Bradenton Names New EDC Chief, Focus Jobs

Bradenton’s economic-development story is really about one thing — who gets to steer local growth now that the agency in charge has been forced to prove itself again. The Bradenton Area Economic Development Corp. named Shirar O’Connor its next president and CEO on April 30, and she starts June 1. That sounds like a routine leadership hire. But it lands right after the group won back county funding under a tighter, more skeptical contract. (businessobserverfl.com) ### Who just got the job? Shirar O’Connor is the new president and CEO of the Bradenton Area EDC, the nonprofit that handles business recruitment, expansion support, and a lot of the region’s behind-the-scenes job-growth work. She was chosen after a nationwide search and will take over on June 1. The search came after longtime leader Sharon Hillstrom retired at the end of 2025. (businessobserverfl.com) ### Why is this more than a personnel change? Because the EDC was not coming off a victory lap. Manatee County commissioners let its previous annual contract lapse in September 2025 after raising concerns about transparency and return on investment. In plain English, county leaders were not convinced they were getting enough measurable results for the money. The(businessobserverfl.com)nies. (yourobserver.com) ### What changed in April? On April 7, Manatee County commissioners unanimously approved a new contract with the EDC worth $292,450 a year. That was a reset. The deal is 13% lower than the prior version, payments come quarterly, and the money is tied to performance reporting instead of just broad promises about economic growth. (businessobserverf([yourobserver.com)ty want to see? Specific pipeline activity. The contract calls for 10 qualified leads per quarter and five active projects converted from those leads. The EDC also has to deliver quarterly reports and keep audit-ready documentation. That is the important shift here — local officials are not just funding the idea of growth, they want a paper trail showing where prospects came from and what turned into real projects. (businessobserverfl.com) ### What kinds of jobs is the EDC chasing? The agency says it is targeting five sectors: advanced manufacturing, aviation and aerospace, corporate operations, sports performance, and technology. Those are the kinds of industries local leaders usually chase when they want higher-wage jobs instead of just more service-sector growth. Interim CEO Amanda Parrish also told commissioners there were 27 projects already in process when the contract was approved. (businessobserverfl.com) ### Why does Bradenton care right now? Because the city is trying to line up public investment, redevelopment, and private capital at the same time. Bradenton has been pushing a broader action plan around redevelopment, infrastructure, downtown projects, housing, and city-owned sites like the riverfront City Hall property. An EDC leader is supposed to (businessobserverfl.com)ering stage. (bradentonareaedc.com) ### So what is O’Connor really walking into? Not a blank slate — more like a turnaround with momentum. The agency has county funding again, an active project pipeline, and a region still pitching itself for business relocation and expansion. But the catch is that every claim now has to be measurable. If O’Connor can turn leads into real announcements and real jobs, the EDC’s standing gets stronger fast. If not, the old doubts come right back. (businessobserverfl.com) ### Bottom line? Bradenton did not just name a new economic-development chief. It hired someone to prove the local growth machine can still deliver — and this time, county leaders want receipts.