BRADENTON — The Manatee County Commission awarded two companies Tuesday a total of $213,000 over five years as economic incentive to create high-paying jobs.
The commissioners approved resolutions that gives Oliphant Financial $26,600 a year for five years and Star2Star Communications $16,000 a year for five years for expanding their workforces.
In exchange, the firms pledge to hire more employees at 115 percent above the average wage in the county.
Oliphant brought 27 workers with them when they moved from Sarasota County to Lakewood Ranch and planned to hire an additional 160 employees over the next three years with an average annual wage of $40,000.
Joe Lasota, a manager at the debt buying company, said the firm was looking to expand and the incentives from the Manatee County Economic Development Division were instrumental in making the decision to relocate in Manatee County.
“Our office is growing and we are looking for qualified people,” Lasota said. “That was the reason we moved closer to I-75, to reach people from Tampa to Port Charlotte.”
Star2Star, a Internet-based phone service provider with its national headquarters in Tallevast since 2008, promised to create 80 additional communication manufacturing jobs over the next five years with an average annual wage of more than $47,669.
Bonnie Seitzinger, vice president of finance for Star2Star, said the incentives will help in the firm’s growth.
“We were going to expand our operations,” Seitzinger said, “but the grant put us in a better position to create even more jobs.”
The county commission adopted the Economic Development Incentive Program in April 2009 to offer grants to qualifying business that create high-paying jobs.
“They’re creating full-time positions that support the local economy with employees making good wages and buying at local businesses,” said Cheri Coryea, director of the Neighborhood Services Department, which includes the Economic Development Division. Coryea said the payments were spread out over the five years and are based on performance.
A firm is required to hire at least five employees a year with $1,000 per employee given by the county.
Eric Basinger, executive director of the Manatee County Economic Development Council, said these incentives were important for the economic growth of the county.
“A lot of businesses don’t have to expand where they are located,” Basinger said. “This gives them the ability to move to Manatee County.
“In order to be competitive, these incentives are needed,” he said.
The business-oriented private organization works with other groups, such as the Manatee Chamber of Commerce and government agencies, to facilitate a firm’s efforts to relocate or expand in the county.
Basinger said the council also has a recruiting program where it tries to lure out-of-state firms to the area.
“Our No. 1 focus is working with our partners, one of which is Manatee County government, to create jobs,” he said. “We’re looking as hard as we can to bring jobs here that people can earn a living and live a better life.”
