Monday – February 5, 2007

STORM DAMAGE IMPACTS OVER 50 BUSINESSES – More than 50 local businesses were directly impact by Friday’s tornado that hit the greater DeLand area. The majority of the companies were on the south side of the city along U.S. 17-92. The Center for Business Excellence/One Stop Center has made arrangements to have a mobile One Stop unit available to assist area workers who have been impacted by either short-term or permanent layoffs due to the storm. The mobile One Stop unit is scheduled to be in the Woodland Plaza in the 1300 block on U.S. 17-92 (Woodland Boulevard) in DeLand during business hours on Monday and Tuesday. For more information call 386/323-7001.

U.S. NAVY AWARDS CONTRACT TO LOCAL MANUFACTURER – Congratulations to Sparton Electronics of DeLeon Springs for the company’s recent award of a United States Navy contract. Valued at $13.8 million, the defense-related contract will be assigned to the company’s DeLeon Springs production facility for the manufacturing of sonobuoys that are used in the Navy’s deployment of underwater detection anti-submarine warfare. This project is expected to be completed by February 2009.

ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURER SEEKING PRODUCTION SPACE –The county’s economic development team is working with a South Florida electronics manufacturer as part of an initial inquiry to identify existing production space. The company is seeking 40,000 square feet of existing industrial space in the greater Daytona Beach or DeLand area that will be available by the fourth quarter this year. If you have or know of an existing facility that meets these minimum requirements and you would like to have this information passed along to the client for consideration, please contact John Kizer, Business Specialist by calling 386/248-8048.

KEISER UNIVERSITY OFFERING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP SCHOLARSHIPS -- Keiser University is offering Community Partnership Scholarships to commemorate the University’s 30th anniversary and successful transition from a “career college” to a “career university”. Keiser will be offering 26 associate’s degree scholarships and six baccalaureate scholarships as part of this unique program. Deadline to apply is June 15. For additional information on how you or one of your employees can qualify for training scholarship or to obtain an application, contact Keiser University’s Daytona Beach campus at 386/274-5060.

COUNTY ISSUES $3 MILLION LOAN INDUCEMENT FOR PORT ORANGE MANUFACTURER – At a recent meeting of the county’s Industrial Development Authority (IDA), the first step was taken to authorize an inducement resolution on behalf of Florida Folder Services, Inc., Port Orange. The IDA’s inducement is the first of two steps in issuing $3 million in Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRB) that will be used by the company to acquire industrial acreage and construct a 27,000- square-foot production facility. The actions taken by the IDA will support the creation of up to 15 new manufacturing jobs.

WHAT’S A COLLEGE DEGREE WORTH? -- Ever wonder whether a college degree matters? According to a recent report from the U.S. Census Bureau, the median annual salary for an individual in Volusia County who does not graduate from high school is $16,785. A person who earns a bachelor's degree can expect to earn on average $36,052 a year.

MANUFACTURING SPACE NEEDED BY MEDICAL PRODUCTS COMPANY -- The county’s economic development team is working with an out-of-state manufacturer in trying to identify an existing 50,000 square feet of production space in which to relocate a medical products production line. The company requires a minimum 440 volt/three phase electrical service. Any viable sites countywide will be considered. If you have or know of an existing facility that meets these minimum requirements and you would like to have this information passed along to the client, please contact John Kizer, Business Specialist, 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