Monday – January 15, 2007

A RECAP OF SOME OF VOLUSIA COUNTY’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS IN 2006

COUNTY CONSTRUCTS NEW INDUSTRIAL PARK ALONG I-4 – After two years of planning, design and engineering, the Volusia County economic development team, which included more than 30 area businesses, completed the construction of DeLand Crossings Industrial Park along I-4 near the S.R. 44 interchange. The Park will provide industrial acreage to support up to 300,000 square feet of manufacturing space that will generate in excess of $30 million in new capital investments and provide for a workplace for up to 300 new high-skilled and high-waged jobs.

NSI INTELLITEC PRODUCTS, LLC TO CONSTRUCT NEW PLANT – In October, following more than 18 months of negotiations with the County, NSI Intellitec Products, a manufacturer of vehicle specialty components, acquired industrial acreage at DeLand Crossings Industrial Park to construct a new 64,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. Financing for the project is being supported by the County’s Industrial Development Authority with up to $7 million in industrial revenue bonds. The new NSI facility is expected to be home to more than 100 high-skilled and higher-waged workers.

FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS TO HIRE UP TO 487 NEW WORKERS – In June, the County’s economic development team partnered with the City of DeLand to coordinate the relocation of Frontier Communications Solutions to a facility located along US 17/92 south of the City’s downtown. Frontier is part of the seventh largest communications provider currently operating in the U.S. The DeLand office will serve as headquarters for the company’s national customer service management team and also will operate as one of several customer support centers nationwide.

COUNTY PARTNERS WITH CITY OF ORMOND BEACH TO COMPLETE DEVELOPMENT – In December, the Volusia County Council awarded an $189,600 economic development infrastructure matching grant to the City of Ormond Beach to support the City’s efforts to develop the remaining industrial acreage at the Ormond Beach Airport Industrial Park. The grant is part of an estimated $680,000 project designed to open 14 acres of new industrial use for future job creation.

ILLINOIS MEDICAL PRODUCTS COMPANY EXPANDING IN PORT ORANGE – Following the acquisition of New Smyrna Beach manufacturer Pharmex-A.B.P. by Illinois-based TimeMed Inc., a manufacturer and printer of medical labeling, the County’s economic development team helped to coordinate the company’s retention by encouraging the construction of a new 30,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in the City of Port Orange’s Eastport Industrial Park.

CALIFORNIA AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY TO EXPAND TO DELAND CROSSINGS – In October, California based BBK Performance Inc. completed its acquisition of land at the County’s DeLand Crossings Industrial Park in preparation to building a 62,000-square-foot production facility. According to the County’s economic development officials, the state-of-the-art manufacturing facility will be home to up to 40 new high-skilled and high-waged workers producing products for the automotive industry’s aftermarket.

COUNTY PARTNERS WITH CITY OF DELAND TO ADVANCE INDUSTRIAL ACREAGE – In March, the County Council awarded a $300,000 economic development infrastructure matching grant to the City of DeLand to support the City’s effort to provide road access for up to 30 additional acres of industrial land at the DeLand Airport Industrial Park.

COUNTY PROVIDES IMPROVEMENTS TO SUPPORT OCEAN DESIGN EXPANSION – In April, following four years of coordination with the County’s economic development team, Ocean Design cut ribbon on the company’s new 100,000-square- foot, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Daytona Beach. The move provides for a consolidation of the company’s 200-plus management, engineering, sales and production personnel. The County’s economic development team, in coordination with the City of Daytona Beach, provided more than $600,000 in transportation improvements along Williamson Boulevard in support of Ocean Design’s efforts to consolidate and remain in Volusia County.

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.