DeLand Crossings
progressing; strategic planning leads to major commerce center
Progress
continues on the DeLand Crossings Industrial Park, which soon will
become another economic engine for West Volusia County. Years of
planning have preceded the development of the 450,000-square-foot
DeLand Crossings, which will become the corporate address for
several new companies. The industrial complex eventually will
provide hundreds of jobs and generate capital investment of more
than $9 million, according to Volusia County Economic Development
Director Rick Michael. DeLand Crossings also will contribute
substantially to Volusia's tax base by putting land currently valued
at $30.5 million on the tax roll.
The park
is at the intersection of Interstate 4 and State Road 44, a prime
commercial parcel, east of the city. The project got a big boost
earlier this year when the Volusia County Council authorized county
staff to proceed with negotiations and land sales. "It was essential
to get the green light when we did," said Michael. "We had two
companies interested in the location and with the blessing of County
Council we were able to move the process along."
BBK
Performance, a California-based automobile parts manufacturer, is
one of the companies slated for DeLand Crossings. The company plans
to build a facility that will cover 40,000 square feet or more and
commence operations with a staff of 32 fulltime employees. Its
purchase of land in DeLand Crossings yielded $420,000.
The
other company with its sights set on DeLand Crossings is NSI
Intellitec, a specialty vehicle manufacturer, which will build a
plant of 60,000 square feet or more and employ 60 workers when it
begins operations. Its land was purchased for $860,720.
BBK
Performance and NSI Intellitec will benefit from economic
development incentives designed to recruit light manufacturing
companies to Volusia County and generate a prescribed number of jobs
at specified wage levels. Both companies are expected to commence
operations in DeLand Crossings next year, according to Michael. Bids
on other parcels are expected this year, giving the project the
critical mass that will attract other prospective corporate tenants.
DeLand
Crossings was conceived in response to the need for more business
parks in Volusia County. Prospective tenants usually require parks
that are established with zoning, permits and infrastructure in
place to allow the quickest startup time.
The
county's Five-Year Economic Development Strategic Plan adopted in
2003 calls for the county to create several hundred acres of
developed industrial park infrastructure to incubate company
expansions or relocations.
