SARASOTA - County leaders may be looking to use $6 million to keep local businesses or help them create more jobs. They've already handed out more than $10 million. We wanted to know what type of impact it has or could have.

In the last two years, more than two dozen companies have reported the creation of 1,039 jobs.  "We have seen real boots on the ground jobs because of this program," says Sarasota County Commissioner Christine Robinson.

They are called Economic Development Incentives.  Hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars are given to a private party in return for a certain amount of jobs in a certain amount of time.  Robinson says a recent survey of citizens indicate economic development is a top priority.  "They are not only supportive of providing a program like this, but supportive of continuing programs like this.  It helps funding to get over that lending hump that some businesses are having.  It also helps to attract businesses here and remain competitive with other counties around us."

That's because other local governments are using similar tactics.  Sarasota County will soon discuss using $6 million extra brought in from taxes to begin another wave of incentives.

County leaders say not only can the money be used to bring in new business, but also help current ones expand.
 
Places like Tervis Tumbler in Venice received two incentives for a total of $450,000. "They were set to create around 200 jobs.  They actually created over 400 jobs."
 
With the help of $600,000 PGT Industries in Venice added 432 jobs.

There have also been some which are yet to pan out.  For example, Sanborn Studios received $650,000.  According to the county, so far 10 jobs have been created.  "There are very few of those that have actually occurred.  We are currently in discussions with Sanborn Studios.  We plan on learning from some of our mistakes."

Another 1,300 jobs are still promised to the county within the next five years under the incentives contracts.  Commissioners ABC 7 talked to say they fully expect the majority of those to come through and are now looking to gather support for more. "This program has worked and we have seen it work. We have over 1,000 jobs because of it today."

The original $10 million for the program came from the sale of abandoned lots in North Port.  Commissioners will discuss using an additional money on February 23rd.