility and will need to evaluate alternative real estate to support their growth

85%
companies that are creating new products or services

49%
of companies surveyed think their revenue will climb over the next year

1,370
number of new workers expected to be hired

Source: www.businessobserverfl.com

A new Sarasota County Business Competitiveness survey asked 74 local companies to rate the health of the region’s business climate and macro conditions was a finding that space is at a premium.

There are almost always pains in any area that is growing as rapidly as Sarasota, however, the silver lining in the survey is that these 74 locals companies indicated they are looking to hire just under 1,400 new workers.  This should continue to help out the rental and retail markets, especially many of the new rental projects under development in downtown and throughout the county.

By the numbers
Nearly one-third
Companies that cannot expand in their current facility and will need to evaluate alternative real estate to support their growth

85%
companies that are creating new products or services

49%
of companies surveyed think their revenue will climb over the next year

1,370
number of new workers expected to be hired

Building crews are low on labor – Tampa Bay Times

Florida is on the verge of another building boom, but there’s just one problem: No one wants to do the work.

Construction workers are scarce for a number of reasons. Many were burned by job losses during the recession and aren’t returning to the industry. Others are turned off by low pay or don’t want to work outside in the Florida heat.

Source: saintpetersburgtimes.fl.newsmemory.com

While the construction boom continues in Florida, a potential issue has reared it’s head and it’s not the market…it’s a shortage of construction labor.  How this will affect future development remains to be seen.

20 MILLION … AND COUNTING – Tampa Bay Times

By either reckoning, Florida will have more than 20 million residents by the end of the year. Start with births, subtract deaths, add new arrivals from the United States and abroad, and Florida is gaining about 781 people per day – the equivalent of adding a city bigger than Orlando every year. By either reckoning, Florida will have more than 20 million residents by the end of the year. Start with births, subtract deaths, add new arrivals from the United States and abroad, and Florida is gaining about 781 people per day – the equivalent of adding a city bigger than Orlando every year.

Source: saintpetersburgtimes.fl.newsmemory.com

Florida will have more than 20 million residents by the end of 2015.   Starting with births, subtracting deaths, adding new arrivals from the United States and abroad, and Florida is gaining about 781 people per day – the equivalent of adding a city bigger than Orlando every year. 

Inside the Warehouse Lofts in Seminole Heights – Tampa Bay Business Journal

Of the 54 units in the building, 44 are 720-square-foot lofts, which rent for $1,250. The remaining units are a mix of 500-square-foot studios and 1,100-square-foot two-bedrooms.

Source: www.bizjournals.com

Seminole Heights continues its redevelopment efforts with the addition of  the 54 new apartment units; 44 are 720-square-foot lofts, which rent for $1,250. The remaining units are a mix of 500-square-foot studios and 1,100-square-foot two-bedrooms.