Manatee County Helps IMG Academies Hire More Team Members, 65 Jobs

The business of sports is getting bigger in Manatee County with the news that IMG Academies is expanding. The growth involves more training programs, facilities and jobs at the athletic and academic complex in Bradenton, which trains athletes from around the world. IMG also has pre-K, elementary, middle and high school educational facilities.

IMG Academies plans to add 65 employees over the next three years as part of the expansion. The jobs will include a mix of coaches, specialists, administrative positions and various Academy positions. The additional employees will staff new programs, including the IMG Madden Football Academy, IMG Lacrosse Academy and others. The Manatee Board of County Commissioners approved financial incentives to help pay for the additional hiring.

IMG also plans to construct a 50,000-square-feet dormitory in 2012, with a total of $25 million in capital investments on the campus in the next five years. The growth will help IMG stay on top of its game, according to spokesman Dan Tierney. "We consider ourselves to be the world's premier multisport training facility and want to remain at the forefront. To do so, we have to continually search for ways to improve and offer a top product to our dedicated athletes," he says.

The county incentives included up to $65,000 over five years, which IMG will receive as jobs are provided. Jobs added by IMG must meet or exceed an annual wage of $38,619, which is 115 percent of the average wage in Manatee County, to qualify.