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Port Orange council clears incentive package for BLK Boom Trucks; councilmember abstains for conflict
Summary
Port Orange approved an incentive reimbursement package for BLK Boom Trucks LLC to relocate a truck‑assembly facility to the Eastport Business Center; a councilmember publicly announced a conflict and abstained from the vote.
The Port Orange City Council and the Eastport Business Center Community Redevelopment Agency considered an economic incentive agreement on Nov. 18 for BLK Boom Trucks LLC to locate an assembly facility in the Eastport redevelopment area.
City staff described that the company—working through site‑plan stages and subject to environmental monitoring because of proximity to a bald eagle nest—requested reimbursement of approximately $100,000 in incurred permit and application fees and up to $19,000 to cover continuing eagle‑monitoring costs and additional building permit items. The incentive would be paid from Eastport CRA funds under the agency’s targeted business incentives.
A council member announced a business relationship with a company involved in the project and stated they would abstain from both the CRA and the city council vote. The clerk recorded the CRA roll call as read (as the clerk stated: "4 4 0 with 1 sustained"), and the city council vote was recorded at 4 yes with 1 abstention, allowing the city council to approve the incentive award for the relocating business.
Elmer Ivan, who identified himself as the owner and founder of the company, said the firm expects to expand to 40 employees in the new facility and to create additional local training opportunities. City staff said construction anticipated starting in early 2026 and completing that year, with bid openings expected in February.
The approved package covers reimbursable fees and certain environmental mitigation/monitoring costs; staff will complete required conflict‑of‑interest paperwork to document the abstention before finalization.
