Monday – September 18, 2006

WORK COMPLETED ON NEW INDUSTRIAL PARK – The county Department of Economic Development has completed the construction of the 43-acre DeLand Crossings Industrial Park on I-4 near the intersection of S.R. 44. The park will provide more than 300,000 square feet of industrial space for more than 300 new manufacturing jobs. The county’s next focus will be on the 104-acre Tomoka Industrial Park near the border of Daytona Beach and Port Orange on S.R. 415.

GOVERNMENT REVENUES/EXPENSES A BIG PART OF FLORIDA’S ECONOMY -- For the 2004-2005 fiscal year, our state government collected more than $34.7 billion in revenue. Governmental revenues and expenses are an integral part of our economy. One way to look at this is through income sources and allocations. The Florida Department of Revenue's latest annual report is available on the internet and its 2005 By the Numbers web page at myflorida.com provides a summary of where Florida revenue comes from and where it goes. In brief, the top two income sources are the sales and use tax (59 percent) and documentary stamp taxes (10 percent). The two leading expense categories are education (38 percent) and health and human services (20 percent). More information is available on line at www.myflorida.com/dor/report/2005/nmumbers.html

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY CENTER TO HOST OPPORTUNITY DAY -- The Advanced Technology Center is hosting its first Opportunity Day October 25 from 3 - 6 p.m. The event allows area company representatives to meet with students to discuss the education and training they will need to pursue their careers. If you are interested in being among the presenters and helping students prepare for the future, please contact Margaret Thomas at 386/506-4120 or by e-mail at thomasm@dbcc.edu.

STETSON, ERAU GET HIGH RANKS -- In its 2007 edition of America’s Best Colleges, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Stetson University among the best in the South. Stetson ranks fifth in the best universities/master’s category and is listed fourth among great schools, great prices. In the same report, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University ranked first among premier schools in specialty engineering. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has won this top spot every year since the category was introduced in 2001.

BUSINESS MATCHMAKING -- The SBA co-sponsors a free matchmaking service between small businesses and federal and state agencies and large corporations that have contract opportunities. It includes face-to-face procurement appointments at regional events, the next one being in Miami November 16. The program is tailored to small businesses that are prepared for the challenges of doing business with government agencies and major corporations. For more information, call Paul Mitchell at 386/274-3439 or go to http://www.businessmatchmaking.com.

NEW COUNT ON WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES – According to the most recent report from the U.S. Census Bureau, Florida has 437,355 women-owned businesses operating statewide. Of these businesses 10,202 are in Volusia County.

COST OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS CONTINUES TO RISE -- The Producer Price Index (PPI) for construction materials and components has gone up 8.3 percent for the 12-month period ending in July 2006, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. And according to the Associated General Contractors of America, this increase is double the rate of growth of the finished goods PPI for the same period. Significant increases were noted for copper and brass mill shapes such as pipes and faucets, wallboard and other gypsum products, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe and concrete products.

THE TIME IT TAKES TO GET TO WORK – The average commute time for American workers has dropped slightly from 25.5 minutes in 2000 to 25.1 minutes in 2005, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The average Volusia County worker commutes 10 miles and averages 20 minutes from home to work.

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. If you wish to have your name removed from this weekly email broadcast, please let us know.