Monday – June 23, 2008

RACING TO HELP THE HOMELESS – Daytona International Speedway has created a “BBQ and Coke Zero 400 Race” fundraiser Saturday, July 5 for the Halifax Habitat for Humanity and the STAR Center. The $75 package includes an invitation-only presentation by NASCAR Team Owner Joe Gibbs, a BBQ dinner, Coke Zero 400 race ticket with seating in the pit road patio, an infield parking pass, Fan Zone admission, tram service, and the legendary post race fireworks show. Call 1-800-PITSHOP (800-748-7467) to purchase tickets. Ask for the "Joe Gibbs/Habitat Event.”

FLORIDA RANKED NO. 2 AS PRO-BUSINESS – The Pollina Corporate Top 10 Pro-Business States Study ranks Florida as the second most pro-business state in the country. The study examines 29 factors relative to states’ efforts to be pro-business, and is the most comprehensive examination of states available. The study, which also has been recognized as the most impartial, is limited to factors over which state government has control. The top-10 list reflects state leadership that understands the importance of producing the best job opportunities available for their constituents.

VIDEO GAMES IMPROVE MATH SCORES – A study by researchers from the University of Central Florida shows that playing educational video games can improve math test scores. Students who played the same game over an 18-week period scored significantly higher on math tests than those who did not. On a 25-point assessment, the video game group showed higher gains, an 8.07-point increase, than the 3.74-point increase registered by the control group.

CITY OF DELAND TO OPEN NEW INDUSTRIAL ACREAGE – The City of DeLand is in the process of contracting to develop and open as many as 50 new acres of industrial land in the northwest area of the DeLand Municipal Airport. The project has been in the planning, design and engineering process for the past few years, and is a joint development project between the city and the county’s Department of Economic Development. For more information about future available industrial properties at the DeLand Airport, contact Dale Arrington, City of DeLand, at (386) 626-7024.

CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL JOB FAIR – The U.S. Customs and Border Protection is looking for a few good men or women and will host a recruiting blitz in six cities. The federal agency hopes to hire 1,500 agents by the end of 2008 and educate Florida communities about its purpose along the way. The simultaneous border patrol recruiting events, called the Sunshine Blitz, will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 21. The blitz will be in Orlando, Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, Pensacola, Tallahassee and Tampa. Learn more online at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/careers/customs_careers/border_careers/

VOLUSIA COUNTY WORKFORCE GROWING – In May, the size of the workforce in Volusia County grew to 253,287 workers, up from 250,746 in April. This increase reflects new workers entering or re-entering the area’s workforce and is reflective of annual trends as college-aged workers are added to the workforce. While the size of the workforce grew from April to May by 2,541 workers, the area’s economy only added 513 jobs. Unemployment rose from 5 percent in April to a new level of 5.8 percent in May. Job growth in the healthcare and hospitality sectors was the leading factor in new jobs.

CONSTRUCTION COSTS UP – A new report shows that price spikes in steel, copper, aluminum, asphalt, roofing and PVC caused overall construction costs to climb 1.57 percent since March 31. Since June 30, 2007, costs have increased 6.61 percent. The domestic non-residential building markets remain active. Commercial and retail projects are experiencing a slight slowdown, but heathcare, education, science, technology and public-sector projects are very active.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE LEADS – Interested in finding foreign buyers for your products? Enterprise Florida’s latest listing of opportunities can be found at http://www.eflorida.com/ContentSubpage.aspx?id=6072. Learn about new grant opportunities for expanding your company’s international sales program in one of more than 130 countries worldwide by participating in the Volusia County Department of Economic Development’s International Trade Program. For a personalized briefing, contact Paul Mitchell, international trade specialist, at (386) 248-8048.

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.