DAYTONA BEACH — Ask Ed Kelley about the state of Volusia County, and you might hear words often associated with an airport, a thriving business or a flight school like Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
"We are accelerating to new heights," the county chair told a crowd of about 500 people gathered in a banquet hall at the Ocean Center on Monday afternoon. It was the oft-repeated theme of the annual State of the County address, where Kelley and fellow council members reflected on accomplishments and achievements of 2017.
Yes, Embry-Riddle, which the county awarded $1.5 million last spring toward its research park, and the Daytona Beach International Airport, where county officials are working to attract developers to 260 acres of vacant property, were among the examples given.
But the emphasis for the luncheon didn't stop at future development or the 1,303 new jobs that arrived in Volusia last year. County leaders pointed to $12 million in support for three homeless shelter projects in Daytona Beach and DeLand, the opening of new trails and parks and improved access coming to beaches, roadways and waterways to instill a message that the county is not only ascending, but will continue its climb for years to come.
"Figuratively, and literally, we are soaring to new heights," Kelley repeated, adding, "This is one of the best places to live, work, play, raise a family and have grandchildren come visit."
The address has been an annual event since the first elected county chair, Frank Bruno, came on in 2005. During the four-year tenure of Jason Davis, the ceremony moved out of the Ocean Center and into the council chambers, merely an agenda item during regularly scheduled meetings. After Kelley was elected in 2016, he wanted to give the county's good news a bigger audience and returned it to the county-run event center.
The event isn't paid for using taxpayers' money, a point Kelley made clear before lunch was served. Instead, it's funded with help from 16 local business sponsors. Kelley was the only council members to stand behind a microphone and speak. The others shared good news from the past year in a 10-minute video.
For at-large Councilwoman Joyce Cusack, the longest-serving member, the event was her last State of the County address, as she will reach her term limit in December. After the video, she received a standing ovation for her service.
"This is bittersweet occasion for me" she said in the video. "I've had the pleasure of serving with great colleagues here on the County Council, great leadership from the county manager's office, and such dedicated staff who work so hard every day. Most of all, it's been an honor to serve the citizens of this great county. Thank you."
Here are some highlights from 2017 that were mentioned during the presentation:
Economic development: Council approved local financial support for several business expansion projects by local companies including: B. Braun Distribution Center in Daytona Beach, 3D Material Technologies Headquarters in Daytona Beach, a new Brown & Brown Headquarters in Daytona Beach, Security First Managers Headquarters in Ormond Beach and Boston Whaler Headquarters in Edgewater. Combined capital investment by these firms is projected to exceed $144 million and job creation could exceed 950 new, higher-wage positions.
New parks, trails: Shell Harbor Park, a 9-acre park coming to Pierson, will feature a public boat ramp, kayak launch, floating dock, and pavilion on Lake George. In Osteen, Lemon Bluff Park is getting a new floating dock for canoes and kayaks. In DeBary, engineering plans were completed for construction of the next segment of the County's Spring to Spring Trail, extending south from Detroit Terrace to Don Smith Boulevard.
Public transportation: Volusia County approved bus service along State Road 44 in New Smyrna Beach and along Howland Boulevard in Deltona.
Beach access: The council approved in November raising the daily beach driving fee for out-of-town visitors in order to afford opening up seven additional ramps, implement lanes for pass-holders only, and crack down on littering.
Roads and bridges: Construction began on the Turnbull Bay Bridge in New Smyrna Beach and the council approved an engineering design to widen a segment of Howland Boulevard.
Commercial fishing: The county boosted its already large underwater artificial reef community, popular to scuba divers and anglers, by sinking two donated steel ships.