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A Strategy of Success: Innovation, Cooperation
Team Volusia EDC and the Daytona Regional Chamber were lead agencies on this project. Collaboration is common on such opportunities, including participation with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona State College, cities and a supportive business community.
“It is not a coincidence that new and expanding industries remark on the quality of our workforce training and education system.”
~ Nancy P. Keefer, President & CEO, Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce
Others involved in recruiting Techfit weigh in, too. “The Chamber is proud to have been a part of the process ... illustrating the true power of community collaboration,” says Skip Lilly, chairman of the board for the Daytona Regional Chamber. The cooperation of development partners is important in attracting innovative and emerging companies, he says.
CareerSource Flagler Volusia is another part of the picture, providing recruitment-related services and training opportunities to businesses and job seekers alike. Complementing this are vibrant insurance and financial institutions, banks and credit unions, such as VyStar and Space Coast, providing a full menu of business products and services.
“We urge businesses to take a look at our community for future development and relocation,” says Glenn Ritchey, president of Jon Hall Automotive Group and former mayor of the city of Daytona Beach. “This is a wonderful place to live and work. We have a good workforce, and we are making good strides in attracting industries that are providing meaningful jobs for our graduates, jobs that will enable them to come back to their home area.”
Incubating Breakthrough Technologies
Aerosapien Technologies, DHI Innovative Technologies and Koralis Entertainment are just three of the companies making good use of facilities at the Volusia County Business Incubator.
Part of the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubation Program, the 9,600-sq.-ft. facility at Daytona Beach International Airport features Class A office space, flexible leases, a spacious training room with SMART Board technology, conference rooms and shared office equipment, kitchen and reception area. Since opening in 2011, the incubator has assisted 86 companies that created or retained 315 jobs in the area.
Aerosapien is working to develop technological breakthroughs in greener design for aviation and affordable access to space research, while DHIIT is developing mid-air expandable aerial vehicles and near complete autonomous systems and vehicles. Koralis is engaged in developing products and services for the growing global eSports industry, creating online tournaments with accompanying broadcasts across multiple platforms.
Largest Area Employers — and Number of Employees
Volusia County Schools – 7,503
Florida Hospital Volusia/Flagler – 5,510
Halifax Health – 3,197
Florida Health Care Plans – 1,300
Sykes Communication – 800
International Speedway Corp. (NYSE: ISCA) – 760
Boston Whaler (NYSE: BC) – 750
Medtronic – 525
Teledyne Oil and Gas (NYSE: TDY) – 525
Frontier Communications – 500
DME Marketing – 500
US Foods Inc. – 500
Sparton Electronics (NYSE: SPA) – 460
World Class Distribution – 450
Brown & Brown (NYSE: BRO) – 309
Metra Electronics Corp. – 301
DaVita Labs – 300
Source: Team Volusia EDC
