In recent weeks, we’ve learned that new jobs may be coming to Volusia County. Several companies are now considering either moving their businesses to our area or expanding their existing operations here.
Teledyne Oil & Gas, a high-tech company that currently operates a 330-worker plant in Daytona Beach, may want to build a new facility nearby. This company specializes in engineering production that is used all over the world, and would be a perfect fit for recently laid-off workers from Kennedy Space Center. It could bring 100 jobs to our local area.
Another company, ICON Aircraft, may be considering moving its headquarters and manufacturing base to DeLand. ICON is a start-up company that will begin producing specialty two-seater aircraft next year. If it relocates here from Los Angeles, it could eventually mean another 600 quality jobs for Volusia.
In addition to these exciting developments here at home, we’re seeing the same effect in other parts of state. A company based in Melbourne just announced that it will build a massive solar power facility in the Panhandle.
Time Warner Cable recently revealed plans to open a new operations facility near Tampa next year. And in June, a Canadian security company called Garda sealed a deal to move its U.S. headquarters from California to Boca Raton.
Each of these companies will bring hundreds of high-paying jobs to Florida. What do they all have in common? Each has a lot to do with the work we’ve done in Tallahassee in recent years.
Since I became chair of the House Economic Affairs Committee, I’ve made creating jobs and improving the economy my No. 1 priority. How do we do that? It starts with making Florida a friendlier place to work and do business.
Since I became chair of the House Economic Affairs Committee, I’ve made creating jobs and improving the economy my No. 1 priority. How do we do that? It starts with making Florida a friendlier place to work and do business.
For starters, we’ve created new state economic incentives to encourage companies to move to Florida from other states and countries. These incentives are also available for companies who currently do business in Florida and want to grow their operations in our state. In fact, each of the situations mentioned above involves these incentives.
In addition, we’ve reformed currently existing economic development programs to make them more effective. Last year, we reorganized the state’s economic departments to make it easier for them to work cooperatively in promoting economic growth. We also set aside new sources of funding for economic development.
Along with our low-tax status, our natural resources, and our beautiful climate, this combination is proving very difficult for businesses to ignore. Expect to see more companies considering Florida in the near future.
So where does that leave us?
It’s true that the economic slump is a national problem, and no individual can fix it all by themselves. However, as we’re now seeing, it is possible to enact creative solutions to make things better. There’s still more that can be done, but the recent returns are positive.
It’s true that the economic slump is a national problem, and no individual can fix it all by themselves. However, as we’re now seeing, it is possible to enact creative solutions to make things better. There’s still more that can be done, but the recent returns are positive.
Dorothy Hukill writes a column exclusively for NSBNews.net. You can also check out her Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/dorothyhukill.
NSBNews.net, also known as VolusiaNews.net, provides Volusia County 24 / 7 Internet newspaper coverage, 100% free with breaking news, news of record and investigative reports from New Smyrna Beach, FL, for a 21st-century digital world.
