May 17, 2010

VOLUSIA COUNTY COUNCIL TAKES THE LEAD FOR BUSINESS INCUBATOR – The Volusia County Council has voted to move forward with negotiating an agreement with the University of Central Florida to manage a technology and business incubator. UCF, a national leader in developing successful incubator programs, would staff the county- sponsored incubator and use its program to nurture and develop entrepreneurs in our county. The location being considered for the facility is an unused portion of the international terminal at the Daytona Beach International Airport. If given final approval by the county council, the building would be renovated for the incubator. The goal is that this first site will be a hub for other satellite facilities elsewhere in the county. Rick Karl, the county’s director of aviation and economic resources, is taking the lead for the county in this endeavor.

NEW WEBSITE FOR WEST VOLUSIA TOURISM – The West Volusia Tourism Advertising Authority has a newly redesigned website: visitwestvolusia.com. The new site offers users a variety of information on area communities, businesses, restaurants, hotels, parks and other recreational activities.

HERE ARE SOME NOT SO GOOD FLORIDA HEALTH STATISTICS – Florida Trend magazine reports that Florida faces the third largest physician shortage in the nation and will need 63 percent more primary care physicians in the next 10 years. The state ranks first in the average cost of malpractice premiums. The state also is first in the ratio of residents over 65, and first in the number of adults with asthma. Florida ranks second in the number of residents covered by Medicare, and fourth in the number and percentage of uninsured adults. Florida ranks last in the country in citizen access to emergency care, and 38th in lung cancer cases. Between 1977 and 2006, the percentage of Florida residents who did not get health care because of cost rose to 7.1 percent, the third highest among the 25 largest states.

GET PREPARED! CANE SEASON LURKS -- Hurricane season is around the corner. Business owners and residents should review their contingency plans now. For assistance, check out the SBA’s webinar on disaster preparedness at: sba.gov/fl/north. For more information, visit: sba.gov/disasterassistance or contact the local SBDC at 386-506-4723.

COPY MACHINE SECURITY A CONCERN – Did you know that every copy you have made is recorded on a hard drive in the copy machine? And when copiers are sold or traded in your information can go with it. CBS News has a fascinating look into the lack of security in modern copy machines. For more information go to: http://wimp.com/copymachines.

GREEN GAINS MOMENTUM -- Energy efficient technologies, from better air conditioners to insulated windows and other energy-saving building materials, may not be as sexy as solar panels or advanced batteries, but are considered among the fastest, most effective methods of reducing energy consumption. According to the U.S. Green Buildings Council (USGBC), investing in the energy efficiency of buildings, combined with other nontransportation initiatives, could reduce U.S. energy consumption by 23 percent by 2020, save the U.S. economy $1.2 trillion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These initiatives also could create millions of jobs, and add more than half a trillion dollars to the American economy over the next four years.

NATIONAL JOB PICTURE IMPROVING -- The U.S. economy added 290,000 net new jobs during April, roughly 100,000 more than economists expected, and the strongest monthly gain in four years. Despite all of the media talk about temporary Census jobs overstating employment gains, 80 percent of the rise (231,000 jobs) was in the private sector. Also important to notes is that previously reported job data of the two prior months was revised higher by 121,000 jobs. The U.S. economy added 573,000 net new jobs during 2010’s first four months, an average monthly gain of 143,000 jobs.

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.

Department 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