Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/175080
TRYING TO MAKE IT WORK A map shows the current Economic Energy Zone boundaries. Image courtesy Sarasota County WITH COMPANIES CITING LIMITATIONS HAMPERING THEIR ABILITY TO GAIN ECONOMIC ENERGY ZONE INCENTIVES, THE COUNTY COMMISSION WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON AMENDING FACETS OF THE PROGRAM By Rachel Brown Hackney Editor With no success realized yet in a program created to boost "green" economic development in the community, the Sarasota County Commission has agreed to hold an Oct. 9 public hearing on more tweaks to the program with the hope, finally, of spurring progress. nomic Zone (EEZ), revising energy usage standards for businesses applying for incentives offered through the zone and rebranding the effort as the Sustainable Energy Economic District (SEED) Incentive Program. This is an economic development The public hearing has tool. I think the better we can make it, the been set for Oct. 23. better tool it becomes for expansion of The changes to be ad- our economic base. dressed in that hearing are the relaxing of the geographic boundaries of the Energy Eco- Joe Barbetta Commissioner Sarasota County The commissioners unanimously approved a motion by Commissioner Joe Barbetta to proceed with advertising the public hearing. "Why have a program if it's not working," Vice Chairman Charles