June 15, 2009

SBA BUSINESS DISASTER LOANS – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has opened a Business Recovery Center to help businesses affected by the recent storms and flooding. Businesses and nonprofits of any size can borrow up to $2 million for physical losses. The SBA also offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working-capital needs. Interest rates are as low as 4 percent for businesses, with terms up to 30 years. The Business Recovery Center is in the Holly Hill Community Recreational Center, 1046 Daytona Ave., Holly Hill, and is open from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. To learn more, call the SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center from 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. (EDT), Monday through Friday, at (800) 659-2955 (800-877-8339 for hearing-impaired persons), or send an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

REDEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES – The Florida Brownfields Program is one of Florida's most successful economic development tools. The program encourages and rewards the redevelopment of designated areas that may have actual or perceived environmental concerns. Since its inception, the program has created and generated more than 15,000 jobs and $890 billion in capital investment in Florida. VCARD is sponsoring a forum, “Finding the ‘Green’ in Brownfields” from 10 a.m. - noon Friday, June 26, in the Volusia Room of Daytona International Airport. Lunch is included. For reservations, please call Gail Miller at (386) 255-0981, ext. 229, or e-mail gail@daytonachamber.com.

GOOGLE EYES ARE EVERYWHERE – A recent U.C. Berkeley report shows that most Internet users don’t understand Web site privacy policies and that major online businesses, like Google Inc., freely gather data and share it with affiliated businesses via loopholes in those policies. Using trackers called “Web bugs,” third parties collect user data from many popular web sites. Sites often allow this though their privacy policies say they don’t share user data with others. The study’s authors learned that Web bugs from Google and its subsidiaries were found on 92 of the top 100 Web sites, and 88 percent of the approximately 400,000 unique domains examined in the study. Though many Internet users are familiar with “cookies,” which are used to study Internet surfing habits, people are less familiar with Web bugs. The bugs can’t be cleared out of a web browser, since they are part of a site’s HTML code.

DROWNING IN DEBT? – Small Business Administration (SBA) loans up to $35,000 are available to small firms through banks working with the SBA. The funds are to be used for debt reduction on high-interest credit cards, lines of credit and other small-business loans. Through the America's Recovery Capital program, banks – which traditionally have been reluctant to make loans to small businesses with declining revenues – are being urged by the SBA to consider loans to small firms that likely will turn around. Borrowers pay no interest charges on the loan and there's no repayment of principal required for 12 months. Small businesses must show financial hardship – such as frozen credit lines, difficulty making payroll or paying rent – while at the same time proving they will continue to be viable.

SHARPEN YOUR SKILLS – Since 1998, Daytona State College (DSC) has enrolled more than 22,000 students into its Manufacturing Training Program and has offered more than 300 different courses related to the field. As businesses look to upgrade their workforce’s skill sets during slower times, the program’s computer science- and business-related courses have become the most popular with employers. To learn more about the program or training available for your employees contact Frank Mercer, DSC - Center for Business and Industry director, at mercerf@daytonastate.edu.

THINK INTERNATIONALLY – International business is one of Florida's largest contributors to the growth, sustainability and resiliency of our economy. In fact, Enterprise Florida recently reported that one out of every six jobs in Florida depends on international trade and accounts for 16.6 percent of the state’s annual gross domestic product. Last year, 44,000 Florida businesses outperformed the rest of the nation in total trade and exported products or services. Even though its international business activities slowed in 2009, Florida is still tops in the nation.

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