COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVES DEFENSE CONTRACTOR INCENTIVE – The
Volusia County Council approved an application leading to a $1.2-million
program to support the retention, consolidation and expansion of Raydon
Corporation, a Daytona Beach-based defense technology company. The
initiative leverages a $240,000 investment by the Volusia County Council
that will be matched by a $960,000 contribution from the State of
Florida. The program will encourage the consolidation of Raydon
Corporation’s corporate headquarters and multiple technology and
production facilities. The program is designed to support existing
defense-related companies and assist in the commercialization of defense
technologies. Approval of this grant will help the current and future
expansion of the company within Volusia County by retaining more than
200 high-skilled and high-waged jobs and encouraging more than 100
future jobs to be added locally.
EXPORT SALES MISSION TO MEXICO - Enterprise Florida will conduct
an Export Sales Mission to Mexico, the state’s third largest market for
Florida exports, May 11 - 16. The mission is limited to 15 participants
and includes three days of personalized appointments with Mexican
companies, pre-screened according individual company objectives. For
information, please contact Julie Balzano at jbalzano@eflorida.com or
305/808-3666. The Volusia County Division of Economic Development will
support this trade mission opportunity for area manufacturers wishing to
participate by providing GOLD KEY Grants toward the cost of
participation. To apply to receive financial assistance, please call
Paul Mitchell, business specialist, at 386/248-8048.
HOW’S BUSINESS? – Good news from the Volusia Manufacturers
Association. Vision HR had a record year in 2007 and is forecasting a
bright 2008. Boston Whaler reports building fewer boats with no layoffs
and receiving encouraging responses for the company’s new boat designs
from the fall and winter boat shows. ForHealth Technologies increased
new installations in 2007, and expects to grow employment by 17 percent
and revenue by 80 percent this year. And, Standard Technologies reports
larger than normal orders and plans to hire. Need worker training,
Industrial Revenue Bonding or want to explore new exporting
opportunities? Contact Paul Mitchell, business specialist, at
386/248-8048.
APPLY FOR TRAINING GRANTS - The Holly Hill Chamber of Commerce is
hosting a "Training for Dollars" workshop presented by the Center for
Business Excellence at 4 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 28 at the chamber office.
Attendees will learn how to qualify for grants to train existing and
future employees. Please RSVP to Rose Schuhmacher at 386/255-7311.
LOCAL GRANT APPROVED TO ENCOURAGE RELOCATION OF NEW MANUFACTURER
– A local grant of $9,000 was approved by the Volusia County Council in
an effort to leverage an additional $36,000 from the State of Florida to
encourage the relocation and consolidation of the Universal Map Company.
The job performance grant will be used to consolidate four operational
facilities to a single site within Volusia County, creating
opportunities to move high-skilled cartography jobs from Seminole County
and professional and marketing jobs from Michigan.
MANUFACTURER SEEKING 50,000 SQUARE FEET OF EXISTING SPACE IN DAYTONA
BEACH – If you know of a 50,000-square-foot existing manufacturing
facility in Daytona Beach available immediately, please contact John
Kizer, business specialist, at 386/248-8048. Your response will be
forwarded immediately to the business prospect.
STATE ROAD GRANT SOUGHT TO SUPPORT ISB IMPROVEMENTS – The Volusia
County Council approved authorization to the County’s Division of Economic Development to apply for transportation road funding to aid in
the construction of new intersection and signalization improvements
along International Speedway Boulevard. The grant is designed to support
the development of “Daytona Live!” and to provide for enhanced traffic
safety along one of the county’s most travelled roadways. The $2-million
grant will support the more than $437-million “Daytona Live!” project
that will include more than 200,000 square feet of corporate office
space and will be the headquarters for ISC and NASCAR.
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.
Division of Economic Development
700 Catalina Drive, Suite 200,
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Telephone:
386-248-8048
FAX: 386 238-4761 Toll Free: 800-554-3801
