Area EDC promotes official to bigger leadership role

SARASOTA — The Sarasota County Economic Development Corp. named Erin Silk as vice president of business development services. 

The promotion comes after Silk served more than two years as director of the department and she now leads the EDC’s efforts to attract businesses to the county. Silk will be the primary facilitator for resources and services that businesses need to establish in the area. Additionally, Silk and her team will assist local businesses with expansion or relocation, the release adds. 

“Erin has a countywide reputation for creating positive change and transforming organizations through innovative thinking and deep community engagement,” says Lisa Krouse, interim CEO of the EDC, in the release. “This is a critical time during which our local economy is once again at risk because of its homogeneity and another surge of the pandemic. However, we also have an amazing opportunity for smart growth, and our community is fortunate to have someone with Erin’s knowledge and ability focusing intently on our economic health.”

Currently, Silk is working toward becoming a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) through the national Economic Development Council. Before joining the EDC she was CEO of Venice Mainstreet, a nonprofit. 

The EDC is actively working to diversify and grow Sarasota County’s economy. Krouse was named interim CEO in June, after county commissioners voted to begin a process to roll back funding to the organization.