Monday – April 28, 2008

BUILDING PERMITS UP IN FIRST QUARTER – Preliminary data gathered by the Volusia County Department of Economic Development indicates the dollar amount of residential building permits increased to slightly more than $69 million in the first quarter of 2008, from $59 million in the fourth quarter of 2007. The number of permits increased from 253 to 291. However, first quarter 2008 numbers are approximately half of the new residential permits reported for the first quarter of 2007. Commercial permits increased from $24 million in fourth quarter 2007 to $94 million for the first quarter of 2008, with the number of commercial projects increasing from 25 to 85. The full permit report will be posted on the Economic Development Web site.

THE ULTIMATE BUSINESS PLAN – Entrepreneurs who complete a business plan are six times more likely to start a business than those who had not done so. Writing a successful business plan requires preparation and, most importantly, getting started. The Small Business Development Center at DBC is hosting a three-hour seminar April 30 for those wanting a hands-on approach to writing a business plan. For more information and/or to register, call (386) 506-4723.

CPI INCREASE – The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics has recently released the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for March 2008. Based on this report, overall costs are 4-percent higher than March 2007. Note that food costs have increased by 4.5 percent, and energy costs have risen by 17 percent during this 12-month period.

WORKERS COMPENSATION RATES CONTINUE DECLINE – Workers compensation rates have declined for the fifth consecutive year, down 18.4 percent this year, bringing the total decrease since 2003 to more than 50 percent.

SEEKING VENTURE CAPITAL? – The Florida Venture Forum Inc. is Florida's oldest, largest and most prestigious statewide support group for venture capitalists and entrepreneurs. As an entrepreneurial networking group, the Forum offers expert counsel, educates entrepreneurs and assists them in identifying sources of venture capital. Throughout the year, the Forum provides programs on a statewide basis. For more information on how the Forum can help you raise venture capital, go to http://www.floridaventureforum.org/index.asp.

DBC OFFERING CAD TRAINING – DBC will be offering training in Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and CAD I (AutoCAD) from May 14 - June 25, and CAD II (AutoCAD) from May 15 - June 26. Call Jerry Baron at (386) 506-3603 for details.
FOREIGN TRADE LEADS – Enterprise Florida, the state’s trade organization, provides trade leads that include foreign companies that are interested in making direct purchases from Florida companies, acting as a manufacturer's representative or agent/distributor and joint ventures. If you wish to follow up on any of these leads, you can contact the foreign company directly with the information provided on the detailed report. You can view the leads at http://www.eflorida.com/ContentSubpage.aspx?id=6072.

PUBLIX RAISES $1.24 MILLION FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS – Publix Supermarkets raised $1.24 million during its annual promotion for Special Olympics Florida, in which it partnered with Proctor & Gamble. Publix has been a supporter of Special Olympics Florida for 36 years, and is the premier sponsor of the organization. Special Olympics Florida provides 15,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities sports training and competition opportunities. Publix is owned and operated by its 146,000 employees.

NEWS ITEMS WANTED! – Please send your business news items to Dave Byron, Volusia County Community Information Director, 123 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand, 32720-4612, by fax at (386) 822-5072 or by e-mail at dbyron@co.volusia.fl.us.