SARASOTA COUNTY — In an effort to ramp up business relationships and corporate outreach, Sarasota County Business and Economic Development Manager Jeff Maultsby is leading the charge to give South County businesses a helping hand.

“We’re trying to have more direct contact with small-business owners across the county,” Maultsby said. “The idea is to hopefully identify those in need of assistance that we offer, so we can give them services that are directly and more personalized toward what they need, and make it a lot better for them to be in Sarasota County.”