Daytona Economic Development Board Gets Briefing

The home of the World’s Most Famous Beach is set for what could be a busy year for economic development in 2024.

At a recent meeting of the Daytona Beach Economic Development Advisory Board, members were briefed on the efforts of several entities focused on attracting new business development and boosting existing businesses in the area.

Volusia County Economic Development Business Manager Katrina Friel kicked off the briefing with projects on the horizon.

“What we’re doing at Economic Development right now is we are working very closely with our partners at Team Volusia,” she said. “We are working on several different projects at Daytona Beach International Airport.”

Friel said there are two projects considering airport parcels, but due to confidentiality agreements cannot be named right now.

“One promises to bring 200 jobs; it is in manufacturing,” she said. “The other one is a product they are still trying to define. It is a development project and who the end user will be is still now known to us.”

Friel said the county is also working on a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

“We are waiting to hear back on an extension on this project which is going to bring infrastructure along Bellevue (Avenue),” she said.

Team Volusia Economic Development Corp. President and CEO Keith Norden followed Friel with an upbeat assessment.

“It’s very exciting for the city of Daytona Beach,” he said. “We’ve had several close calls and several projects that short listed us that we want to win.”

Norden said there are four projects currently in negotiation and a pipeline of about 50 more that have either visited the area or are “seriously considering” Daytona Beach and Volusia County.

Norden said Team Volusia is finalizing its 5-year strategic plan and is set to announce it at the organization’s annual meeting in March.

Advisory Board member Harry Lloyd asked Norden how many of the projects might be coming to the city.

“If you look at our historic average for projects, many come to Daytona Beach just because of what is here,” Norden said. “With all the assets we have here with Embry-Riddle (Aeronautical University) and the land at the airport, the ratio is very good for the city.”