Monday – July 23, 2007

COUNTY COUNCIL TO VOTE ON COMMUTER RAIL JULY 30 – The Volusia County Council will hold a special meeting July 30 to discuss and vote on Volusia’s participation in commuter rail service and its impact on future development. Included in the discussion is development of a rail station on U.S. 17-92 in DeBary. The trains would carry commuters to Seminole, Orange and Osceola counties with stops in downtown Orlando. The meeting will be at 9 a.m. in the County Council’s chambers on the second floor of the county administration center in downtown DeLand.

VOLUSIA COUNTY WORKFORCE GROWS IN JUNE – According to the Center for Business Excellence, Volusia County’s workforce grew to 253,671 workers in June, up nearly 1,700 from the previous month. While the number of workers remained steady for the month, the county’s unemployment level rose .6 percent to 3.9 percent for June. The primary cause of the increase was due to the traditional influx of new workers at the end of the school year.

SMALL EUROPEAN MANUFACTURER SEEKS FACILITY IN DAYTONA BEACH -- The county Department of Economic Development is working with the state and an Italian medical products manufacturer in identifying a potential location in the Daytona Beach area. The company is seeking to lease 10,000 square feet of production and distribution space and will be visiting in August to review facility options. If you have or represent an industrially zoned property that you would like to have considered as part of the visit, please contact John Kizer, Business Specialist, at 386/248-8048. All facility or leasing proposals received will be packaged and forwarded to the company in advance of the visit.

ORMOND BEACH TO EXPAND INDUSTRIAL LANDS NEAR AIRPORT – The Ormond Beach Economic Development Department has issued a contract to Hazen Construction, Port Orange, to develop up to 14 acres of industrial parcels in the Ormond Beach Airport Industrial Park. Named the Tower Circle Extension, the project includes the construction of road access, and water and sewer infrastructure to support up to 120,000 square feet of industrial facilities. If your company is seeking a new industrial site and would like to learn more about this project, contact Joe Mannarino, economic development director, at 386/676-3266.

NORTHEAST MANUFACTURER SEEKS NEW FACILITY – The county Department of Economic Development is working with a small medical products company seeking 20,000 square feet of leased production space in the Port Orange, South Daytona and Daytona Beach area only. The company desires a lease with an option to purchase. If you know of an existing facility zoned for manufacturing, please contact John Kizer, Business Specialist, at 386/248-8048. All proposals received will be packaged and forwarded to the company for review in advance of a visit later this summer.

ORANGE CITY TOWN CENTER OPENED FOR BUSINESS – The Coldwell Banker Commercial AI Group, developers of the Orange City Town Center on Enterprise Road, opened the center for business July 11. Initial occupants include Booker & Associates, Marshall Law Office, Esquire Title Services and Chinelli Design Build. The Coldwell Banker Commercial AI Group was responsible for leasing/selling more than $43 million worth of commercial real estate last year throughout Southwest Volusia and is jointly owned by John Wanamaker, CCIM/broker, and Chuck Rudis, CCIM.

STATE LAUNCHES VENTURE CAPITAL FUND -- The state has launched its Florida Opportunity Fund with a multi-year commitment of more than $29 million. The fund will provide $500,000 to private venture capital companies that invest in young Florida companies and provide them with management advice. Each participating venture capital company needs to match the state dollar for dollar. The idea is to build on Florida's recent success in luring scientific research institutes to the state, as well as spin-offs and start-ups.

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.