Volusia County, FL - During Thursday's meeting, the Volusia County Council is expected to approve a request to give the insurance company Brown & Brown $4.5 million for infrastructure improvements at a headquarters that's planned to be built in downtown Daytona Beach.
During their meeting on Wednesday night, Daytona Beach City Commissioners unanimously approved $4.5 million for infrastructure improvements and another $1,085,000 for the relocation of staff (more on that story can be found here). Two weeks ago, the Volusia County Council approved $900,000 to help Brown & Brown qualify for the state job creation tax credit.
Money from the county would go towards roadway and stormwater improvements, including the design, permitting, and construction of the site infrastructure to improve stormwater quality through treatment and management. The funds would also go towards infrastructure associated with IT and franchise utilities.
City dollars will be used for public infrastructure improvements in public rights of way or on dedicated public easements. The money will also go towards hardscape, landscaping, fountains, or lighting improvements on street frontages next to public rights of way.
Brown & Brown is expected to finish the public infrastructure improvements within four years, but the city could grant an extension if needed. Once construction is finished, Brown & Brown will request reimbursement from Daytona Beach. The agreement states that the county and city will jointly review that request so that their respective contributions are equal. The county will then have 30 days to transfer funds to the city for administration and distribution.
The agreement requires that Brown & Brown finish construction of the 175,000 square foot office space and create 450 new jobs by December 31, 2022. The move is eventually expected to bring at least 600 new high paying jobs to the area.
County Council members are also expected to approve a budget resolution and construction contracts to repair dune walkovers that were damaged by Hurricane Matthew last year.
Four bids were created for four geographical areas of the county to reduce the overall construction time. Those four regions are also expected to begin construction at around the same time. Council members are being asked to approve the budget and selection/award of contracts with the following contractors in the amounts shown:
Group 1 (Avalon Dr. to Sunrise Ave. in Ormond Beach): Saboungi Construction Inc., Ormond Beach, FL, for $200,960
Group 2 (Bicentennial Park to Amsden Rd. in Ormond Beach): Seacoast, Inc., Oldsmar, FL, for $478,843.02
Group 3 (Sunsplash Park in Daytona Beach to Winterhaven Park in Ponce Inlet): Seacoast, Inc., Oldsmar, FL, for $299,998.36
Group 4 (Kingfish Ave. to Trout Ave. in New Smyrna Beach): Condor Construction, Crop., Orlando, FL, for $341,138
The $1,320,940 in hurricane funds being used for the abovementioned contracted services comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, otherwise known as FEMA ($990,705), state disaster assistance ($165,117), and from appropriated funds ($165,118).
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