Uniting the Sarasota business community in the 2020s

Unity. It’s a critically important concept, and a focus for the Greater of Sarasota Chamber of Commerce team. We are diligently working to unite the business community, because we understand that unity unlocks new economic opportunities and is a building block for private-sector job growth. A key resource that we provide at the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce is being a source of reliable, relevant and impactful information for our members. Here at the Chamber we not only see knowledge as power, but also as a precursor for collaboration.

The momentum of growth in Florida is stronger than ever — over 900 people are moving to the state every day. It is predicted that by 2030 Florida’s population will reach 26 million people. According to the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Florida would have the 17th largest economy in the world if it were its own country, placing it just ahead of Saudi Arabia. If current projections are correct, the Florida economy could grow to be larger than the economies of Russia, Mexico and Spain. In the words of Mark Wilson, president and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, “If Florida was a stock, it would be a strong buy.”

So, how do we prepare for what is coming in the 2020’s?

• We need to continue to develop a prosperous business climate in Florida. Not having an income tax, for instance, draws businesses from highly taxed states like Illinois, California and New York to Florida. We need to continue to work with legislators to reduce the business rent tax and to strategically implement local regulations that maintain our ability to be competitive.

• We need to prepare our infrastructure for smart growth and development. At the State of the Region community luncheon last week, the Tampa Bay Partnership took a deep dive into our transportation issues as a region and how our transportation systems need to be built to better meet the needs of the working middle class. According to the study presented, we have some catching up to do relative to metropolitan areas of similar sizes and with similar demographics — specifically increasing the availability of transportation options.

• The Sarasota Chamber of Commerce will continue to serve as a platform for connection, referrals and collaboration for our businesses. Building a strong network of relationships with our members is key to having a strong, united business community. The Chamber will always be a place where meaningful relationships are cultivated through our event programming, our Young Professionals Group, our Leadership Sarasota programs, and our partnerships with fellow business organizations in the region.

•We must continue the full court press around workforce development and creating a solid talent pipeline. Through the Chamber’s CareerEdge programming, we are partnering with companies to upskill workers and create fast-track programs in areas like the trade industry. Our internship programs are a win-win for companies, as well as the individuals who participate in them — it’s a great “try before you buy” opportunity for both parties.

We’ll be sharing more insight on these topics at our upcoming 2020 annual Chamber Breakfast on Friday, February 21, at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota. Our featured speaker is David Houle, a world-renowned futurist who has traveled the globe speaking to the issues that we will be facing in the coming years. David will offer a glimpse into the future, what business owners need to be focused on, and what opportunities lie ahead — with a tailored focus on our Sarasota/Manatee region. David is also the founder of The Sarasota Institute, a 21st century think tank that will be looking at the biggest challenges we will be facing in the future.

In March, we will be hosting our “State of Community” luncheon series with Dr. Jerry Parrish, the Florida Chamber’s chief economist. Dr. Parrish will unveil new research tracking our region’s competitiveness and prosperity, examining how we compare to Florida and national markets, and offering insight on what we can do to create a more vibrant economy. At the same lunch, Chris Benner, Ph.D., with the University of Southern California will present on job growth, wages, and career laddering within the manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, technology and trades industries. Building on this, we will be examining what industries and job sectors will be key to growing our workforce here in Sarasota. This research has been used by CareerEdge for 10 years to make funding decisions for our region. For more information on these programs, please visit www.sarasotachamber.com.

We have a full docket of opportunities and challenges before us in Sarasota, all of which are things that need our collective attention, engagement, and leadership in order to continue to have a strong and robust economy for us to live and work in.

Heather Kasten is the President/CEO of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and has been with the organization since March of 2019. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa in business administration and a MBA from Webster University. Contact her at hkasten@sarasotachamber.com