SARASOTA COUNTY — When the county committed $55 million to its rowing facility that’s under construction in Sarasota, one of its main goals was to lure the 2017 World Rowing Championships to the site.

That goal came one step closer Tuesday when county commissioners unanimously OK’d authorizing the submittal of a preliminary bid to the International Federation of Rowing Associations to hold the event here. The proposal was put together by Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates, the group responsible for organizing events at Nathan Benderson Park, where the 2,000-meter rowing course is being built. SANCA also will oversee the facility once construction is completed over the next couple of years.