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Daytona business support programs, trade outreach highlighted; Acuity training, incubator promotion and job figures noted
Summary
Staff and Team Volusia representatives described a library partnership called Acuity and several trade-show outreach efforts; county-level economic figures and an invitation to a March 13 annual meeting at Daytona State College were announced.
Economic development staff and Team Volusia representatives reported several outreach and support activities aimed at attracting businesses and helping startups.
Luke, an economic development staff member, said the city offers "Acuity," a partnership with the library that runs business training sessions. He said a session is scheduled at the airport tomorrow and that the session begins at "3 p.m." (time given by Luke). He urged early-stage founders to first verify whether a market exists for their idea before pursuing patents or prototypes.
Juan Erken, representing Team Volusia, said the organization staffed a booth at the January SpaceCon event at the Orange County Convention Center to highlight incubators and to encourage companies needing a U.S. footprint to consider Volusia County. He also said Team Volusia attended MD&M West, a medical device trade show in Anaheim, California, where Texas and North Carolina were the only other states represented.
Erken reported economic-development figures for 2024: 1,431 jobs in NELTs, capital investment of $208,600,000, and a total economic impact for the county of $1,300,000,000. He invited board members to Team Volusia’s annual meeting on March 13 at the Moore-Hosseini Center at Daytona State College, where Paul Saul of the Florida High-Tech Corridor and Dr. Matt Swanson, interim president of Select Florida, were listed as speakers.
Staff also presented building and occupancy figures: the January certificate-of-occupancy report showed 403 units permitted with a construction value of about $65,000,000.
Board members asked about specific business projects. Jeff Brown inquired about "Project Golf," which staff said is a North Carolina parachute company being considered for local sites and linked with OroAero; staff added the name is unrelated to the sport and stems from the company’s recruiting practices. Staff said they are seeking another visit from the company and also discussed potential locations including the building at 777 Main Street.
On the 777 Main Street site, staff said the lease terms had been agreed to by the commission and that Andrew Bobbacher, owner of Savage Craft Brewery, is reviewing the contract and has had staff access the building for 3-D imaging; architects and engineers are expected to inspect the building next Thursday.
Finally, staff said the city’s economic development incentive application package will return to the board next month for additional discussion and a proposed application process for businesses seeking city incentives.
