Monday – August 11, 2008

DOED AWARDED FOREIGN TRADE GRANT – The Volusia County Department of Economic Development (DOED) has been awarded a $60,000 International Business Expansion grant to develop an expanded trade program for Volusia County companies and buyers in the European Union. The first phase of the program, which is a partnership with Enterprise Florida and the U.S. Commercial Service, will identify buyers of agricultural and horticultural products (primarily ferns and decorative greens) for an inbound trade mission. The program’s second phase is designed to target high-technology trade shows to promote, to members of NATO, the sale and export of locally manufactured military products and technologies. Funding for companies wishing to participate in these initiatives may be provided on a matching basis. For more information, contact Paul Mitchell at (386) 248-8048 or via e-mail at pmitchell@co.volusia.fl.us.

LARGE INDUSTRIAL SITE NEEDED – A national prospect is evaluating industrial facility sites for development in Volusia County. If you know of a 15- to 20-acre site suitable for a build-to-suit manufacturing/warehouse/office development, please contact John Kizer, Volusia County Department of Economic Development at (386) 248-8048 or via e-mail to jkizer@co.volusia.fl.us. Information will be forwarded to the client for review and potential follow up.

GREEN ASPHALT – Halifax Paving of Ormond Beach has contracted for a new “green” asphalt plant to replace two older plants at the company’s facility in Ormond Beach. The new $4 million plant will have a smaller footprint, use less than half of the electricity, have significantly less emissions, and will need to run only 25 percent of the time the older plants did to produce the same amount of asphalt. Halifax has chosen Gencor of Orlando as the supplier in order to keep the work in Florida. The Volusia County Departments of Economic Development and Growth Management are working closely with Halifax Paving to expedite this latest “green technology” project. The new plant is scheduled to be online Dec. 31.

AUGUST IS OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR SELF-EMPLOYED AND SMALL COMPANIES – August is an open enrollment period for single-group employers, sole proprietors, independent contractors and others to obtain health insurance or switch plans on a guaranteed issue basis. This once-a-year opportunity allows insurers and HMOs to offer basic and standard coverage without regard to health status. Coverage options include health savings accounts or health reimbursement arrangements. Health insurance information is available at www.MyFloridaCFO.com or on the toll-free consumer helpline at (800) 693-5236.

ONLINE CLASS ENROLLMENT UP – The number of students taking online classes has been soaring in recent years, as students look for ways to earn degrees at their own convenience. With gas prices topping $4 a gallon this summer, some students say online classes also are the most affordable way for them to earn a degree.

DAYTONA BEACH EXPANDING BROWNFIELD – The City of Daytona Beach is proposing a new economic development tool: the Florida Brownfield Program. The Florida Brownfield Program offers a variety of incentives to businesses, regardless of whether pollution or contamination are present. Tax credits are available to companies finding environmental contamination on their property to help cover the cost of cleanup. The program also offers tax credits for job creation and incentives and guarantees for residential development. The city proposal expands the existing designated area near the Daytona Beach International Airport and areas to the west and north, and is designed to capture much of the city’s industrial area along Fentress Boulevard. For more information on the program, contact Emory Counts at (386) 671-8245 or via e-mail at counste@codb.us. Information on the Florida Brownfield program can be found at www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/brownfields. For information on other areas of the county or how the Brownfield program could help your community, contact Paul Mitchell at (386) 248-8048 or via email at pmitchell@co.volusia.fl.us.

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