Monday – October 23, 2006

VMA TO HONOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE – The Volusia Manufacturers Association will hold its annual awards banquet October 26 at the Sunset Harbor Yacht Club, Daytona Beach. Several area manufacturers will be honored for outstanding performance. Co-sponsors are the county Department of Economic Development, Ocean Waters Management and Charles Wayne Properties. For reservations please contact Lori Stone Maushund at 386/323-7087.

LOOKING TO SELL YOUR PRODUCT OVERSEAS? – Gold Key matching grants are available to support your next trade mission. For more information, please contact Paul Mitchell, County Business Specialist, at 386/274-3439.

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING CONTINUES TO LAG – New home building in Volusia County so far this year is way behind last year’s record pace, according to new data gathered by the county Department of Economic Development from the county and city building offices. Residential permits countywide in the third quarter totaled $144.4 million. This compares to the $238.7 million in residential permits issued in the second quarter and the $369.5 million posted in the third quarter last year. The number of permits issued in the third quarter fell to 638 from the 1,814 issued during the same period last year. Building officials predict the number of residential permits this year won’t exceed 3,500 as compared to the 6,856 permits issued in 2005, a drop of nearly 50 percent. The majority of activity was in unincorporated Volusia with 186 permits issued valued at $38.9 million. This was followed by the 125 home permits valued at $28.1 million issued by DeLand and Daytona Beach which issued 97 home permits valued at $22.6 million. The drop in permit activity will mean a significant decline in local government impact fees used to support new road construction, new schools and parks.

COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY STEADY – During the third quarter there were 49 commercial permits countywide worth $54.1 million. Commercial permit activity for the first nine months totaled $204.7 million, slightly ahead of the same period in 2005 when permit activity amounted to $192 million. According to the county Department of Economic Development, 198 new commercial and industrial projects have been permitted to date. Officials expect commercial activity to remain steady in the fourth quarter and to exceed the $231 million in commercial permits issued in 2005.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE – Local companies can join Enterprise Florida at two of the world’s largest international trade shows in 2007. The state has secured space as part of a Florida pavilion for companies wanting to exhibit at Arab Health 2007 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This is the world’s third largest healthcare trade show. Space also is available at CeBIT 2007 the world’s largest information and communications technology trade show to be held in Hanover, Germany, March 15-21. For more information, please contact Michael Schiffhauer, an international trade specialist for Enterprise Florida, at 407/316-4730.

WORKSHOP DESIGNED FOR HISPANIC ENTREPRENEURS -- The county Department of Economic Development’s Small Business Program and SCORE will co-sponsor a workshop for Spanish speaking entrepreneurs on how to start and maintain a business. The workshop will be in mid-November at the Deltona Library. For information please call SCORE at 386/255-6889 or Julio Holness at the county Department of Economic Development at 386/274-3437.

DAYTONA THUNDER HAS PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES – The Daytona Thunder indoor football team has sponsorship opportunities for local companies. For information contact Antone Smothers at asmothers@dbthunder.net.

BE CHARTER SMARTER – For detailed information on the seven proposed amendments to the Volusia County Home Rule Charter that will be on the ballot November 7, please access volusia.org and click on the Be Charter Smarter icon.

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