by C.J. Gustafson
BusinessSchools.com Contributing Writer
October 23, 2004
Although there is disagreement over how Sarasota came to be named, it began
showing up on maps of the Floridas as early as 1839. When the government officials began
deeding 160 acres and six months of provisions to any person who agreed to carry
arms and protect the land for five years, William H. Whitaker took them up on
their offer. On September 1, 1851, he received 144.81 acres on Sarasota Bay,
becoming the first permanent white settler in Sarasota. By the early 1870's,
a community was developing on the mainland between Hudson Bayou and Phillippi
Creek, and the town of Sarasota eventually was incorporated in 1904. The railroad
spurred growth of the city, and although there were setbacks during the Depression
and the economic recession of the '70s, Sarasota has survived and today is a
thriving resort community with much to offer business students and graduates.
Kudos and Awards
Located on the Gulf of Mexico, on Florida's west coast between Tampa and Fort
Meyers, Sarasota has a warm, sunny climate and plenty of beaches. The city proper
is home to 52,715 residents, and Sarasota County as a whole has a population
of 228,348. Sarasota has a low cost of living, high quality schools, and a job
market that is expanding so quickly it is expected to see a 30.5 % increase
in jobs in the next decade, making it #7 in the country for job growth. These
factors led CNN Money to name Sarasota "the best small city" in 2000. In an
online article about the selection, CNN writers spoke with James Shedivy, managing
partner of accounting firm Arthur Anderson, a large Sarasota employer. He had
this to say about the city: "For people who want to work and live in a small
community, it offers plenty of advantages. You can go home to have lunch with
your kids." The following year, Employment Review and BestJobs USA selected
Sarasota as the "Best Place in Florida to Live and Work" and the third best
in the nation. Add in the surrounding areas in Sarasota County and you bring in even more features
that appeal to the business community.
Over 30 companies have their headquarters
in Sarasota County and many more, including Arthur Anderson, have operations
and subsidiaries located in the city. The following is a list of Sarasota County's
top five employers based on number of employees:
- School Board of Sarasota County - 4417 employees
- Sarasota Memorial Hospital - 3400 employees
- Publix (grocery stores) - 3300 employees
- Sarasota County Government - 2500 employees
- Bon Secours-Venice Hospital - 1428 employees
The numerous hospitals and health care facilities located in Sarasota and the surrounding area provide many internship and employment opportunities for students interested in health care administration.
Educational Opportunities
In addition to a growing business base, the city of Sarasota is home to several top-notch schools offering business education. New College, the state's independent honors college, is known for its excellent programming and innovative approach to college education, which allows students to structure their own learning programs. Both Time and Money Magazine magazines chose New College as the "2nd Best College Bargain in the Country."  The school outranked many prestigious institutions including the University of California, Berkeley and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
In addition to New College, Sarasota offers several other outstanding choices
for business education. They include Argosy University - Sarasota, the University of South Florida, Keiser College, and Manatee Community College.
Students at these schools can earn Accounting degrees, E-commerce degrees, Economics degrees, and Marketing and Public Relations degrees, and they can prepare for management
and administration careers. Several of the schools also offer MBA programs for
advanced business studies.
For those who prefer a smaller city atmosphere, Sarasota has much to offer,
including a seaside location and a growing economic base. Combine Sarasota County
with its neighboring counties of Manatee and Charlotte and you have a community
of over 600,000 people, large enough to satisfy the tastes of those who prefer
a teeming metropolitan lifestyle. The expanded area provides many more educational
and employment opportunities for business students and graduates, all within
an easy commute of the city of Sarasota. These features make Sarasota an increasingly
popular educational location.
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