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Candidate > America's
Best Places > Sarasota, FL
Sarasota, Florida
  Imagine taking a stroll on a
white sandy beach or spending a day boating on a breezy Sunday afternoon.
In Sarasota, you can do an unlimited number of outdoor activities all year
round. Weather here is moderated by the Gulf of Mexico and temperatures
are tropical for the most part, with an average year-round temperature of
72 degrees. However, the weather isn't the only thing this Florida
treasure has going for it. Numerous employment opportunities, an expanding
business sector, quality healthcare and education and a great lifestyle
make this the number one city to live and work.
 A mid-sized metropolis,
Sarasota's business sector is growing by leaps and bounds. It is expected
that future employment opportunities will far outweigh those in other
cities of the same size. High-tech corporations, research-based businesses
developing state-of-the-art medical advances and telecommunications
companies are just some of the firms that are flourishing and expanding
here. Due to the expansion of industries in the area such as high-tech and
telecommunications job opportunities are flourishing in IT.
The manufacturing industry is
thriving with products such as custom enclosures, power control valves,
electronics, magnetic sensors and aviation recorders. Manufacturing jobs
make up 8.4 percent of the work force here. The tourism, financial,
insurance, real estate and construction industry sectors are also booming.
Employment in the services industry make up 46.8 percent of the work force
while 19.9 percent of the jobs can be found in retail trade.
Employers are looking at
Sarasota as the ideal place to move their headquarters. In 1997, Arthur
Andersen Technology Solutions (AATS), which produces business software for
Arthur Andersen, a worldwide professional services firm, relocated its
headquarters here. Currently, AATS employs more than 850 workers. AATS and
two sister companies are now expanding their facility by 155,000 square
feet and will add 200 more employees. JCI Jones Chemical Inc. moved its
corporate offices here in 1999, joining other headquarters such as FCCI
Insurance Group and Uniroyal Technologies.
Residents here are among the
best cared for in the world. The healthcare industry is on the cutting
edge of medical research. There are four major hospitals and several
medical facilities with highly skilled professionals and state-of-the-art
equipment. High-quality care is available at per-patient costs that are
below the national average, with a large network of health maintenance
organizations in the area.
Educational opportunities in
Sarasota County are extraordinary, offering many unique public and private
school programs. The county provides a year-round outdoor learning center.
Mote Marine Laboratory, world famous for cancer research with sharks, is a
great place for science-oriented students. In another program, a
glass-bottom boat named the Carefree Learner is used to teach students
about marine biology. Higher-learning opportunities are also plentiful,
with academic courses leading to advanced degrees and technical training
at four-year, two-year and vocational institutions.
The arts scene is quite active
with more than 1,000 county residents working full time in arts-related
jobs, according to the Sarasota County Arts Council. There are a number of
different cultural amenities such as theater, jazz, ballet, opera, art
museums and galleries and international film festivals. Sarasota County
hosts several national and international film festivals throughout the
year, including the Cine-World International Film Festival and Project
Black Cinema.
There are tons of outdoor
activities that can easily fill up a calendar. Water sports are plentiful
and the beaches are picturesque. Residents and visitors enjoy the many
professional boating events including the Suncoast Offshore Grand Prix and
the Labor Day Regatta. Those who love golf don't have to look any further
than the county's 65 public and private courses. Baseball enthusiasts can
enjoy a day watching the Cincinnati Reds in spring training.
Sarasota earned its No. 1
ranking based on its incredible economic outlook, moderate cost of living
index, diverse industries, exceptional healthcare, high educational
standards and an unbeatable quality of life. For those reasons and many
more, Sarasota is the best place to live and work.
KEY EMPLOYERS: APAC - Florida Inc.,
Dana Corp., Electro Corp., PGT Industries, Sun Hydraulics, Teleflex
Electrical, Forest Product Supply, VICO Technologies, L-3 Communications,
Klockner-Bartelt, Scott Paint, Baker Electronics, School Board of Sarasota
County, Sarasota County Government, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Publix
Supermarkets, Bon Secours Venice Hospital, Columbia Doctors Hospital,
Wal-Mart, Charter One Hotels, Arthur Andersen LLP, FCCI Insurance Group,
Vinyl Tech, Winn-Dixie, Nielsen Media Research, Shannon Hotel Group,
Sarasota Herald Tribune, Englewood Community Hospital, SunTrust Banks,
Target, Home Depot, Burdines, Colony Beach & Tennis Resort, Pines of
Sarasota, Healthsouth Rehabilitation, Sears Roebuck & Co., Dillard's,
Bay Village of Sarasota, Plymouth Harbor, Senior Friendship Center,
Village of the Isle, Heart and Vascular Center of Florida, The Meadows Country
Club, United Parcel Service, Dooley-Mack Constructors, AAA Auto Club
South, Textron Financial Corp., Advanced Masonry Systems, Pactec, PEM,
Cook Spring Co., Vista Products, Seasonshield, Cracker Barrel, Commercial
Refrigerator & Door, Commercial Insulation Glass, Teltronics Inc.
Back to
America's Best
Places to Live and Work Index
|
|
 |
Population |
| 528,803 |
 |
Cost of
Living
Index |
| 105.0 |
 |
Housing
Costs |
| $143,000 (median price of a
three-bedroom home) |
 |
Taxes |
| No state personal income
tax |
 |
Unemployment
Rate |
| 2.6
percent |
 |
Projected Job Growth
to 2010 |
| 31
percent |
 |
Education |
| There are 19 elementary schools,
five middle schools and four high schools here. In addition, the
district offers a school for the intellectually gifted and a school
for mentally, physically or emotionally challenged students. Two
distinct programs share a single campus at the University of South
Florida (USF) at Sarasota/New College. |
 |
Healthcare |
| There are more than eight
medical facilities in the area. |
 |
FBI Crime
Index |
| Information not
available |
 |
The
Arts |
| The Asolo Center for the
Performing Arts facility houses the Asolo Theatre Company and the
Sarasota Ballet; the Players of Sarasota, Florida Studio Theatre,
Theatre Works, Florida West Coast Symphony, Sarasota Opera
Association, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, The Mote
Marine Science Center and Aquarium, The Marie Selby Botanical
Gardens, Historic Spanish Point, Sarasota Jungle Gardens, Gulf Coast
World of Science, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, The Golden Apple
Dinner Theater |
 |
Recreation |
| Cincinnati Reds spring training
at Ed Smith Stadium, Myakka and Oscar Scherer state parks offer
camping, hiking, water sports, golf, fishing and
tennis |
 |
Contact |
| Sarasota Chamber of Commerce at
(941) 955-8187; or visit their Homepage... |
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