Monday - Dec. 1, 2008

COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVES REAL ESTATE COMMISSIONS – The Volusia County Council has approved a commission program to encourage commercial broker support for new construction projects at designated county-owned sites. DeLand Crossings Industrial Park is the first eligible project. Details of the commission program will be presented at a luncheon hosted by the Volusia County Department of Economic Development Thursday, Dec. 11. Invitations will be mailed to all Volusia County brokers, but if you’d like to attend, please reserve a seat by calling (386) 248-8048.

VANN DATA TO HOST COMPUTER RECYCLING TO BENEFIT STEWART-MARCHMAN – Local businesses and residents are encouraged to bring old monitors, personal computers, printers, scanners, laptops and other electronic devices to Vann Data from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10. This is the first eWaste Recycling Day to be held in the company parking lot at 1801 Dunn Ave., Daytona Beach. The eWaste program is part of Vann Data’s efforts to improve the environment by recycling computers and electronics and helping clients “Go Green.” Donations of $1 per item are requested. One hundred percent of the proceeds will benefit Stewart-Marchman-Act Behavioral Healthcare. To learn more about Stewart-Marchman and its services, visit the organization’s web site at www.smabehavioral.org.

SMALL BUSINESSES DOMINATE OUR ECONOMY – According to research released by the Small Business Administration, small firms represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms and employ about half of all private-sector employees, pay nearly 45 percent of the total U.S. private payroll, and have generated 60 to 80 percent of net new jobs annually over the last decade. Small firms have made up 97.3 percent of all identified exporters, and produced 28.9 percent of the known export value. They also hire 40 percent of high-tech workers, and produce 13 times more patents per employee than large patenting firms.

ALTERNATIVE FINANCING FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS – Volusia County’s Industrial Development Authority provides favorable financing for local companies. Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs) allow a borrower to achieve interest rates well below the rates than more traditional forms of capital borrowing require. Qualifying companies include those engaged in manufacturing, distribution, warehousing, research and development and corporate headquarters. IRB financing covers land acquisition, new construction, acquisition or renovation of existing facilities, new additions, capital equipment and machinery. For more information, please call Phil Ehlinger at (386) 248-8048 or e-mail pehlinger@co.volusia.fl.us. 

FLORIDA FARM BUREAU ELECTS DELEON SPRINGS GROWER – John L. Hoblick of DeLeon Springs was unanimously elected president for a second term of the Florida Farm Bureau Federation at the Federation’s annual meeting this October. Hoblick, a Volusia County grower who produces cut foliage for the floral industry, was first elected president in 2006. He has been a member of the Florida Farm Bureau state board of directors since 1994.

PUBLIC WORKSHOP TO ADDRESS TRUCK ROUTES – The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and Volusia County’s Traffic Engineering Division will host a public workshop from 6 - 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at the MPO office, 2570 International Speedway Blvd., Suite 120, in Daytona Beach. The workshop will explain the freight movement and goods study currently underway and how it will be used to develop a truck route-model ordinance. Citizens will have an opportunity to make comments at the workshop.

NURSERIES SUCCEEDING IN NICHE MARKETS – While the economy has had a negative impact on many nurseries, others are thriving. Those finding success are specializing in products or services not provided by other nurseries. Specialized plants and demonstration gardens fill an identified need. For more information, please visit http://smallfarms.ifas.ufl.edu.
 
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.