A LETTER FROM THE CEO
LOOKING FORWARD
Dear Chamber Community Members,
As we approach the close of another dynamic quarter, I am thrilled to share with you the latest updates from the economic development landscape across the West Volusia region The progress and efforts across our municipalities are focused on building a prosperous and sustainable future for West Volusia
Forging strong regional relationships is a foundational pillar of our Chamber community We are proud to partner with the City of DeLand, our Volusia County Seat, through our Business Retention & Expansion program that supports our existing enterprises We encourage you to reach out to the DeLand & Greater West Volusia Chamber of Commerce office to share your input, ideas, and business needs
I want to extend my gratitude to each of our members, partners, and investors for your ongoing support and dedication to our member-driven, nonprofit organization Your involvement is a vital part of our community’s progress as we strive to fulfill our mission of advocacy as the collective voice of business.
Stay informed and stay tuned for the next edition of FORWARD: Economic Development digital magazine for more updates and opportunities to engage with our economic development initiatives
In service to our Business Comm it
Janet Knauff, CEO
ECONOMIC EXPANSION
Kingspan LLC has begun redevelopment at their DeLand Headquarters to create an Energy Center. They plan to use the Energy Center to showcase their entire line of products to both interested buyers and new partners, domestically and internationally The ability to interact with out of area companies visiting Kingspan will provide us with an opportunity to sell DeLand to visiting companies as a great place to relocate, grow and thrive in West Volusia County
Cookies LLC, one of the world’s leading medical and recreational cannabis providers, has continued its expansion at its Florida headquarters at DeLand’s airport industrial area A recent 37,000 SF expansion was completed in Fall 2023 to support its retail operations in Orlando Gainesville and Tampa As well the City Commission adopted an amendment to the city’s Land Development Regulations to allow for the operation of Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in DeLand
DELAND
CITY OF DELAND, FLORIDA
CITY HALL COMPLEX 120 S FLORIDA AVENUE (386) 626-7021 conten@deland.org
WWW.DELAND.ORG
ECONOMICDEVELOPMENTPARTNERS
The City of DeLand continues working with its strategic partners that includes Team Volusia, Volusia County Economic Development and Duke Energy to identify potential investors with the goal of marketing vacant airport property for construction and relocation of targeted businesses in manufacturing, green tech, aerospace and the health medical sectors
SMA Healthcare broke ground for outpatient mental health, substance abuse and primary care services in DeLand This facility will expand services for more than 3,600 clients living in the West Volusia area and the facility will generate more than 70 full-time positions at the Stone St location
New businesses (retail & professional office) includes Boston Coffeehouse Drive Thru, Oliver and Gray LTD Desert Sage Lifestyle Wellness and Deltran USA LLC (Offices) As well we continue to work with a number of other local businesses looking to expand including MT-Propeller Advent Health HCA Medical and SMA Medical.
Pictured L-R: Kingspan, Cookies, and SMA Healthcare
NEW ENTERPRISE
Residential construction continues strong for the first half of the 2024 calendar year
The Southerly apartment homes (298 units) with full amenities came on line in May 2024 along with a recordbreaking buildout of Cadence, phase II subdivision (118 units). Both projects are located within the Parc Hill community on Veterans Memorial Parkway with easy access to I-4 and the City’s medical/retail district Our newest business enterprise includes the 75,000 s/f Post-Acute Medical facility also located in Parc Hill The state-of-the-art facility intends to open soon. Those of you living in the area or coming to town for work will enjoy the Ellianos Coffee (under construction), Dunkin Donuts and Chipotle Mexican Grill (both in planning review)
ORANGE CITY
CONTACT >
CITY OF ORANGE CITY FLORIDA
CITY HALL
205 E GRAVES AVENUE
(386) 775-5415
bmendez@orangecityfl gov
WWW.ORANGECITYFL.GOV
The Orange City Racing & Card Club is expanding for the third time since opening in 2016 The renovation includes buildout of additional vacant movie theater space, which will increase the number of poker tables from 40 to 58. The cardroom currently employs 290 people and the expansion will add approximately 40 new jobs
The cardroom continues to have a positive impact on the economy of the area by bringing in customers from all of central Florida and the Orlando market to the area Follow the expansion progress via their social media channels
Eco-tourism a close-knit community culture and intentional sustainable development shape the economic development in DeBary City leaders weave an eco-lifestyle focus into the fabric of our community, ensuring nature and residents converge to create a strong, healthy community
Located on the St Johns River, with the 4th highest Sunrail boarding station and the trailhead of three major Florida bike trails DeBary is building a multi-modal downtown from scratch Combined with a stable, resident-focused council and the designation of being the safest city in Volusia County, DeBary is poised for a remarkable future
More than 22,000 residents call DeBary home The community boasts a vibrant arts and recreation culture with over a dozen parks where residents can participate in activities ranging from pickleball to disc golf However, one thing DeBary lacked was a downtown where residents can come together to enjoy dining and shopping experiences
DEBARY
CONTACT >
SHARISIMMANS
ECONOMICDEVELOPMENT, COMMUNICATIONS,&GOVERNMENT AFFAIRSDIRECTOR
CITYOFDEBARY,FLORIDA 16COLOMBARD (386)601-0200 ssimmans@debaryorg
WWW.DEBARY.ORG
The new DeBary Main Street broke ground in January and will take three to five years to build out This mixed-use project will add apartments, townhomes and over 55000 square feet of retail space providing residents with additional options to enjoy a high quality of life Main Street represents more than $500 million in investments transforming infill land into additional revenue for the city and the county The increase in property tax revenue and new businesses generating additional sales tax will provide significant revenue and commercial assets for DeBary Furthermore, DeBary will utilize the new space for communitywide events festivals and gathering spaces including a 9,000 square-foot community plaza When completed DeBary Main Street will be a center that marries activities and special events
buildings and public areas together in a walkable pedestrian-oriented space The project will expand more in the second phase to include additional dining and shopping spaces
Inconsistent and uncontrollable growth prompted the idea of DeBary Main Street DeBary like all Florida cities is facing growth challenges as developers look to take advantage of the hot housing market DeBary was primed for inconsistent and uncontrollable apartment growth Using innovative land planning techniques, joint marketing agreements, and other public/private partnerships DeBary set in motion a plan to build a downtown from scratch This visionary approach ensures that DeBary grows sustainably benefiting current and future residents alike
ADOPT-ASTREET
Join the adopt-a-street program to make a positive impact! This community-driven initiative, facilitated by the Public Works Department aims to control litter through volunteer participation in designated areas Let's preserve Deltona's beauty and remember that there are always solutions to combat pollution. For more information contact Sonia Clay our Stormwater Management Coordinator and Adopt-a-Street Coordinator, at 386-878-8962 or email at sclay@deltonafl gov
NEW WATERMETER INSTALLATION
Click HERE to check out our latest informational video about the new water meter installations happening across Deltona These advanced meters offer increased accuracy and provide detailed reports to help you better understand your water usage If you've had concerns about your water bills this upgrade is designed to bring you clarity and peace of mind Watch now to learn more about how the new meters function and how Deltona Water is working to better serve you
DELTONA
CITY OF DELTONA, FLORIDA
CITY HALL 2345 PROVIDENCE BOULEVARD (386) 878-8619
Pictured Above: The City of Deltona visiting the Daytona State College Deltona Campus Dedication & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. #GoFalcons
Click HERE to watch the Facebook video tour
An exclusive sneak peek inside the brand-new Deltona Campus Building at Daytona State College featuring cutting-edge classrooms and labs designed for Nursing, Sonography, and CNC Machining
The Culver’s company, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, was founded in Sauk City, Wisconsin Business partners Luke Ryba and Steve Brick both grew up in the Badger State and started working at Culver’s when they were teenagers. Today, Mr. Ryba and his wife, Amanda, and Mr Brick and his wife, Christine, are owners/operators of five franchises combined including spots in Casselberry Oviedo Apopka and Sanford
Pictured Above L-R: Owner Luke Ryba, Chamber President-Elect Michael Culbertson, Chamber Past-President Libby Molesky (Stetson University), DeLand Mayor Chris Cloudman, Mayor Emeritus Bob Apgar Chamber CEO Janet Knauff Chamber President Matt Maniscalco (Page Insurance Agency), and Owner Steve Brick
