July 6, 2009

COUNCIL APPROVES MANUFACTURER EXPANSION INCENTIVE – The Volusia County Council has approved an application for a performance-based tax refund incentive for Luma Brite Technologies to open a manufacturing facility in Volusia County. Luma Brite is a manufacturer of a “green” low-power consumption lighting product for use in advertising applications. A local incentive of $30,000 was approved in an effort to leverage an additional $120,000 from the State of Florida. The incentive will be used to create a minimum of 50 new jobs in Volusia.

DEFINING “GREEN” – The nation’s retailers have unleashed a barrage of green – from green banks and green power plants to green detergents and green garbage hauling. Legally speaking, however, the term “green” has yet to be officially defined. Green standards may be on the way. The threat of “greenwashing” – claiming a product is environmentally friendly when it really isn’t – is prompting the FTC to act. A report by TerraChoice Environmental Marketing concluded that more than 99 percent of the 1,753 green advertisements it studied were false, vague, unproven or misleading.

SOLAR HOT WATER ATTRACTIVE – With rising energy prices, solar hot water heating is once again becoming cost-effective. Florida's 2006 Energy Act provides for rebates of $500 for solar hot water heating systems certified by the Florida Solar Energy Center. Information on how to obtain this rebate can be found at the FSEC web site: http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/En/media/enews/2006/2006-04_Energy-act.htm. In addition, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) provides for a federal tax credit of 30 percent of the qualified solar system expenditures up to a maximum tax credit limitation of $2,000. See http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/consumer/solar_hot_water/homes/index.htm for a detailed description of the ins and outs of solar hot water heater performance.

REEL IN CASH – Business owners are finding innovative ways to reel in extra cash. Four ideas outlined in the "Small Business" section of the Wall Street Journal are: 1) Offer upfront pricing, charging a higher price upfront with the promise of a discount or freebie down the road. 2) Discount certain items – selectively discounting products or services can be more lucrative than offering a blanket discount. 3) Purchase money financing – suppliers may allow you to sell merchandise before you pay for it. 4) Modify expense items – when possible, turn fixed costs into variable costs given that variable costs may be adjusted more easily.

SUMMER CAMPS AT THE OCEAN CENTER – Yes, it's a convention center, but did you know the Ocean Center doubles as a summer camp site in July? From July 12 - 16, the Student Life Youth Conference (7,000 attendees) will be at the facility; July 13 - 16 will bring NCA Cheerleading Camp (350 attendees) to the Ocean Center; and July 18 - 24 will bring Big Stuf Student Camp (3,300 attendees) to the area. The Student Life and Big Stuf events were joint booking efforts of the Ocean Center and Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

CLEAN ENERGY MEANS JOBS – The Pew Charitable Trusts study said Florida was one of 38 states and the District of Columbia in which job growth in the clean energy economy outperformed overall job gains. In Florida, there was a 7.9 percent increase in clean energy jobs from 1998 to 2007. The actual jobs are diverse, including engineers, plumbers, administrative assistants, construction workers, machine setters, marketing consultants and teachers with annual incomes ranging from $21,000 to $111,000. Florida had 3,831 clean energy businesses at the end of 2007, a 22.7 percent increase from 1998, the report says.

VERIFY BEFORE YOU BUY – The Florida Department of Financial Services provides a "Verify Before You Buy" service where you can check on an insurance company or agent before you buy. Go to http://www.myfloridacfo.com/consumers/verify_before_you_buy/index.htm or call (877) 693-523

NEWS ITEMS WANTED! – Please send your business news items to Dave Byron, Volusia County Community Information Director, 123 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand, FL 32720-4612, by fax at (386) 822-5072, or by e-mail at dbyron@co.volusia.fl.us.