December
27, 2010
HOLIDAY CHEERS
AND SAFETY -- It's the time of the year for holiday cheer but
increase your safety and odds of surviving the 'other' driver by slowing
down. An accident means you are actually in two collisions, the first is
with whatever you hit, or hit you, and the second collision is when you
are stopped by the windshield or steering column if you do not wear your
safety belt. Unsecured flying objects also can kill you if your impact
with the car does not. Secure those bulky presents or put them in the
trunk. Be safe!
FOOD SECURITY:
85 PERCENT HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT -- Eighty-five percent of American
households were food secure throughout all of 2009, meaning they had
access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life for all
household members. The remaining households (14.7 percent) were food
insecure at least some time during the year, including 5.7 percent with
very low food security. In households with very low food security, the
food intake of one or more household members was reduced and their
eating patterns were disrupted during the year because the household
lacked money and other resources. Prevalence rates of food insecurity
and very low food security remained at the highest levels since 1995,
when the first national food security survey was conducted by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture.
ASSISTANCE
AVAILABLE FOR FLORIDA ORGANIC PRODUCERS -- Organic agricultural
producers in Florida may qualify for technical and financial assistance
through a National Organic Initiative. The 2011 Organic Initiative
provides assistance to USDA National Organic Program (NOP) certified
organic producers as well as producers transitioning to organic
production. In Florida, $1.28 million in funding for the Organic
Initiative is available to qualified applicants. For more information go
to:
nrcs.usda.gov/programs/equip/organic/2011. For Flagler and Volusia
counties the USDA Service Center is at 101 Heavensgate Rd., suite F,
DeLand, Florida 32720. Contact the District Conservationist, George
Johnson at 386-985-4037 Ext. 3 or
george.johnson@fl.usda.gov.
INDIAN RIVER
LAGOON DIVERSE ESTUARY -- Did you know the Indian River Lagoon is
the most biologically diverse estuary in North America? Directly or
indirectly, everyone is responsible for maintaining the health of this
natural treasure. Here are five simple tips people in the lagoon region
can follow: Reduce fertilizer use because it can contribute to algal
blooms; send only rain down the storm drains thereby protecting the
water quality; pick up after your pet because their waste can be a
source of bacteria; use the right plant in the right place because
waterwise landscaping reduces pollutants, and leave only footprints by
taking garbage with you and leaving natural objects where you find them.
FLORIDA EXPORTS
CONTINUE TO INCREASE -- The volume of Florida exports is increasing,
despite the lingering global recession. Exports from companies in the
state rose 3.5 percent from August to September, the latest data
available. According to a Nov. 10 report by
e-forecasting.com of Durham, N.H.,
Florida exported $4.6 billion in goods in September, up $157.6 million
from the previous month. The latest export figures are up 24.3 percent
from September 2009, when the state had $3.7 billion in exports. To see
what assistance is available to your company to start or increase
exporting, contact Paul Mitchell at Volusia County Economic Development
at 386-248-8048 or email him:
pmitchell@co.volusia.fl.us.
CONSUMER PRICE
INDEX INCREASES -- The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor
Statistics, has released the Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers (CPI-U) for November. Based on this report, overall costs are
1.1 percent higher than November 2009. It should be noted that food
costs have increased 1.5 percent and energy costs have risen by 3.9
percent during this same 12-month period. The CPI-U is widely used to
adjust payments for changes in prices.
QUOTE OF THE
WEEK – “Money is better than poverty, if only for financial
reasons.” Woody Allen
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.
