EVOLVE Business and Professional Magazine May 2020 | Page 38

Area chambers of commerce also play a key role in
economic development and often are the first point-ofcontact
on a project.”
at home we ran into a buzz saw,” said Mirabal. “There is a great
deal of pride in each of our 16 cities and practically none of them
wanted to be marketed under the “Daytona” umbrella. So while
‘Volusia’ is not widely known, it is the name of our county and had
to be featured in the organization’s name,” he said.
Team Volusia Economic Development Corporation was born.
The early years were challenging as the organization struggled
to find its place among stiff competition and finding “investors”
proved to be a challenge. But eventually the organization gained
traction and built a team that works well together toward common
goals.
Team Volusia rarely works alone. Its most frequent partners
are the CEO Business Alliance and the Volusia County Economic
Development Division.
The CEO Business Alliance is funded entirely by the private
sector. Specifically, approximately fifteen local business leaders
voluntarily fund the organization. As a privately funded
organization, the CEO Business Alliance can operate privately – and
confidentially, which can be a huge asset in the rough-and-tumble
world of economic development.
The Economic Development Division of Volusia County
Government is funded entirely by tax dollars. So, while its
engagement on a particular project brings the muscle and influence
of county government to bear, by law it operates entirely in the
sunshine.
Together, these three organizations comprise the oft-cited threelegged
stool representing economic development leadership in
the community. While they often work together, they rarely work
without the engagement of other entities and the unique resources
they may bring to the table.
For example, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona
Beach is the world’s pre-eminent aviation and aeronautical
university. Its leadership in bringing Arralis, a global leader in radar
technology, to Volusia County was a key factor in the company’s
site selection. Other colleges and universities in the area each have
resources that can influence such decisions.
Area municipalities also influence decisions based on their
geography, population, demographics and resources. Each
of Volusia County’s 16 municipalities brings its own profile
and resume to the table. Many have economic development
professionals of their own on staff.
Area chambers of commerce also play a key role in economic
development and often are the first point-of-contact on a project.
Other organizations such as CareerSource, a public sector
organization that plays a key role in workforce recruitment and
training, and Volusia Manufacturers Association, a private sector
alliance of leading area manufacturers, often play an important
role in bringing new companies to the community. Of course, the
participation of site selection consultants and the area’s commercial
Realtors is essential on any project that involves site selection.
Last year alone, these and other entities teamed in various
configurations, bringing leading edge companies to Volusia County,
including Future Foods, Loën Laboratories, Smart Baking Company,
Extended Stay America and 1Up Logistics. These projects, along
with Arralis and the Amazon.com fulfillment center have combined
to increase Volusia’s competitive profile in the highly competitive
economic development arena.
This activity, combined with the community’s unique assets,
exceptional quality of life, available land in Southeast Volusia
County – in close proximity to Florida’s Space Coast, and strong
support among state and local government officials are expected
to propel Volusia County to lofty levels of competitiveness in the
rapidly evolving aviation and aerospace industries. The only thing
that makes the area even more competitive is collaboration, and it is
well-versed in that discipline.
Michael Jiloty is a marketing specialist. He is a
graduate of Leadership Florida and is the principal
writer of Volusia County Economic Development
Quarterly. His portfolio includes numerous awardwinning
advertising, marketing and public relations
campaigns.
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