EVOLVE Business and Professional Magazine August 2020 | Page 29

conomic Success!
through this – by visiting each other’s establishments and just
supporting each other,” Niles said. “We just want to rally together
to help us make it through this.”
Volusia County Government manages the grant funds, but the
application review is a collaborative effort involving all the city
economic development practitioners who perform the initial review
of applications for their municipality.
Collaboration was also key when it came to distributing
thousands of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits to local
businesses. In June, the Volusia County Council allocated $1 million
in CARES Act recovery funds for PPE kits for local businesses as
additional resources in their efforts to reopen safely.
As part of the Relaunch Volusia campaign, the county purchased
protective equipment in bulk quantities, including masks, gloves,
sanitizer, paper towels and cleaning products. The kits were
assembled by the Volusia Chamber Alliance, whose members
include the leaders of chambers within the county. The alliance, in
conjunction with county staff, assembled 3,500 kits at the countyoperated
Ocean Center convention center, and then distributed the
kits from six locations throughout the county.
“The Volusia Chamber Alliance is always looking at ways for
the chambers to work together for the greater good of our members
and the community,” said Debbie Cotton, president of the Ormond
Beach Chamber of Commerce and chair of the Volusia Chamber
Alliance.
"These are starter kits for businesses so they have what they
need to be safely open for business," said Cotton.
Another 3,500 PPE kits will be available for distribution on
August 25, 26 and 27. Visit www.VolusiaBusinessResources.com for
complete details including locations.
Small Business and Home-Based Business Reopening Grants
are still available for local businesses that have not yet applied.
The application is filled out online and, on average, takes about 30
minutes to complete.
For more information and a complete list of qualification
criteria, visit www.VolusiaBusinessResources.com.
Joanne Magley is the Marketing & Customer
Experience Director for Volusia County’s Aviation
& Economic Resources department. She’s worked
for the county for 10 years, including serving as
the manager and director for the Community
Information Division.
IT’S OUR BUSINESS TO HELP
YOUR BUSINESS GROW.
WHAT WE DO
Volusia County Economic Development works
collaboratively with all of the county economic
development stakeholders to assist new and
existing business with the desire and potential
for growth within Volusia County.
Through our Business Retention and
Expansion program, we work with start-ups,
second-stage and maturing businesses directly,
customizing our services to your needs.
Our targeted industries include manufacturing
and knowledge-based companies in: aviation
and aerospace, clean tech, financial/professional
services, homeland security/defense, infotech
and life sciences.
Check out our business resource website:
www.VolusiaBusinessResources.com
For assistance for your business,
call 386-248-8048 or 800-554-3801.