Universal plans Sarasota hires

SARASOTA — Universal North America, a multiregional insurance carrier based in Sarasota, plans to add 70 new employees to its staff over the next two years, according to the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County.

Universal will receive a training grant of $84,000 to accelerate its hiring plans, the EDC said. It is the first company in Sarasota County to receive such a grant. The money for the grant comes from the state's Quick Response Training program.

In addition to expanding its workforce, the company recently expanded its geographic presence in the Sarasota area. It added 20,000 square feet of office space to its existing facilities to house property and casualty insurance operations.

Universal North America is headquartered on Arthur Andersen Parkway in Sarasota. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Universal Group Inc., which is based in Puerto Rico.