VOLUSIA WORKFORCE SURPASSES 240,000 WORKERS – June’s
employment data shows Volusia’s workforce reaching 240,071 available
workers. This is up 7,800 new workers from June 2004. An estimated
167,400 of these workers are employed within the county, an increase of
about 4,500 or 2.8 percent in the past year. According to the County’s
Department of Economic Development, about 60,000 resident workers
commute to jobs outside of Volusia with Seminole and Orange counties
serving as the number one and two locations.
FLORIDA MANUFACTURING STILL GROWING – Florida
manufacturing added 3,200 jobs (+.8 percent) over the past year. Durable
goods gained 5,400 jobs (+2.1 percent) which outweighed the weakness in
nondurable goods (-2,200 jobs -1.7 percent). Much of the growth in
durable goods was in transportation equipment (+2,000 jobs, +4.8
percent). Continued weakness in food manufacturing (-1,000 jobs, -3.1
percent) and printing and related support activities (-1,100 jobs, -4.6
percent) contributed to the decline in nondurable goods during the past
year. Florida’s manufacturing sector has exhibited small growth in 14 of
the past 15 months. Unlike Florida, the nation’s manufacturing sector is
losing jobs to improved productivity and overseas competition. Locally,
the recruitment of new manufacturers is a priority for the County
Department of Economic Development which played a significant role in
the recruitment of several new manufacturing companies including Ideal
Aluminum (up to 200 new jobs), NSI Intellitec Products (up to 100 jobs),
Macon Electric Coil (up to 60 new jobs) and BBK Performance (up to 32
new jobs).
FORT LAUDERDALE IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK -- Florida
Coastal Airlines now offers two daily flights to Ft. Lauderdale through
Daytona Beach International Airport with connecting service to the
Florida Keys and Bahamas. For reservations please visit
www.flyfca.com
or call 888 I FLY FCA 888/435-9322.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE LEADS AVAILABLE -- Enterprise
Florida publishes monthly trade leads focusing on products or services
that might be of interest to Florida companies. Typically there are 40 -
50 different leads from companies in 15 different countries including
Brazil, Canada, France, Mexico, and Spain, to name a few, that present
sales and marketing opportunities to Florida firms. The County
Department of Economic Development receives these lists as part of a
coordinated partnership with Enterprise Florida. For more information
please contact Ed Rinderle at 386/274-3439.
WORK PROGRESSING ON NEW 80-ACRE AIRPORT CORPORATE PARK
– A project between the County’s Daytona Beach International Airport and
the Department of Economic Development is moving forward with local
zoning and development regulations being adjusted to accommodate the
construction of an 80-acre corporate park on the south side of the
airport just off Beville Road. The park is being designed to provide an
attractive campus environment that will accommodate up to one million
square feet of new construction. Final engineering on the Airport
Corporate Park is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.
Site development could begin late next year.
OPTIMISM AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP--INGREDIENT FOR SUCCESS
-- According to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB),
the one trait that stands out among America’s successful entrepreneurs
is optimism. Successful entrepreneurs consistently have a positive
outlook when it comes to achieving goals and a willingness to take
risks. In its most recent survey on Small Business trends, the NFIB
found the optimism index among small firms soared four points to tie a
30-year record. The primary reason for the most recent increase in
optimism is due largely to expectations of good times ahead.
WORKFORCE BOARD HAS NEW NAME, LOCATION -- The Workforce
Development Board of Flagler and Volusia Counties has changed its name
and business location. Now called the Center for Business Excellence,
the agency now is operating from one location at 329 Bill France
Boulevard, Daytona Beach.
NEWS ITEMS WANTED! – Please send your business news
items to: Dave Byron, Volusia County Community Information, 123 W.
Indiana Ave., DeLand. 32720-4612, by fax at 386/822-5072 or by e-mail at
dbyron@co.volusia.fl.us
