May 18, 2009

FREIGHT MOVEMENT STUDY – Last fall, the Volusia County Traffic Engineering Department hired a traffic consultant to initiate a countywide Freight Movement and Goods Study. In coordination with the Volusia County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the Florida Department of Transportation and other community stakeholders, data collection was started for truck traffic movements and freight routes. Businesses that move or receive truck shipments should to participate to provide information on “hot spots” and transportation difficulties. The goal of the collection is to prepare recommendations and a model ordinance regarding the routing of truck traffic, with the goal of making truck movements more efficient and save money for shippers. For more information, please contact Jon Cheney, Volusia County traffic engineer, at jcheney@co.volusia.fl.us.

HORTI FAIR OCTOBER 2009 – Horti Fair is the premier international trade show for the horticulture industry. More than 900 exhibitors from 50 countries will represent every facet of the global horticulture industry. Almost 50,000 industry professionals from all over the world will gather in Amsterdam from Oct. 13 - 16 to be inspired, establish new contacts and do business with leading suppliers. Horticulture (edible and ornamental) professionals who are interested in attending the show as part of a visiting delegation from Volusia County can contact Paul Mitchell, business specialist, at (386) 248-8048.

E-MAIL MARKETING – Is it time to master e-mail marketing communications and build lasting relationships with your customers? The Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida is hosting a workshop about e-mail marketing Wednesday, May 20, at the Disney Entrepreneur Center, Orlando. To register, go to www.sbdcorlando.com or call (407) 420-4850.

THE BUSINESS BEHIND THE MAGIC – The Disney Institute is presenting “Motivating through the Tough Times” at the 5th Annual Business Express leadership training opportunity hosted by the Center for Business Excellence at the Daytona Beach Hilton Wednesday, May 27. Other workshops are available, too. To get more information and register, go to www.centerforbusinessexcellence.net or call (386) 740-6959.

PROGRESS ENERGY ONE OF TOP-50 MILITARY-FRIENDLY EMPLOYERS – G.I. Jobs magazine has ranked Progress Energy 26th on its 2008 list of Top 50 Military-Friendly Employers. This is the third consecutive year Progress Energy has made the list, moving up from number 32 in 2006 and up from 39 in 2007. In addition, Progress Energy ranked in the top five for military-friendly utilities. The G.I. Jobs Military-Friendly Employers list represents the best of the best in hiring former service members, and businesses that have the best policies for those who serve. To read the entire article, go to www.gijobs.com.

NO-COST SUMMER HELP – The Center for Business Excellence currently is seeking local businesses to participate in a paid summer youth employment program beginning in June 2009 for individuals 16 - 24. The program will hire up to 500 economically disadvantaged young adults in Flagler and Volusia counties. Participants in the training program can work 15 or more hours per week. There is no cost for a business to participate, and all participant-wage costs are funded by the recently enacted federal stimulus program. Businesses interested in serving as a work site may apply through www.onestops.com, call (386) 323-7082, or e-mail summerprogram@cbe-fvc.org.

DEVELOPMENT BOOM? – A development boom is brewing under the radar of Floridians distracted by deteriorating real estate values and record foreclosures. The Sunshine State is processing an unprecedented number of proposals for new homes and commercial development. If approved, these projects could pump more than 600,000 rooftops onto a market suffering from a surplus of product and slowdown in population growth. Also on developers’ wish lists is the right to build a half-billion square feet of nonresidential space. Property owners with an eye on the future are creating plans that have the potential to unlock hundreds of thousands of agricultural and environmentally sensitive acres to residential and retail development over the coming decades.

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.