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November 23, 2009
VOLUSIA ECONOMY HELPED BY SOCIAL
SECURITY – Based on a Consolidated Federal Funds Report recently
published by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census,
Social Security benefits contributed more than $1.5 billion to the
Volusia County economy in fiscal year 2008, which runs Oct. 1 through
Sept. 30. This represents a 4.3- percent increase over the total
benefits our community received in fiscal year 2007.
IDEAS TO IMPROVE CUSTOMER PAYMENTS – Writers of the Wall Street
Journal small business section recently reported three ways businesses
can facilitate customers’ paying their bills on time. First, try online
services and prominently display these options on the company web site.
Second, use mobile devices. Cell phones and Bluetooth devices allow
credit cards to be swiped or numbers to be manually punched in upon
completion of sale. Finally, do research on potential customers. Conduct
some due diligence on the customer’s payment history to determine
whether they pay on time or are consistently late.
BUSINESS RESOURCES – The Small Business Resource Network (SBRN)
is a professional membership organization that helps connect small
businesses with professional expertise in the areas of accounting,
banking and commercial lending, insurance, law and business consulting.
The SBRN helps businesses succeed by connecting them with interested,
experienced service providers and government agencies. More information
is available at www.sbrn.org, or by
contacting the Small Business Development Center at Daytona State
College at (386) 506-4723.
HEALTH INSURANCE ACCESS – The Cover Florida Health Care Access
Program allows insurers to create innovative health insurance products
that are affordable and guaranteed to Floridians who have been without
insurance for at least six months, or who are recently unemployed (even
if they have pre-existing health conditions). The coverage is voluntary
for individuals and employers. Further, employees can take coverage with
them if they change jobs. For more details, go to
http://coverfloridahealthcare.com/.
DISABLED VETERAN’S TAX EXEMPTION – Any ex-service member who is a
permanent resident of Florida and is disabled at least 10 percent in war
or through service-related incident is entitled to a $5,000 exemption.
Veterans filing for the first time must present a U.S. Government
certificate. Under certain circumstances, the benefit of this exemption
can carry over to the veteran’s spouse in the event of the veteran’s
death. For more details, contact the Volusia County Property Appraiser’s
Office or go to
http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/forms/2006/dr501sr1205.pdf.
OPTIMISM TRUMPS PESSIMISM – According to a recent
PricewaterhouseCoopers survey of 60 U.S.-based industrial manufacturing
executives, 48 percent of industrial manufacturers are optimistic about
the U.S. economy’s prospects over the next 12 months. Similarly, 45
percent of manufacturers who market abroad are optimistic about
prospects for the world economy. This compares to one year ago when 66
percent and 63 percent were pessimistic about the U.S. outlook and the
international segment respectively.
SOLAR REBATE PROGRAM – The Florida Solar Rebate program will
expire in June 2010. For a rebate, the solar system must be two
kilowatts or larger for a solar photovoltaic system, be a solar energy
system that provides at least 50 percent of a building's hot water
consumption for a solar thermal system, or be a solar thermal pool
heater. Types of rebates available vary from $100 for a residential pool
heater to $20,000 for a residential photovoltaic system to $100,000 for
a commercial photovoltaic system. Rebates can only be issued if funding
is available. Find more details at
http://tinyurl.com/flasolar.
CHINESE ECO-TOURISM – The recent trip to China by the Daytona
Beach/Halifax Area Chamber will result in the county promoting
eco-tourism to Chinese tourists, who are anticipated to be a major
source of tourism dollars in the future.
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
Rob Ehrhardt
Manager
doed@volusia.org |
