News
Florida Energy-Efficient Company Looks to Expand Operations
From the Daytona Beach News Journal: Council to discuss incentives in exchange for more West Volusia jobs
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It’s a lot of jobs for West Volusia — good paying jobs. And, green technology. You can’t get much better than that. I think it’s a real win for everybody.” –County Council member Pat Northey.
As unemployment continues to take its toll on area residents, the Volusia County Council will decide Thursday whether to offer up to $150,000 in incentives to a company hoping to add 250 jobs in the DeBary area.
THE COMPANY: Lake Mary-based Southeast Fabricators Inc. manufactures steel sign structures. In fact, the company made most of the sign structures along I-4, according to Philip Ehlinger, interim economic director for Volusia County. The company also recently developed a proprietary solar energy system for the telecommunication industry that will make some of the industry’s structures ‘energy neutral’ by providing 40-80 percent of the energy required to operate them, Ehrlinger said.
Company officials said expansion to accommodate the new product line requires a larger facility than the current Tavares location. The location also must have good customer access, freight transportation availability and be in close proximity to a qualified workforce, officials said. As a result, the company plans to move its manufacturing operations to a leased 70,000-square-foot building on Springview Commerce Drive in DeBary with plans to create a minimum of 250 high skill, high wage jobs over three years, county officials said.
THE RECOMMENDATION: The county’s economic development department staff is recommending the council approve an incentive package that would pay Southeast Fabricators $600 for each job the company creates to a maximum of $150,000. The company currently employs 20 people full time and the additional 230 jobs expected to be added will pay an average $35,644 annually, officials said.
COMPETITION: County officials have said that in addition to Volusia County, Southeast Fabricators considered Seminole and Orange Counties for the expansion plans.
