Monday – March 19, 2007

FUTURE MEDICAL DEVICE FORUM AVAILABLE TO AREA MANUFACTURERS – The county’s Department of Economic Development is hosting a three-day Future Medical Device Forum with its partner Virtus International, March 25-27. Area manufacturing executives are encouraged to participate as the county’s guest for this dynamic forum that will feature some of the leading medical device executives in the country. Topics to be covered by manufacturing executives in the sessions include regulatory and quality assurance, lean leadership, development of global regulatory strategies and marketing, benefits of lean manufacturing, drug and device convergence, tissue fusing, medical device outsourcing and the future of devices in cancer. The presentations will be made by Medtronics, RITA Medical Systems, Selch Allyn Incorporated, Abbot Vascular, Avail Medical Products, Deloitee Consulting, Cardiac Science Corporation, and the Medical Device Manufacturers Association. This is an opportunity to meet with dozens of medical device manufacturing executives nationwide who are expected to attend this forum. This is a no-cost, three-day forum for local manufacturers that register by Wed., March 21.To register or to receive a copy of the itinerary, contact Jody Sylvester at 386/248-8048.

DAYTONA BEACH AIRPORT TRAFFIC UP 41 PERCENT – Passenger traffic at Daytona Beach International Airport (DBIA) increased 41 percent in February 2007 compared with February 2006. During February 2007, 64,696 passengers flew in and out of the county-operated airport. This compares with the 45,909 travelers recorded in February 2006. February’s traffic increase was a direct result of new low-fare service offered by AirTran Airways which began January 11, 2007. The airport’s other air carriers, United, Continental and Delta also experienced strong passenger traffic during February. Visit DBIA online at www.flydaytonafirst.com.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE HOSTS CHINESE DELEGATION – Daytona Beach Community College’s Office of International Affairs hosted a delegation of Chinese officials from the Wuxi Institute of Technology located in Wuxi, Jaingsu Province, China this past week as part of an informational exchange program. The four-member delegation visited Daytona Beach to study the college’s hospitality management, culinary and computer science programs.

BDP HOSTS STATE INTERNATIONAL TRADE VP – More than 60 area business, government and education leaders met this past week to hear from the state’s top international trade specialist, Manny Mencia, senior vice-president of international trade and business development for Enterprise Florida. Hosted by the Daytona Beach/Halifax Area Chamber’s Business Development Partnership, the presentation included an announcement of a $75,000 trade grant to the county’s Department of Economic Development, and statistical data concerning exports originating in the Halifax area. Volusia County companies posted $256 million in exports in 2006 and supported an estimated 4,357 local workers in the production and sale of local goods and services.

COUNTY’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM TO EXHIBIT AT MD&M IN NEW YORK THIS JUNE – As part of its business recruitment efforts, the county’s Department of Economic Development will be exhibiting and participating in the Medical Device and Manufacturing trade show at the Jacob Javis Convention Center in New York City June 11-14. Free passes are available to Volusia County manufacturers that would like to attend or work the show from the county’s exhibit booth. For more information concerning participation in the MD&M Show, call Phil Ehlinger, Business Recruitment Manager, at 386/248-8048.

FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION OFFERING GRANTS - A new program being offered by the Federal Highway Administration will award multiple grants in support of the Highways for LIFE Technology Partnerships Program. The solicitation ends April 16. The program anticipates as many as 12 awards at the $200,000 funding level and three awards at the $500,000 funding level. This funding would be comparable to "SBIR Phase III" and the agency is very interested in getting applications from companies outside of the highway industry. For more information on the Highways for LIFE program, go to http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl. Proposals are to be submitted via www.grants.gov.

INTERESTED IN FINDING NEW MARKETS FOR YOUR PRODUCTS? – The U.S. Commercial Services provides personalized assistance to local companies interested in finding new markets overseas, and matching grants available to assist local companies. To schedule an appointment with a federal or state international trade specialist, call 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.