We often discuss economic competitiveness in local terms. Workforce, real estate, infrastructure, permitting, capital, and the overall cost of doing business all influence where companies invest and how they grow.
Those factors matter greatly, but they are only part of the picture. Increasingly, the decisions that shape a company’s future and a region’s economic trajectory are influenced by forces well beyond county or even state lines.
A shift in global trade can change the cost of materials and products. A disruption at a port can affect inventory and production schedules. An infrastructure investment hundreds of miles away can improve access to new markets. Federal policy decisions influence where companies invest, how goods move, and which
regions are best positioned to compete.
That matters even more as Sarasota County’s economy grows and matures. Over the last decade, the County’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has grown 116%, adding $19.25 billion in economic output. During that same period, Sarasota County added more than 6,000 businesses and 34,000 jobs. With that economic growth comes greater exposure to the national and global forces influencing business, investment, and commerce.
Our proximity to two major ports is one example. SeaPort Manatee is the closest U.S. deepwater seaport to the Panama Canal, providing connections to global markets, while Port Tampa Bay is Florida’s largest and most diversified port. These are significant economic assets within our broader area, even for companies that may never think of themselves as part of the maritime economy.
Many people also do not realize that Sarasota County falls within the extended service area of Foreign Trade Zone No. 169 associated with SeaPort Manatee. Qualifying local companies can use the zone to defer, reduce, or eliminate U.S. Customs duties under certain circumstances, creating another connection between global commerce and doing business here.
The impact extends well beyond companies involved in shipping, logistics, or manufacturing. Businesses throughout our economy depend on products, equipment, materials and technology that have moved through complex supply chains. A disruption thousands of miles away can quickly become a business issue here.
For a growing economy such as ours, competitiveness will increasingly depend not simply on the assets within Sarasota County, but on how effectively we connect those assets to markets and opportunities beyond our community.
That requires understanding how federal decisions intersect with local business conditions, recognizing market access as an economic development advantage and paying attention to national and global trends.
Executives deciding where to expand consider whether they can efficiently reach customers and suppliers. Companies evaluating investments look at infrastructure, reliability, and market access. Understanding these connections helps us make better decisions today about how Sarasota County competes tomorrow.
That is why the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County is bringing Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Laura DiBella to our community for our Annual Meeting on Sept. 24.
Chairman DiBella will offer a national perspective on the forces shaping business, investment, and economic competitiveness, including supply chains, infrastructure, maritime commerce, and global market access. Following her keynote, I will sit down with her to connect that national picture to our local economy and discuss the trends business and government leaders should be watching as they make decisions about investment and business growth.
This year, our Economic Development Corporation also became an Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO), placing us among fewer than 100 accredited economic development organizations worldwide. The designation reflects rigorous professional standards and the work underway to advance economic development in Sarasota County.
At our Annual Meeting, we will also present our 2026 Annual Report, introduce our 2027 Board of Directors, and recognize the recipient of the Clyde Nixon Leadership Award.
The theme of this year’s gathering is Leading Business Forward, and that requires looking beyond today’s conditions and preparing for tomorrow’s opportunities. Business executives, elected officials and community leaders must understand how Sarasota County fits into the larger economic landscape and where we can strengthen our position within it.
Some of the most consequential forces shaping our economic future will originate far from home. Our opportunity is to understand those forces, anticipate their impact and make decisions today that position Sarasota County to compete and succeed tomorrow.
You can learn more about our Annual Meeting at EDCSC2026annualmeeting.eventbrite.com.
Erin Silk is president and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County and a Certified Economic Developer. She leads Sarasota County’s public-private partnership for economic development, working with business, government, and community leaders to diversify the economy, strengthen the business climate, and advance the county’s economic competitiveness.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Why global supply chains matter to Sarasota County growth | Indicators
