Monday – June 4, 2007

HURRICANE SEASON UNDER WAY – Despite several hurricanes in recent years many businesses remain unprepared for a sudden disaster. Almost a third of U.S. businesses do not have a continuity plan in the event of natural or manmade disasters, according to a study sponsored by AT&T Inc. The study found 30 percent of the surveyed companies don't consider business continuity planning a high priority. The percentage gets larger with 36 percent among small and midsized businesses. The study also finds that 41 percent of businesses are not heeding government warnings and fail to take action when the federal or state government issues an alert. However, on the positive side, overall awareness seems to be growing, compared with previous studies.

LEASED SPACE NEEDED BY MEDICAL PRODUCTS GROUP – The county Department of Economic Development is working with an out of state medical products processor that is seeking to lease 15,000 - 20,000 square feet of professional space in the Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach or Holly Hill area with easy client access. If you have or know of a facility that meets these minimum requirements, please contact John Kizer, Business Specialist, at 386/248-8048.

LOOKING FOR A FINANCIAL ANGEL? – If you are interested in discovering a network of venture capitalists and angel investors to help fund your business development and you need to understand the realistic expectations about what you'll have to give up in terms of control and ownership, you are invited to participate in the Florida Venture Forum. To learn more about this alternative source of financial capital go on-line to Florida Venture Capital at www.flventcap.org or Enterprise Florida at www.eflorida.com or the Florida High Tech Corridor Council at www.floridahightech.com.

31 MILLION RETIREES RECEIVED SOCIAL SECURITY IN APRIL – More than 31.3 million retired workers in the United States received Social Security benefits in April. The average monthly benefit was $1,048.

COUNTY PROVIDES A WIDE VARIETY OF MANUFACTURER SUPPORT PROGRAMS -- The county Department of Economic Development offers Volusia County manufacturers a series of support programs. The county can help a company find new exporting opportunities and assist with workforce training in addition to providing technical assistance in identifying potential funding opportunities for the development and commercialization of technologies and financing alternatives for capital projects such as land acquisition, plant construction and the purchase of equipment and machinery. If you would like to learn more about these programs, please contact Paul Mitchell, Business Specialist, at 386/274-3439.

FLORIDA HAS MORE THAN 16,000 MANUFACTURERS – Florida is home to more than 16,540 manufacturers employing more than 390,000 workers. Based on the most recent data available, Florida’s manufacturing workers earn on average an annual wage of $42,473. Manufacturing makes up about 5 percent of Florida's gross state product. Volusia County is home to at least 431 manufacturing firms employing more than 11,000 workers.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER OFFERS SUMMER WORKSHOPS -- The Small Business Development Center at Daytona Beach Community College is offering a business workshop titled “Taking the Ax Out of Business Taxes”. The session will be Wednesday, June 6, from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. at the Advanced Technology College (previously the Advanced Technology Center), 1770 Technology Blvd., Daytona Beach. The workshop will provide answers to tax issues facing small business owners and will allow ample time for questions. To register, contact Nancy Franssen at 386/506-4723. To view a complete list of classes and dates, go on-line at http://go.dbcc.edu/sbdc/wkshps.html.

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