Bradenton Area EDC Moving Its Office To State College Of FL Campus

BRADENTON, FL — The Bradenton Area Economic Development Corp. (EDC) will be moving into new digs early next year.

The EDC will move its office from Lakewood Ranch to the 26 West Center at the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota campus in Bradenton in January, according to a news release from the organization.

The 26 West Center at SCF Bradenton is home to the Entrepreneurship Academy, Business Growth Lab, Personal Branding Lab, the SCF Coding Academy and SCF’s Creative Studio. Each offers a range of services dedicated to making entrepreneurship, small business growth and careers in technology accessible to students and residents of the Suncoast region, the EDC said.

The EDC provided important support to help SCF secure $3.6 million in job growth grant funding from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to establish 26 West.

“Fostering entrepreneurship is a major focus of our organization, so we are excited to co-locate with the entrepreneurship programs and business incubator at 26 West,” Sharon Hillstrom, EDC president and CEO, said. “We also look forward to engaging in an environment that cultivates energy and innovation. Where better for that to occur than a college campus? SCF has always been an excellent partner with the EDC, and we expect this move to provide even greater opportunities for collaboration on future economic development initiatives.”

The EDC is a private, nonprofit organization that is recognized by the state of Florida as the lead economic development organization for all the communities that make up Manatee County.

The organization works to attract and retain high-skill, high-wage jobs for area residents, and to connect established businesses to the resources they need for success.