Sarasota EDC: 1,125 jobs in '11

SARASOTA -- The Sarasota Economic Development Corp. says it facilitated the addition of 1,125 new area jobs between October 2010 and September 2011, in its year-end report.

Four companies announced more than 100 new hirings over the course of the year: PGT Industries (400 new jobs), RPS Inc. (169), 5D Composite (120) and Adams Group (102).

In addition, the EDC says it facilitated nearly $66 million in new capital investments for the area. The biggest contributor to that total was Sun Hydraulics Corp., which committed to investing $20 million in business upgrades this past year.

Nearly 75% of the new jobs — 838 positions -- were additions to businesses already in the Sarasota area, while 287 jobs resulted from relocations. Adams Group, for example, moved to Sarasota from Punta Gorda at the end of 2010, then purchased 2209 and 2227 Murphy Court in North Port for $1.92 million.

The Sarasota EDC spent $1.12 million on development activities in the 2011 fiscal year, its year-end report shows.