May 24, 2010

BRAD PAISLEY HEADLINES BIG CONCERT AT OCEAN CENTER -- Grammy award-winning country music artist Brad Paisley is bringing his H2O World Tour to the Volusia County Ocean Center Thursday, Aug. 12. Special guests will be Darius Rucker, Justin Moore, Easton Corbin, Steel Magnolia, and Josh Thompson. Tickets can be purchased at the Ocean Center box office, online at: http://livenation.com, or by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000.

E-VERIFY OFFERS ELECTRONIC INFO ON NEW HIRES -- E-Verify is the best and quickest way for employers to determine the employment eligibility of new hires. It is a safe, simple, and secure Internet-based system that electronically verifies social security numbers and employment eligibility information reported on form I-9. It is voluntary in most states and there is no charge to use it. If you are an employer or employee and would like more information about the E-Verify Program, form I-9 and/or E-Verify for federal contractors visit: dhs.gov/E-Verify or call 888-464-4218.

SMALL BUSINESS OPTIMISM INDEX INCREASES -- The Small Business Optimism Index increased 3.8 points to 90.6 last month, according to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). The May report on economic trends shows that nine of the 10 components increased and one component on capital outlays was unchanged. For the full report, visit the NFIB website at: nfib.com/Portals/0/PDF/sbet/sbet201005.pdf.

GREEN TIP OF THE WEEK: CONSERVE PAPER -- Did you know that every year enough paper is thrown away to make a 12 foot wall from New York to California? Recycling of each ton of paper saves 17 trees and 7,000 gallons of water. Recycled paper also saves 60 percent energy in comparison to new paper and generates 95 percent less air pollution. Since a fifth of all wood harvested in the world ends up in paper it makes sense to recycle and conserve this resource.

SUCCESSFUL COMPETITIVE STRATEGY HINGES ON NICHE VALUE -- Harvard business professor Michael Porter has said that competitive strategy is about being different -- deliberately choosing a different set of activities to deliver a unique matrix of value. Being distinctive and being different are important to success. Each community also needs to find its niche. That means a community actually has to do something different. A policy where everyone is more or less forced to do the same basic things would be antithetical to the development of the rich tapestry of diverse and specialized cities necessary to create and promote urban success and prosperity.

STARTUP VOLUSIA TO INCUBATE STARTUP COMPANIES -- The goal of Startup Volusia is to facilitate smarter, faster growth of emerging companies so these companies will become successful, high growth businesses in the community. Clients are provided an array of business development services and resources to help accelerate growth. The formal incubation process takes place through a series of strategic and tactical working sessions. The strategic sessions are designed to help define the company’s business, market and capital strategies and to build the business plan. Graduation takes place when a client has achieved a level of financial and corporate growth that enables the company to leave the incubator and enter the second stage of corporate growth. The program is managed by UCF with support from educational and community partners.

AG CENTER TO OFFER GARDENING SUMMER CAMP -- Children can cultivate their green thumbs this summer at a gardening day camp sponsored by the University of Florida/Volusia County Extension and Master Gardeners. The camp is for children who are 9 or 10 years old and entering fourth or fifth grade. It will be offered from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. June 14 -18 at the Volusia County Agricultural Center, 3100 E. New York Ave., DeLand. For more information, please contact Patricia Caradonna at 386-822-5778 in DeLand, 386-257-6012 in Daytona Beach, or 386-423-3368 in New Smyrna Beach, or go to: volusia.org/extension/agclassroom.pdf.

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