IT firm pledges 50 hires

SARASOTA — Datum Corp., an IT services firm with clients worldwide, plans to add more than 50 employees over the next five years.

The company made the expansion announcement today in a joint release with the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County. The Business Review previously reported that Datum bought an 11,365-square-foot building in the Lakewood Ranch Corporate Park, which will be the firm's headquarters. Datum paid $975,000 for the building, formerly Lee Wetherington Homes' corporate office. The new space more than doubles the size of Datum's previous location.

Founded in 2002, Datum specializes in working with retail and restaurant chains. “As a growing player in a knowledge-based, technology-oriented industry, Datum Corp. could choose to grow almost anywhere,” Sarasota EDC President and CEO Mark Huey says in the release. “We welcome the company's decision to maintain and expand its headquarters location in Sarasota County.”

Sarasota County officials approved $200,000 in performance-based incentives to help retain the company. The company must hire the 50 employees over five years to receive the funds. Datum seeks to hire network engineers, help desk support specialists, project managers and sales executives, says CEO Tom Frost.