Monday – December 4, 2006

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FROM AIRTRAN’S DAYTONA BEACH SERVICE – AirTran Airways and Frontier Airlines have teamed up so passengers can earn frequent flyer rewards between both airlines through AirTran Airways’ A-plus Rewards program and Frontier's Early Returns program. AirTran also has joined with Expedia Inc. to market the airline’s fares and schedules online through Expedia.com. AirTran will begin providing daily flights Jan. 11 from Daytona Beach International Airport to the Atlanta and Baltimore/Washington, D.C., markets.

AREA AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENT MANUFACTURERS TO EXPLORE MEXICAN MARKET – The county’s economic development team is beginning to organize plans for an exporting trade mission for area manufacturers interested in selling to the Mexican auto industry. Central Mexico is home to all the major international automakers from Japan, Germany and the United States. The mission will include a series of sales meetings and opportunities to meet with many of Mexico’s automakers during a five-day sales mission scheduled in mid-2007. Volusia County manufacturers interested in participating in this event designed to encourage the sales of locally produced products can contact Phil Ehlinger, business assistance manager, at 386/248-8048.

HOME PRICES EXPERIENCE A DECLINE IN OVERALL VALUE – According to a recent report published by the National Association of Realtors, the median sale price of a single-family home in Volusia County for the third quarter of 2006 was $201,500. The third quarter report shows an overall 12-month area decline of 3.2 percent for the same period in 2005.

IS YOUR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LISTED IN THE AREA’S CORPORATE GUIDE? – The county’s Department of Economic Development publishes an industrial directory of more than 400 area manufacturers. The directory is distributed to more than 5,000 companies annually through trade shows and direct contact with other manufacturing companies throughout the country. The department is in the process of updating the directory’s listings for the 2007 edition. We encourage your participation in updating your company’s contact information by visiting floridabusiness.org/profiles.htm. If your business is not in the Corporate Guide and you wish to have it included, you can link to an online form at the top of the web page or contact Lori Ward at 386/248-8048.

FLORIDA RANKS HIGH IN GAS CONSUMPTION – According to a report by the USDOT Federal Highway Administration, Florida’s 2005 gasoline consumption ranked second nationally behind California. Excluding special fuels, Florida consumed more than 11.6 billion gallons. California was No.1 as it led the country with more than 15.9 billion gallons consumed. Rounding out the top three was Texas with more than 8.6 billion gallons consumed.

HEALTH INSURANCE OPTION FOR SMALL BUSINESS – An important health insurance option for small businesses is the health savings account, or HSA, that provides reduced premiums, tax savings, and portability. It combines a high-deductible health insurance policy with an account to save for qualified medical expenses, including doctor visits, emergency room charges, prescription drugs and other health-related costs. For further information on other benefits to small businesses, visit http://www.floridasmallbusiness.com/startup/07.asp.

NATIONAL SITE SELECTION GROUP SEEKING SPACE – A national site selection consultant from Chicago will be in the area this week working with the county’s economic development team to determine if the area can support the consolidation of a national operations center designed to support administrative and financial management. Meetings with area job development, training and recruitment companies along with individual key employer visits will be part of the overall visit. In addition to required worker skills, the company also would require up to 50,000 square feet of prime office space beginning in early 2008. Anyone interested in providing a proposal for 30,000 to 50,000 square feet are encouraged to contact Phil Ehlinger, business assistance manager, at 386/248-8048.

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