Monday – January 8, 2007

AIRTRAN SERVICE STARTS THURSDAY AT DAYTONA BEACH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – County officials will host a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday at 10 a.m. to mark the start of service by AirTran Airways. The Orlando-based low fare carrier will offer direct flights to Atlanta and Baltimore. Thursday’s ceremony will include representatives from AirTran, the tourism industry and other dignitaries. The airport’s fire crew will give the first arriving AirTran flight the traditional water salute. The county-operated airport has a number of passenger specials during January which has been designated as Customer Appreciation Month. For more information on AirTran go to airtran.com. For more information on the Customer Appreciation Month specials go to www.flydaytonafirst.com.

STATE OF COUNTY ADDRESS JANUARY 16 – Volusia County Chair Frank Bruno will deliver the annual State of the County address Tuesday, January 16. The public event begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Ocean Center, 101 N. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach. The address will cover accomplishments of the past year and goals for this year. Lunch will be served. Reservations are required by January 12. To make a reservation for lunch, please call the Volusia County Manager’s Office at 386/736-5920. Lunch sponsors are Blackwell & Associates, Bower-Singleton & Associates, Ghyabi & Associates, PEC/Professional Engineering Consultants and Waste Management.

COUNTY TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO HELP TORNADO VICTIMS -- Volusia County’s Community Assistance Division has funds to help qualified homeowners whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the Christmas tornados. Up to $3,000 per household can be provided for interim repairs to avoid further damage and tree and debris removal required to make the housing unit habitable. Up to $5,000 per household can be provided for construction of wells or repair of existing wells where public water is not available. Up to $5,000 per household can be provided for payment of insurance deductibles for rehabilitation of homes not covered under homeowner's insurance policies. Up to $7,500 can be made available for security deposit and rental assistance. Eligibility is limited to households at or below 120 percent of the area's median income adjusted for family size. Applicants may call the county’s Community Assistance Division at 386/736-5955.

INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BONDS OFFERED TO ENCOURAGE LOCAL MANUFACTURING – The county’s Industrial Development Authority provides tax free financing for qualified capital projects to benefit Volusia County manufacturers. The program provides for the issuance of Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRB) to support the acquisition, construction and/or the renovation of manufacturing facilities and the acquisition of capital equipment and machinery. The IRB program is part of the county’s economic development initiative that processed more than $20 million in loans in 2006. More than $6 million in bond requests already are scheduled this year. If your company would like to learn more about the county’s IRB program, please contact Phil Ehlinger, Business Recruitment Manager, at 386/248-8048.

VOTRAN FARES GO UP JANUARY 14 – The county’s Votran public transit system will raise fares effective January 14. The base full-fare will increase from $1 to $1.25. As a way to offer more options for system riders, Votran has a new electronic fare media system that will give passengers several new fare purchase options including a new pass that is good for a full 31 days starting with the day the fare is purchased. With the fare change, free transfers from one bus to another are being eliminated. The fare increase was approved by the county to help offset rising operating costs. For more information, please call Votran at 386/761-7700 or go on-line to www.Votran.org.

WELLNESS ACTIVITIES GOOD FOR BUSINESS -- Businesses recognize the benefits of reduced healthcare costs and decreased absenteeism through employee wellness activities such as exercise and improved nutrition. Volusia County provides numerous leisure resources with accessible locations throughout Volusia. Camping, beachfront parks, nature trails, playgrounds and sports facilities are but a few of the many facilities. You can view a map of more than 50 County leisure facilities at http://volusia.org/parks/default.htm and click on the link to Parks/Facilities.

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.