March 15, 2010

DELAND CHAMBER TO HOST STATE OF WEST VOLUSIA DISCUSSION -- The DeLand Area Chamber of Commerce will host a State of West Volusia panel discussion featuring the mayors of DeBary, DeLand, Deltona, Lake Helen, Orange City and Pierson. The two-hour public forum will be March 25 at Rinker Auditorium in Stetson University’s Lynn Business Center, 375 N. Woodland Blvd. between Ohio and Michigan avenues. The forum will begin at 7 p.m. The forum is free and open to the public.

APPLIED RESEARCH GRANTS AVAILABLE FROM HIGH TECH CORRIDOR COUNCIL -- Since 1996, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC), through its Matching Grants Research Program, has leveraged the strengths of the three corridor universities -- UCF, USF and UF -- to assist established high-growth technology firms develop and commercialize emerging technologies. Awards range from $10,000 to $150,000 and require most businesses to match $2 for every $1 awarded. If you would like to partner with the FHTCC to conduct applied research for your business, please contact Paul Mitchell at the Volusia County Department of Economic Development at 386/248-8048 or visit www.FloridaHighTech.com.

SMALL BUSINESS EXPORT EXPO SET FOR ORLANDO -- Have you been in business for at least a year? Do you have a product that is exportable? Have you been considering tapping into the global market? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’re invited to an event sponsored by U.S. Senator George LeMieux and the U.S. Department of Commerce March 24 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Disney Entrepreneur Center, 315 E. Robinson St., Landmark Center One, Suite 100, Orlando. The event is free and open to the public on a first come, first served basis.

STETSON SETS INAUGURATION OF NEW PRESIDENT -- The public is invited to join the Stetson University community for the inauguration of the university’s ninth president -- Dr. Wendy B. Libby. Libby became Stetson’s president in July 2009. The formal installation of the new president will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 20, in the Edmunds Center, 143 E. Pennsylvania Ave., DeLand. The ceremony is free.

ENTERPRISE FLORIDA OFFERS CANADIAN EXPORT MATCHMAKING -- Enterprise Florida invites manufacturers to participate in RepCan 2010, the premier event for Florida manufacturers and exclusive distributors of U.S. origin products. Participants will meet with pre-qualified Canadian distributors. Enterprise Florida will provide on-site staff support before, during and after the event. Enterprise Florida has Target Sector Trade Event Grants available to qualified Florida companies for this event. Contact Paul Mitchell at the Volusia County Economic Development at 386-248-8048 for grant information.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE -- The National Association of Manufacturers has launched its new brand and website that better reflect modern manufacturing in America. The brand and the website focus on manufacturing’s vital leadership in innovation, job opportunity, technological progress and economic security. For more information or to explore the many new features of the website visit www.nam.org.

NEW ISSUE OF BACKYARD GARDENER ON LINE -- Please visit the following link at the UF/IFAS Volusia County Extension website to view the newest issue of the newsletter called the Backyard Gardener. This is the March and April issue. The address is: http://www.volusia.org/extension/Backyard%20Gardener%20March%20April.pdf

GREEN TIP OF THE WEEK: CARRY A REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE -- Carry a water bottle with you. Buy a reusable bottle that fits your lifestyle and skip buying a new one at every stop for water. Americans use 3.3 million plastic bottles every hour but recycle only one in five.

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.

Department of Economic Development
700 Catalina Drive, Suite 200, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Telephone: 386-248-8048   FAX: 386 238-4761   Toll Free: 800-554-3801