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Good news to report — President Rick Fraser of the Workforce Development Board of Flagler-Volusia and the Center for Business Excellence checks his telephone messages after making a presentation to the Volusia County Council Nov. 15.
By Pat Andrews
posted Nov 23, 2012 - 7:59:16am
Manufacturing jobs are increasing in Volusia County, the County Council learned at its Nov. 15 meeting.
And, the number of people visiting One Stop Employment offices looking for jobs has decreased — another good sign.
President Rick Fraser of the Workforce Development Board of Flagler-Volusia and the Center for Business Excellence made a report to the council about employment.
During the third quarter of the year, 9,481 people visited the employment centers.
What about jobs listed at the employment centers?
“More are coming back,” Fraser said.
Job postings increased during the same period:
• 785 during the last quarter of 2011
• 999 during the first quarter of 2012
• 1,070 during the second quarter of 2012
• 1,576 during the third quarter of 2012.
“More jobs are for manufacturing,” Fraser said, calling that “good news.”
He had one more tidbit of good news — he expects a ribbon-cutting and grand opening in January of a new One Stop Employment center at 840-27 Saxon Blvd.
The office, which moved from DeLand last summer, is in the Kmart plaza in Orange City. It has been housed temporarily in a different unit in the plaza.
After hearing Fraser’s report, the County Council made its own move to help bring 41 more new manufacturing jobs to Volusia County.
Green Earth Technologies of Celebration is looking for a place to build a new facility in Daytona Beach or South Daytona. The County Council approved $32,800 in incentives to woo the company. It’s a 20-percent local match for the state Qualified Targeted Industries tax-refund program.
Jobs at Green Earth will pay an average salary of $48,411, which is 150 percent above Volusia County’s average wage of $32,274, Director of Aviation and Economic Resources Rick Karl told the County Council.
The company makes and sells environmentally friendly automotive products, including motor oils, lubricants and cleaning products.
Green Earth Technologies will invest more than $2 million in facilities and equipment in the area.
Karl said the plan provides incentives for performance, rather than incentives upfront, such as waiving impact fees.
“We didn’t want to waive impact fees, but still wanted to stimulate development,” County Manager Jim Dinneen said.
Green Earth Technologies can use the incentive monies toward impact fees, if the company so chooses, he added.
Daytona Beach or South Daytona will consider providing additional incentives to the company, Karl said.
The County Council’s vote to approve the incentives was unanimous 5-0.
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The only jobs that are really hiring if you're not a nurse or truck driver want over qualified people (for example, I've seen employers want most of their prospective hires to be bi lingual, have at least 5 years worth of exp. and have an associates degree just for a 9.00 an hour receptionist position that anyone could do.)
Things are getting much worse - NOT better.
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