Monday – May 5, 2008

TRAINING FUNDS AVAILABLE – The Center for Business Excellence has funding available to assist companies with training for new hires and current employees. Businesses that would like to learn more about the opportunities for workforce development should call Lori Stone Maushund at (386) 353-7087.

VOLUSIA PUBLIC COMPANIES IN TOP 150 – The 2007 rankings for Florida’s top 150 public companies are in the books. Brown & Brown ranked 56th and International Speedway Corporation ranked 62nd.

PHARMEX COMPLETES MOVE TO NEW FACILITY – Pharmex, a division of Time-Med, has completed its move into a new 30,000-square-foot facility in the Eastport Industrial Park in Port Orange. The facility was built to Pharmex’s specifications by Mike Cotton, a local developer. The new space allows Pharmex to increase its manufacturing of labels for the medical industry. A ribbon cutting is planned from 4 - 7 p.m. Saturday, May 31. Tours of the new facility and refreshments will be available. For more information, call Kris Oberdick at (888) PHARMEX, ext. 2807.

PANAMA CANAL OPPORTUNITIES – Panama’s $5.25-billion project to expand the Panama Canal is moving forward. U.S. companies should make their interests and capabilities known to the four pre-qualified groups competing for the design/build contract for the new locks for the Panama Canal. U.S. construction and engineering firms, and exporters of a variety of goods and services, could be potential suppliers. To learn more, visit http://www.export.gov/eac/show_detail_trade_leads.asp?TradeLeadID=6827, or contact Monica McFarlane at monica.mcfarlane@mail.doc.gov.

THINK YOUR ELECTRIC BILLS ARE TOO HIGH? – A new report from the Edison Electric Institute shows Volusia County compares favorably to most other manufacturing areas in the country. Volusia's bills are only 45 percent of New York's bills, 52 percent of Connecticut’s, 53 percent Boston’s and 69 percent of Rhode Island’s.

iPhone FOR DISABLED – AT&T Inc. has launched a new plan for the Apple iPhone that’s designed for deaf persons or those who have a speech or hearing impairment. Customers with qualifying disabilities will be able to access unlimited text messaging, Web browsing and e-mail for a flat rate; utilize a pay-per-use voice call option; opt for a “Mobile Magnifier” to see their screens better; or select a “Mobile Speak” that reads menu options aloud. Contact AT&T at nccdsupport@cingular.com or call (866) 241-6567 (TTY) or (866) 241-6568 (voice) to learn more.

FLU PLANNING KIT – The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services developed a planning guide to assist small businesses prepare for and respond to pandemic influenza outbreaks. Guides include guidance on storing emergency supplies and accounting for employees' locations. Businesses, especially those involved in production or food delivery, play a critical role during emergencies. The guide is online at www.doacs.state.fl.us.

MEDICA 2008 – The world’s premier global life sciences/medical trade show, MEDICA, will be in Germany November 19 - 22. Enterprise Florida is organizing a Florida pavilion to showcase the state’s most innovative companies at the show. MEDICA 2007 hosted a record-breaking 4,300 exhibitors and 137,500 visitors from nearly 100 countries. A booth and product display spaces are available to participants, plus new advertising opportunities, and on-site staff support. Space is limited and sold on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration deadline is July 11. Contact Michael Schiffhauer at (407) 956-5634, mschiffhauer@eflorida.com, or visit http://www.eflorida.com/download/Medica_082.pdf for more details.

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