Monday – September 22, 2008

MOBILE TRAINING PROGRAM –The Volusia County Department of Economic Development is sponsoring a free breakfast showcasing the Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership's Mobile Outreach Skills Training (MOST) program. Learn about the machining curriculum, success stories and benefits of this unique skills training program. After the program, attendees are invited to tour the MEP's new Mobile Training Unit, which accommodates 14 individuals at a time for hands-on training of manufacturing skills. The event will be at Daytona Beach International Airport, 2nd floor Volusia Room, Thursday, Sept. 25. Breakfast will start at 7:45 a.m. followed by tours of the Mobile Training Unit. Space is limited. To register for this event, please contact Paul Mitchell at (386) 248-8048.

NANO FUTURE – Nanotechnology, the science of the extremely tiny, is coming to a product near you. A nanometer is around 80,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair. In 2007, $60 billion worth of nano-enabled products were sold, and the figure is predicted to rise to $150 billion by 2009. Nanotechnology also will produce employment opportunities, with an anticipated seven million jobs generated globally by nanotechnology in the next decade. To learn more, go to www.nanotechproject.org/topics/nano101/introduction_to_nanotechnology/.

AO PRECISION AWARDED TRAINING GRANT – AO Precision of Daytona Beach has been awarded an Incumbent Workers Training (IWT) grant from Workforce Florida Inc. for six full-time, existing employees. The IWT training grant is a matching grant opportunity to assist area manufacturers with new technology or upgrading skills training. This latest IWT grant is part of $36,000 training initiative for this Daytona Beach-based company. To learn more about the IWT program and how to apply for training funds, contact Lori Stone Maushund at (386) 323-7087, or Paul Mitchell at (386) 248-8048.

COBRA – COBRA enables workers and their covered family members to continue group health insurance coverage after termination of employment in good standing. With COBRA coverage, the former employee pays each month’s full premium plus a surcharge. He or she has 60 days to exercise the option and it is his or her responsibility to contact the insurer to start the enrollment process. Typically, COBRA benefits extend for 18 months, or until the covered person enrolls in a new health insurance plan. There are exceptions allowing for longer periods of coverage. However, if the sponsoring employer discontinues its group health benefit plan, coverage under COBRA will end on the discontinuation date. For more information, go to www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_cobra.HTML.

USING IRA OR 401K FUNDS FOR BUSINESS START-UP – Did you know that you can use holdings in a 401(k), 403(b), 457 or IRA for the equity required in an SBA 504 loan for a new business without distributions, taxes, penalties or loans? Funds can be used for corporate formation and a new retirement savings plan which invests in the stock of the new corporation to fund the new small business. For more information, contact Florida First Capital Finance Corporation at (888) 320-5504, or via e-mail at insider@ffcfc.com.

ADDING GREEN TO YOUR BUSINESS – A free, two-hour workshop Oct. 1 at UCF is designed to define what sustainability in business is and how sustainability in business is affecting the marketplace. Understand the opportunities associated with harnessing the power of sustainability in business that can lead to triple bottom-line benefits for the planet, people and profit. To register, go online to www.bus.ucf.edu/sbdc/registration.html.

EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION – The Florida Department of Motor Vehicles allows people to provide emergency contact information to law enforcement in the event of an emergency. This information may save crucial time if it becomes necessary to contact family members or other loved ones in an emergency situation. This service only is available to individuals holding a current Florida driver’s license or Florida identification card. To enter your personal information, which is protected by law, go to https://www6.hsmv.state.fl.us/dlcheck/findcustomer.

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.