July 12, 2010

COUNTY’S NEWEST BEACHFRONT PARK OPENS – North Shore Park, 1631 Ocean Shore Boulevard, Ormond by the Sea, is now open. The county’s eleventh beachfront park, the facility has 100 parking spaces, restrooms with showers, benches, bicycle racks, and a beach walkover. A & T Builders, South Daytona, was the general contractor. All subcontractors on the project were Volusia County businesses.

NEW TAX CREDIT INCENTIVES FOR FILM PRODUCTION IN FLORIDA -- The Entertainment Industry Financial Incentive program encourages Florida as a site for film production. Incentives are available to develop and sustain the workforce and infrastructure for film, digital media, and entertainment production. There are three separate queues based on project type/budget. Bonus awards are available for off-season or family-friendly productions. For more information go to: http://filminflorida.com/ifi/incentives.asp.

FLORIDA DRIVERS RANK NEAR THE BOTTOM -- The 2010 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test survey found that 20 percent of drivers (roughly 38 million Americans) would not pass a written drivers' exam if taken today. Florida drivers finished 41st out of 50 states with a score of 75.2 out of 100. Kansas drivers ranked first with an average score of 82.3 percent. New York drivers were last at 70 percent. The survey also found a large percent of drivers multitask while driving. One in four drive while talking on a cell phone, eating or surfing music on the radio or an iPod.

UPS OFFERS BAGGAGE SHIPPING OPTIONS -- With an increasing number of airlines imposing checked bag fees and with security being a burden for travelers, United Parcel Service of America (UPS) stores are expanding luggage shipping solutions. The company has introduced three luggage shipping alternatives including a new luggage box that takes the place of a suitcase to help reduce the hassle of long lines, security searches and increasing baggage fees. When shipped through UPS ground service, the luggage box is priced competitively with airline baggage fees.

REGISTRATION UNDER WAY FOR DUBAI MEDICAL HEALTH SHOW -- Enterprise Florida is offering exhibit space in the Florida pavilion at the top-ranked medical trade show in the Middle East -- Arab Health. Arab Health will be in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 24-27, 2011. Manufacturers and providers of electrical medical equipment and devices, surgical and emergency medicine and equipment, pharmaceuticals, and hospital supplies and textiles that participated in last year's Florida pavilion forecasted a $21 to $1 return on investment. Booth packages are available but space is limited. For information and reservations contact Michael Schiffhauer at mschiffhauer@eflorida.com. Call Paul Mitchell at Volusia County Economic Development at 386-248-8048 to see if financial support is available for your company.

CHANGES AFFECT BANK OVERDRAFT FEES -- Overdraft fees no longer can be an automatic component of basic checking accounts. Banks now are required by federal regulations to allow customers to opt for any program that charges them a one-time fee for overdrawing a checking account with an ATM or debit card. Bank of America no longer will charge overdraft fees. Instead, customers can choose to link a savings account or credit card to their debit card to guard against getting caught with insufficient funds. Or they can choose to have their cards declined at the point of sale if the account balance is too low.

MARION COUNTY HAS A LOT OF HORSE $ENSE -- Marion County has more horses than any county in the nation. Occupying some 70,000 acres, the county's 430 thoroughbred farms and more than 100 training centers generate more than 31,000 jobs and a $1.3-billion economic impact.

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