Monday – September 15, 2008

SMALL BUSINESS EXPORTS – In the United States, almost 97 percent of all direct exporters are small businesses, and of those, roughly 65 percent have fewer than 20 employees. To learn more about what opportunities exist in the global market for your product or service, visit www.export.gov. If you would like to learn about how the Department of Economic Development can assist in your company’s exporting initiatives, call Paul Mitchell, business specialist, at (386) 248-8048.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ZEB COHEN & ASSOCIATES – Zev Cohen & Associates has received the 2008 Exceptional Employer Award from the Center for Business Excellence. Employers from throughout Volusia and Flagler Counties participated in a survey that measured performance as it related to the company’s turnover, growth, employee training, development and promotion rates, employee evaluations and feedback, percentage of employees injured, diversity of management, offered benefits, paid days off and average increases in overall pay. Congratulations to the Zev Cohen & Associates team for being recognized as one of our community’s exceptional employers.

AVOID SALES TAX – Planning to buy production equipment in 2008? Your company could be exempt from paying sales tax. And, if you bought in 2007, you can apply for a refund. According to http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/tips/tip06a01-06.html, qualified expanding businesses can receive a tax exemption permit and instructions on how to apply for a refund of previously paid taxes on qualifying machinery and equipment. It’s worth the time to check it out.

SOLAR BECOMING COST EFFECTIVE – A new study makes the case that solar power is emerging as a cost-effective hedge against fossil fuels, and is likely to reach parity with retail electricity rates in most regions of the U.S. in less than a decade. As solar prices decline and the capital and fuel costs for coal, natural gas, and nuclear plants rise, the U.S. will reach a crossover point by around 2015, according to the study. The investment to arrive at 10-percent solar usage in the U.S. is not small, reaching $450 billion to $560 billion between now and 2025 – an average of $26 to $33 billion per year.

NEED EXPERIENCED WORKERS – The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has launched an online job search site, www.aarp.com/jobs, to help people 50 and older find jobs. The web site is operated and run by a job-posting company, RetirementJobs.com. AARP membership is not required to use the web site and there is no fee to search for a job. Companies pay a fee to RetirementJobs.com to post available positions. Any company that would like to post their job openings to hire older workers should contact Adam Gould, RetirementJobs.com, at (781) 890-5050, ext. 229, or via email at adam@retirementjobs.com.

ELITE CME RECOGNIZED BY INC. MAGAZINE – Along with its perennial INC. 500 ranking, NC. Magazine recently released the second annual INC. 5000 list of the fastest growing U.S. companies. This year’s list tracks performance between 2004 and 2007. Elite CME of Ormond Beach is ranked No. 929, with 19 employees and a revenue growth of 391.2 percent. The firm’s revenue reached $3.3 million in 2007. According to INC., Elite CME is a company that provides continuing education and license renewal courses nationwide and ranked eighth within the Top 50 Education Companies category. Check their web site www.elitecme.com.

SPACE AND AVIATION LEADER – Florida ranks third in the nation in space, aeronautics and aviation employment. Nearly 80,000 aerospace and aviation workers are employed in Florida in fields ranging from aircraft manufacturing to space research and technology. Florida’s Kennedy Space Center has generated more than 40 technology transfer success stories since 1998. The county’s Department of Economic Development is working with a small Aerospace company that is seeking up to 5,000 square feet of office and lab space near Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. If you know of available space to lease that meets these needs, please contact Paul Mitchell 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.