December
20, 2010
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
– Wishing you and yours all the best.
TRAFFIC UP 13.8
PERCENT AT DAYTONA BEACH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT -- Passenger traffic
at Daytona Beach International Airport increased 13.8 percent in
November, compared with the same month last year. During November,
37,402 passengers traveled through Daytona Beach International Airport.
This compares with 32,853 travelers recorded in November last year. For
the past 12 months, 491,339 travelers have flown in and out of the
county-operated airport, a 16.3 percent increase compared to the same 12
months the prior year when the airport handled 422,452 passengers. The
13.8 percent increase in November follows a 35 percent increase in
October and a 46 percent increase in September traffic in comparison
with 2009. The airport’s major carriers -- Delta and U.S Airways -- have
been experiencing an 87 percent load factor due to upgraded aircraft and
are offering more seats at more competitive fares than last year. The
trend is expected to continue into next year. For more information go
to: flydaytonafirst.com.
OFFICE SPACE
NEEDED -- Volusia County Economic Development has received an
inquiry from a professional services company seeking office space. The
firm has inquired about the availability of 30,000 to 50,000 square feet
of existing office space, preferrably close to Interstate 95. If you can
help, please provide information via email to Rob Ehrhardt at
rehrhardt@co.volusia.fl.us.
HEALTH CARE TAX
CREDIT FOR SMALL EMPLOYERS -- The Internal Revenue Service has
released final guidance for small employers eligible for the new small
business health care tax credit for 2010. The release includes a
one-page form and instructions small employers will use to claim the
credit. New form 8941 -- Credit for Small Employer Health Insurance
Premiums -- and newly revised form 990-T are available on IRS.gov, in
addition to the instructions to form 8941 and notice 2010-82. To review
the IRS notice online, go to:
irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=231928,00.html?portlet=7.
FLORIDIANS
AMONG LEAST HEALTHY IN U.S. – Florida’s population ranks in the
bottom half of the nation when it comes to being healthy, according to
the latest edition of America’s Health Rankings. Florida ranked 37th for
2010. In 2009, the Sunshine State ranked 36th. Floridians are keeping
their cholesterol in check, ranking eighth and rank tenth for the number
of cancer and cardiovascular related deaths per 100,000 residents. The
healthiest state is Vermont, followed by Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
Connecticut and Hawaii. The bottom five states, in order, are
Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Nevada and Oklahoma.
MANUFACTURING
DRIVING FLORIDA EXPORT INCREASES -- Manufactured goods was the key
driver of Florida’s foreign sales in September, accounting for 67
percent of all state exports. The volume of Florida exports is
increasing, despite the lingering global recession. Florida exported
$4.6 billion in goods in September, up $157.6 million from the previous
month. To see if exporting can help your company’s growth, contact Paul
Mitchell at Volusia County Economic Development at 386-248-8048 or
email:
pmitchell@co.volusia.fl.us.
QUOTE OF THE
WEEK – Don’t be depressed with the gloomy forecasts. George Bernard
Shaw said: “If all the economists in the world were laid end to end,
they would still not reach a conclusion.”
CORRECTION
– Our December 13 edition erroneously reported that the section 179 tax
break on new equipment was limited to $250,000. Thanks to George S.
Smith, CPA, MBA with Cohen, Smith & Company, DeLand, we now know the
September Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 increased the amount to
$500,000 for 2010 and 2011, and it also included, for the first time,
certain real property improvements in the expensing election. Thanks
George.
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.
