Evacuations: Eleven Florida counties, home to about 5.9 million people, were under mandatory evacuation orders as of Tuesday afternoon. Officials are warning residents not to bank on the storm weakening.

Landfall: Milton is expected to make landfall on the west coast of Florida late Wednesday as a Category 3 storm, which have winds of 111-129 mph (180-210 kph).

Daytona Beach Children's Business Fair is here!

According to a release from the organizers, the event will take place at the Riverfront Esplanade from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturday, March 23rd. The event will be free to attend and is open to the public. Participants will be children who created a product or service, a brand to go along with it, and a marketing strategy. They'll get to open for business for one day at the event. For more information contact Savannah Hawkins by email at office@riverfrontesplanade.com.

The south side of Riverfront Esplanade in Daytona Beach is now open. The park, spanning one mile across Beach Street, is part of a multi-million-dollar revitalization project to revamp the downtown area. What You Need To Know The south side of the park opened over the weekend and runs from International Speedway Boulevard to Orange Avenue The esplanade features a botanical garden, dog park, splash pad, walking trails and more Local businesses said they are excited for what the esplanade will bring to the downtown Daytona Beach area The esplanade is open daily, from sunrise to sunset The Riverfront Esplanade has been years in the making. With the south side now open, the full esplanade runs across the riverfront of Daytona Beach’s historic Beach Street. The south side spans from International Speedway Boulevard to Orange Avenue. The first part of the Esplanade opened last summer. The project is largely funded by local philanthropists and Daytona Beach residents Cici and Hyatt Brown. In last year’s project, the Browns invested more than $25 million. The Esplanade features a dog park, splash pad, botanical garden, walking trails and more. Local businesses on Beach Street said they are excited about the business and activity the new park will bring.

Starting in September, an effort to create a directory of businesses in Midtown will begin. City representatives will go door to door to businesses along Orange Avenue, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard with the goal of obtaining basic contact information, including business name, owner’s name, address, phone number, email address, website, business type. This will be done in two phases over a 12-week period. The City of Daytona Beach hired Gold Marketing Communications, an advertisement agency with a long history of working with the city’s Downtown Development Authority, to conduct the project. Businesses on board Black-owned businesses welcome the idea and hope that it boosts business. Maurice Hymes owns Back to Life Barbershop at 727 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd (historically Second Avenue), next to the popular eatery Bethune Grille.

A combination restaurant incubator and residential development have been proposed for 101 Indigo Drive in Daytona Beach. Marketplace of Daytona is part of a combination restaurant incubator and residential development at 101 Indigo Drive in Daytona Beach. If approved, it would be the first restaurant incubator within the city limits. The site project’s title is Daytona Specialty Food and Marketplace. The restaurant incubator has been named the Marketplace of Daytona. The property is owned by Danza of Daytona LLC. The developer doesn't intend to raze the building that housed the church. The idea is to retrofit the inside of the building to accommodate one central kitchen, about 20 smaller kitchens, dine-in seating, and takeout. Seventy parking spaces will be available.

Costco is coming to Daytona Beach: Here's how to sign up for a wholesale club membership The store coming to One Daytona will be built on 17 acres, west of the CMX Daytona Luxury 12 Theatres multiplex. This Costco location will be a 161,774-square-foot single-story store. Plans submitted for the $17.8 million project include a gas station with 24 fueling spaces for

The Daytona Beach International Airport generates about $3.2 billion in economic impact for the region each year, according to the Florida Department of Transportation's 2022 economic impact study. To reach that figure, FDOT looked at both direct and indirect economic impacts in four primary categories: on-airport activity, visitor spending, industry reliance, and military spending, according to a news release. The study used a multiplier to measure dollars generated from flights in and out of DAB and dollars spent in the community by airport passengers. The study also considered payroll tied to employment centers based on the airfield, plus the impacts of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Daytona International Speedway.

The Daytona Beach Business Organization is now offering Metaverse Technology for our Volusia County business members. We are providing innovative services for local automotive dealerships, restaurants, and retail establishments. Technology is continuously improving, and we take pride in keeping our Volusia County community ahead of the curve. More Info

Plans for Daytona Estrada call for the development of 208 rent-to-own townhomes, 359 apartment units, and nearly 115,000 square feet of commercial space. The latter could include a large anchor tenant as well as a collection of quick-serve restaurants and shops. The anchor tenant could be a grocery store or a "big-box" retail store or a hotel. If this is finalized, the development would significantly boost jobs and business opportunities for local residents.

The Jaguars are looking for a temporary home starting in 2025, when TIAA Bank Field is scheduled to undergo renovations. Orlando is one option, but now another potential landing spot has popped up: Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. The speedway’s president, Frank Kelleher, invited the team Friday to consider Daytona Beach as its home venue for the two seasons during which renovations in Jacksonville will take place. The speedway is located about 90 miles south of TIAA Bank Field.

Small Business Development Program, Inc. would like to present the 2023 2nd Annual Business Hall of Fame for our beautiful historical city. The City of Orange City being the cornerstone of this celebration. This year marks an incredible milestone for the community events we have celebrated. 2023 marks an upcoming celebration of Business from the very first business that opened in the surrounding areas to Businesses that are starting new innovative ideas, products, and services. With this year’s focus being Hispanic Owned Businesses and Women-Owned Businesses. Our partnering agency is the City of Orange City, the Volusia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the West Volusia Regional Chamber of Commerce. The Celebration of Business Award Ceremony is free to the community to attend. However, you must reserve your seat. As seats are limited. There will be a drink bar available. And lunch will be served.

www.centralflcelebrationofbusiness.org

#daytonabeach #daytonabeachbusiness #orangecity

More than 9,000 cheerleaders and dancers and 20,000 spectators are in Daytona Beach this week for the annual College Cheer and Dance National Championship. The Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, which oversees the Ocean Center, said it is the largest annual event at the center by far, drawing in hundreds of teams each year. The problem, according to event organizers, is a lack of hotel rooms for everyone as the event grows.

The commission approved Feb. 1 hiring Dredging & Marine Consultants to begin work on the boardwalk and the seawall at Breakers Oceanfront Park. Public Works Director David Waller wrote in an agenda summary Dredging & Marine Consultants, a Port Orange-based firm, will be responsible for designing “a more resilient concrete step option to access the beach from the city's Boardwalk and to also evaluate the seawall that has subsidized at Breaker Park.”

Via - Hometown News Volusia

The 2023 Rolex 24 at Daytona overall results were all streaks: two consecutive victories in the endurance classic for Meyer Shank Racing and three in a row for Acura. And Helio Castroneves became the second driver to win three consecutive Rolex 24s and the first to win in three straight years (Peter Gregg won in 1973, ’75 and ’76 the race wasn’t held in ’74 because of a global oil crisis). Starting from the pole position, Tom Blomqvist took the checkered flag in the No. 60 ARX-06 that led a race-high 365 of 783 laps with co-drivers Castroneves, Simon Pagenaud and Colin Braun.

When it comes to the complex world of international business, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has emerged as one of the leading educators of tomorrow’s workforce, training new professionals in skills that range from supply chain management and finance to commercial space operations and international consulting. In addition to innovative programs that provide a solid academic base for those looking to elevate their careers, Embry-Riddle is renowned for leading-edge partnerships that allow students to build their professional networks and enhance their practical experience while they earn their degrees.

Building solid career foundations through real-world experience is also the aim of a unique business development consulting program that began more than 20 years ago on the university’s Prescott Campus in Arizona and continues growing today. Initially, it focused on small, local businesses. Now, it has expanded to multinational companies and foreign firms, with nine of 12 recent consulting projects conducted with companies in Europe

Do you have a favorite place in town to get coffee or to go shopping, whether it’s for clothes or tools? Do you know a business that deserves more recognition for the services it provides? The 2022 Best of Best readers’ choice contest is now open, and we’re seeking nominations. You get to decide what businesses in town should be selected for the contest, and anyone who nominates is entered into a drawing to win a $500 gift card! You have until March 20 to nominate a business, and then voting will begin to decide which one you and your neighbors think is the best in town. When the winners have been picked, there will be a special section highlighting the best businesses, whether they won or were a finalist. This is a great section to keep around for those times you need a recommendation on where to eat, get a haircut and more.

The median price, with half selling for more and half for less, was at $320,000, up 21.1%. Starting the year on a high note, Realtors in the two-county area may be able to surpass an incredible 2021 when sales were up 11.4% and the median price was up 18.4%. One area was not following along, though. Realtors sold 268 existing condominiums and townhouses, down 3.9% from last year. The median price was at $289,000, up 16.8%.

CareerSource Flagler Volusia will dedicate $1.9 million in grant funding for free training programs that will be made available to residents in three of the area's lower-income communities. The agency received the two-year grant through their LEEAP program (Linkages to Equitable & Enhanced Access to Prosperity), according to a news release. The training will include guidance on career paths and business ownership, and will be offered online and in-person. CareerSource will also offer assistance for childcare, transportation and stipends for those taking part in the program. The program will be made available to 250 residents living in these areas: the 32114 zip code of Daytona Beach, an area extending from the Halifax River west to Interstate 95, and from Mason Avenue south to Beville Road the Spring Hill community in DeLand and the city of Bunnell in Flagler County. All three areas have higher than average poverty levels, low median annual household incomes and more households receiving S.N.A.P food benefits, according to the news release.

Daytona Beach city leaders approved a proposal Wednesday night requiring bars to close at 2 a.m. instead of 3 a.m. It passed 4 to 3.

One Daytona announced on Thursday, March 3, the grand opening of BurgerTen, a new restaurant offering one-of-a-kind burgers. The lifestyle and entertainment destination located across from Daytona International Speedway also announced the opening of Bull and Boar Barbecue Shop. BurgerTen officially opens its doors on Monday, March 7 at 3 p.m. Located at the North end of Daytona Boulevard, BurgerTen will offer unique burgers, specialty chicken sandwiches, signature side dishes and a full bar with milkshakes for the entire family — including whiskey and bourbon milkshakes. Foodies can stop by to try their special creations from Monday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Volusia County business owners are hopeful that this year’s Bike Week will be one of the biggest yet after years of dampened festivities due to the pandemic.

Hotels and motel owners said they also are doing well, with most saying they are already booked for the event. Bike Week kicks off on Friday, March 4, and continues through Sunday, March 13.

The OPEN FOR BUSINESS Volusia County EXPO will be held March 3rd, 2022 at the Hard Rock Hotel on Atlantic Ave in Daytona Beach. The business-to-business trade show, conference & networking event is for all small business owners of Volusia county. The OPEN FOR BUSINESS Expo assists small business owners, start-ups and entrepreneurs take their business to the next level.