April 20, 2009

VOLUSIA COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVES SPARTON INCENTIVES – The Volusia County Council unanimously approved an incentive plan Thursday, April 16, to keep Sparton Electronics in DeLeon Springs and Brooksville, Florida. The State of Michigan offered an incentive package to lure Sparton’s Florida operations north, but Volusia and Hernando counties, together with Enterprise Florida, acted quickly to come up with a counteroffer. Volusia County’s portion of the package includes $187,200 in tax refunds through Florida’s Qualified Space and Defense Contractor program. The county also will grant a $1,000 per job incentive for the 312 jobs retained and/or created in DeLeon Springs.

RELAY FOR LIFE – The American Cancer Society (ACS) is preparing for its local “Relay for Life.” If you'd like to participate, volunteer, or donate money, food, or services, please call Jamie Anderson at the Daytona Beach ACS office at (386) 274-3274, ext. 5855, or visit www.relay.org and enter your Zip code under "Find Local Events." Come celebrate progress, remember loved ones and join the fight against cancer.

SUSTAINABLE GREEN DEVELOPMENT FORUM APRIL 23 – The second educational forum in sustainability will be in the Rinker Auditorium at Stetson University’s Lynn Business Center at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 23. The auditorium is at 375 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand (between Ohio and Michigan Avenues). The panel includes Matt Adair from the City of DeLand; Jack Carter, architect; David Griffis of the UF-IFAS Volusia County Extension; Mark Watts, Esq.; and John E. Evans. For more information, please call the DeLand Area Chamber of Commerce at (386) 734-4331.

VOLUSIA COUNTY PERMIT REPORTS ONLINE – Did you know Volusia County's Growth and Resource Management Department offers web-based access to its “permits issued by type” report? The report includes building permit information on commercial and residential development and data regarding location, valuation, square footage, contractor, owner and issue date. The report lists the permits issued for the previous week and can be accessed under “weekly reports” at www.volusia.org/permitcenter/reports.htm.

HOUSEHOLD EMISSIONS CALCULATOR – You can use the following online calculator to get a rough “ballpark” estimate of your personal or family’s greenhouse gas emissions, and explore the impact of taking various actions to reduce your emissions. Go to www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html.

WHY EXPORT? – Florida companies that export are able to navigate domestic or seasonal downturns better. Companies with a healthy balance between domestic and international sales grow 15 - 20 faster, pay higher wages and are more profitable. The Gold Key incentive program may be able to help your business in these areas. For information, please call Paul Mitchell, Volusia County Economic Development, at (386) 248-8048, or e-mail pmitchell@co.volusia.fl.us.

REGENERATIVE MEDICINE – If proponents of regenerative medicine are right, our bodies’ powers to repair or replace damaged tissues, cells and even organs, will be an integral part of healthcare in the future. A report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) contends certain chronic conditions and diseases such as heart disease, neurological disorders and diabetes, will be “easily cured by regenerative medicine” in the next few decades. HSS conservatively estimates that the global market for the field could reach $500 billion by 2010. To learn more, go to www.eflorida.com/IntelligenceCenter/Reports/Regenerative_Medicine.pdf.

SAVE SOME GREEN BY GOING GREEN ON VOTRAN FOR EARTH DAY, APRIL 22 – To encourage use of green transportation alternatives, Votran, Volusia County’s public transit agency, is allowing anyone wearing a green shirt on Earth Day, April 22, to ride the regular fixed route service FREE. For more information call Votran at (386) 761-7700.

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.