Monday – November 20, 2006

THINKING OF TURKEY THIS WEEK -- According to the University of Illinois Agricultural Extension's Turkey Facts web page, 675 million pounds of turkey are eaten each Thanksgiving in the United States. U.S. turkey growers raised 256.2 million turkeys in 2005 and will produce an estimated 266.5 million turkeys this season. For more turkey facts, go to http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/turkey/facts.html. The turkeys produced in 2005 weighed 7.2 billion pounds and were valued at $3.2 billion. Happy Thanksgiving!

COUNTY’S WORKFORCE UP TO 246,704 WORKERS – The latest employment numbers for Volusia County were issued Friday. They show the county’s workforce increasing to 246,704. This is an increase of 11,939 workers over the past 12 months. The area’s unemployment rate declined in October to 2.9 percent, down from 3.1 percent for the same period in 2005.

VOLUSIA CONTINUES TO RANK HIGH IN NEW JOB GROWTH -- A recent Forbes listing reports that out of the top 200 metro areas in the nation Volusia County ranked ninth in job growth, 13th in net migration, and 80th in income growth over the past five years. Volusia County’s economy continues to diversify as more workers relocate to the area. Volusia County is expected to receive an estimated 28,000 new residents this year, a trend that has continued to increase for the past several years.

AREA BANKING DEPOSITS POSTING IMPRESSIVE GAINS -- One of the indicators of a vital local economy is the growth in the amount of bank deposits within the immediate market. During the year ending June 30, the FDIC reports there has been a 38 percent growth in bank deposits in Volusia County. Volusia’s 27 local financial institutions reported $8.2 billion in overall deposits as of June 30.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE OPPORTUNITIES IN PANAMA -- The U.S. Commercial Service is inviting Volusia County companies to participate in a free webinar that will identify opportunities U.S. firms may have to participate in the newly approved $5.3-billion expansion of the Panama Canal. Companies specializing in or associated with the maritime and general construction industries will benefit from this web event scheduled for December 5 at 3 p.m. Speakers will include Senior Commercial Officer Robert Jones of U.S. Commercial Service Panama and executives from the Panama Canal Authority. To register for the webinar visit www.buyusa.gov/tradeamericas/panamacanal.html. If you have any questions in advance of the webinar please contact Danielle at 817/310-3744 or by email at Caltabiano@mail.doc.gov

TWO AREA COMPANIES LISTED AMONG CENTRAL FLORIDA’S TOP BUSINESS EMPLOYERS --Two Volusia companies made the list of the region's top employers. Brown and Brown with 747 employees and Tyco Kendall Healthcare with 709 employees are among the top 100 employers in Central Florida (Orange, Seminole, Lake, Osceola, Volusia, and Brevard counties). The combined employment for the 100 companies was 369,254, an increase of 2.7 percent over 2005, according to the Orlando Sentinel, Central Florida Business.

EXPORT ASSISTANCE CENTER AT ATC -- The Volusia County Department of Economic Development is encouraging area manufacturers to explore exporting possibilities. Foreign trade specialists from the U.S. Foreign and Commercial Service maintain an office at the area’s Advance Technology Center in Daytona Beach. To schedule an appointment to learn what resources are available for your company, please contact Paul Mitchell at 386/274-3439.

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.