‘Q’ Breakfast Focuses on Volusia’s Downtowns

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link and when it comes to Volusia County’s economy, downtowns are a strength. That was the message at the latest Volusia County Economic Development “Q” Breakfast.

The event featured a panel discussion with Shari Simmans, economic development, communications and government affairs director for the city of DeBary; Nick Conte, DeLand economic development manager; and New Smyrna Beach Director of CRA/Economic Development Chris Edwards. Volusia County Economic Development Director Lou Paris served as moderator.

While downtowns share many similarities, Paris kicked off the panel discussion with a question about what makes the different downtown areas unique.

“Our lifestyle is we’re a very close-knit community so we’re going to play on that,” Simmans said about DeBary.

For Conte, the “secret recipe” for downtown DeLand is cooperation and partnerships.

“It takes everything, not just the city,” he said, adding that downtown merchants and the residents all have a role to play in sustaining and supporting a vibrant local economy.

“Main Street in downtown DeLand, that’s our beach,” he said, citing the city’s annual dog parade as an example of bringing the community together.

“Nine thousand people show up for the event,” Conte said.

New Smyrna Beach’s claim to fame for a unique downtown is that the city has not one but two downtown areas: Canal Street and Flagler Avenue, Edwards said.

“We have two different flavors, both very complementary of each other,” he said. “These downtowns are very well connected and really it is one city with two different flavors.”

All three panelists highlighted some of the ways their downtown areas contribute to the overall county economy, starting with Conte, who talked about a development project the city was in the running for last year and how DeLand’s downtown area proved to be an important part of the city’s development package.

“They were thinking about their workforce,” he said, referring to the company considering the city for its project. “That kept us in it, that ‘hometown’ feel.”

In DeBary, which is currently working to develop its downtown area, Simmans said the excitement surrounding the effort is an economic driver.

“We’ve done aggressive marketing and that’s attracted businesses,” she said.

Edwards pointed to New Smyrna Beach as a pedestrian-friendly area as an economic asset.

“We have walkable downtowns,” he said, adding the city works closely with potential new businesses to find the right fit for their projects.

“We sit down and talk to these companies about their vision,” Edwards said.

Among the biggest challenges facing the three communities is economic diversification.

“Our commercial redevelopment activity is going up and we need more of that,” Edwards said.

In DeBary, Simmans said diversifying the local tax base with more commercial development is a priority.

In New Smyrna Beach, one of the most pressing issues for the downtown areas is parking, Edwards said.

“Obviously as a growing community one of the biggest challenges we have is parking,” he said. “As more people want to come to your downtown, you have to be creative.”

Looking to the future, Simmans said in five years DeBary will have its downtown and it will make a big difference for the city.

“It’s going to be a catalyst for economic growth,” she said.

For Edwards, the future of New Smyrna Beach means managing growth and “not losing our identity as we grow.”

All three agreed that cooperation between Volusia’s cities and the county government is a cornerstone of economic development.

“We’re all one big family,” Edwards said. “We feed off each other’s successes.”