County seeks to spur business

SARASOTA — Sarasota County commissioners plan to consider several business-related budget items in meetings over the next two days.

One resolution up for debate today is a move to reduce building permit fees by 10% through Oct. 1, 2013. The fee would be reinstated after that date under the resolution. Commissioners, according to a Sarasota County statement, will also look into a marketing and promotion contract with Visit Sarasota County for fiscal year 2013 worth $4.65 million at today's meeting.

Two other resolutions up for discussion today involve the Entertainment Industry Incentive Program. One resolution would change the eligibility criteria for companies to win grants, while a second resolution would allocate $178,590 for the program. That would bring the total available amount back to $250,000, which is what it started with.

The business plan and 2013 fiscal year budget for the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County is an agenda item for a meeting scheduled for Wednesday. The meeting today was held in Venice, while the Wednesday session is at the Sarasota County office building in downtown Sarasota.