In his State of the County address this week, Volusia County Council Chairman Frank Bruno spoke of promising trends in economic development, while acknowledging our high foreclosure rate and unemployment. "Just as we worked together to recover from nature's fury [the 2004 hurricanes], so we must work together to recover from this recession. We have a strong foundation from which to begin our recovery."
This year's address was tempered by the realities of the recession, evident by the increased demand on social services and a steep drop in tax revenues. Downsizing at the county government has led to an overall savings of $147 million. But, there are programs to rehabilitate abandoned homes and make them available for low-income families, while also providing help for people at risk of losing their homes.
Bruno mentioned some bright spots in the economic outlook, the construction of a new headquarters for the Raydon Corp., with a new 100,000-square-foot plant planned to house 400 employees, as well as efforts to keep Sparton Electronics in DeLeon Springs. Three overseas trips to Athens, Greece; Amsterdam, Netherlands; and Saudi Arabia amounted to about $16 million in sales for Volusia businesses, he said. The expanded Ocean Center will bring large-scale conventions and events, and the October re-opening of the Deltona Regional Library with its new Lyonia Environmental Center and outdoor amphitheater will definitely attract users.
Volusia County is diverse and has its share of economic woes, but it is a vibrant, energetic, forward-looking place to live. Contact me to discuss our lifestyle, and how you can become a part of Ormond or Daytona Beach using our very low real estate prices. Search Ormond Beach Homes for Sale and Daytona Beach Homes for Sale and you'll see what I mean. Oceanfront at these bargain prices - wow!
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