Monday – May 19, 2008

DME EXPANDS MARKETING FACILITIES – DME Holdings, Daytona Beach, announced the opening of DME Studios, a 2,500-square-foot, state-of-the-art sound stage that offers production and post-production facilities. DME Studios’ capabilities include video productions for Web, TV broadcast, corporate training videos, live broadcast feeds and a variety of innovative solutions for video marketing. DME is among the largest employers in Daytona Beach. To learn more about DME, go to www.dme-studios.com. To arrange a studio tour, e-mail the company at info@dme-studios.com.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX RISES – The U.S. Department of Labor released the Consumer Price Index for April 2008. According to the report, overall costs where up 3.9 percent over April 2007. Leading the increase was food costs, up by 5.1 percent, and energy, up by 15.9 percent during the past 12-month period. The Consumer Price Index is used widely in escalation agreements to adjust payments for changes in prices. The index also is used in collective bargaining agreements, rental contracts, insurance policies with automatic inflation protection, and alimony or child support payments.

VOLUSIA SCHOOLS QUALIFY FOR BEST FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT – In January 2004, the Volusia County School Board voted to implement the action plans in the Best Financial Management Practices Review published in October 2003. Since then, the district has implemented all 14 action plans contained in the original OPPAGA (Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability) report. By implementing report action plans, the district estimates that, to date, it has experienced a net positive fiscal impact of $9 million. OPPAGA is recommending that the State Board of Education award the Seal of Best Financial Management to the Volusia County School District.

LEARN COMPOSITES – A one-week program to master the art of material composites is being offered by TRDA (the Technical Research and Development Authority) together with Brevard Community College and the Florida State University June 9 - June 13 at the Brevard Community College in Palm Bay. This extensive 5-day, hands-on training will teach new techniques and how to produce better products. Seating is limited. For more information or to register for this program, call Mary Baker at (321) 872-1050, ext. 110.

GAS PRICES UP – PRODUCTIVITY DOWN – Rising gas prices are affecting more than family budgets. A recent study has found that rising gasoline prices are resulting in more employee stress on the job. Survey respondents said gas prices were foremost on their mind, with 52 percent reconsidering taking vacations or conducting other recreational activities. The study also showed 45 percent have begun to cut back on debt-reduction payments, such as credit card payments, while nearly 30 percent are considering the consequences of going without basics including food, clothing and medicine.

WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS BRANCHING OUT – A U. S. Small Business Administration research study completed in April 2008 has found evidence that self-employed women – already a rapidly growing business group – are branching out from industries traditionally associated with them. Using 1994 - 2006 census survey data, women entrepreneurs were found to be more active than salaried women in industry categories such as business services, personal services, hospitals, retail and utilities. To access this and other additional information, go to http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs323tot.pdf

CHRONIC PAIN AND LOST PRODUCTIVITY – More than a quarter of Americans suffer daily pain, a condition that costs the U.S. about $60 billion a year in lost business productivity. Americans in households making less than $30,000 a year spend nearly 20 percent of their lives in moderate to severe pain, compared with less than 8 percent of workers in households earning above $100,000, according to a landmark study on how Americans experience pain. The study also found that participants who hadn't finished high school reported feeling twice the amount of pain as college graduates.

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