Monday – August 25, 2008

FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS JOBS AVAILABLE – Frontier Communications Solutions will host an open house and conduct on-the-spot interviews for full- and part-time sales and service consultants from 3 - 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, at its DeLand Call Center, 1398 S. Woodland Blvd., DeLand. Job seekers interested in a position should apply online at www.frontieronline.com/careers or call (386) 943-6032 prior to the open house and interview sessions.

RAYDON AWARDED $6 MILLION IN CONTRACTS – Daytona Beach-based Raydon Corporation has been awarded three contract renewals from the U.S. Army worth more than $6 million. The first renewal, valued at approximately $3.6 million, was issued to provide Virtual Combat Convoy Training capabilities in Alaska and Hawaii. The second renewal, about $2 million, will provide similar services in Germany. The third renewal of $500,000 was for Route Clearance Training Systems for the U.S. Army. Raydon recently celebrated 20 years of providing simulation training technology.

IS YOUR COMPANY CURRENTLY SELLING PRODUCT IN EUROPE? – Volusia County’s Department of Economic Development has received funding to assist area companies interested in expanding their sales in the European Union. Grants are available to assist companies in participating in industry trade shows, conducting market research, arranging for European customers to tour local manufacturing operations, and identifying new customers by scheduling pre-qualified sales meetings with end users, distributors or sales agents. If your company would like to explore potential funding to implement its European trade opportunities, contact Paul Mitchell, Volusia County’s international trade specialist, at (386) 248-8048.

NEW ADDITION TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – Rob Ehrhardt of Port Orange has joined the Volusia County Department of Economic Development staff and will be focusing on new business recruitment efforts. Formerly employed by Corning Technologies, Rob brings more than 15 years’ experience in business leadership, relationship development and results-oriented management skills to the county’s economic development team. Ehrhardt is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and has more than 30 years service in the United States Navy. He retired as a Captain.

WANT TO LEARN SPANISH? –Daytona State College is offering a course in beginning conversational Spanish for professional use or personal enrichment. The course will teach students the essentials of communicating in Spanish and will be offered at the Daytona Beach campus from 6 - 8 p.m. Thursdays, Sept. 18 through Nov. 6, and 6 - 8 p.m. Tuesdays from Sept. 16 through Nov. 4 at the DeLand campus. To register for the classes, please call (386) 506-3858.

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE FOR TAX CREDITS? – Manufacturing and high-tech companies may be eligible for the R&D tax credit if they engage in product development research related to the design and development of new or improved products or new or improved processes. Many companies are dedicating more resources to qualifying research activities than they realize. Recent tax law changes effective this year will allow more companies to benefit from the credit. If your company has qualifying activities, this credit may significantly reduce your tax liability in prior years, now and in the future.

EXPORT SALES MISSION TO PERU – Enterprise Florida is hosting an export sales mission to Lima, Peru in October. Florida-origin exports to Peru surged by an incredible 90 percent in the first five months of this year, and included a wide range of goods and services. The October event includes one-on-one, personalized business appointments; a country briefing with the U.S. Commercial Service; ambassadorial networking reception; airport transfers; and translation assistance. The registration deadline is Sept. 1. Contact Luis Cuervo at (305) 808-3660 or lcuervo@eflorida.com.

DID YOU KNOW? – If off-shore drilling for domestic oil is approved in the waters off Florida, it has the potential of creating more than 100,000 new jobs for Floridians.

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.