- February 11, 2025
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The Environmental Discovery Center opened in 2016. Courtesy photo
City officials, business people and community leaders gathered at Oceanside Country Club on Oct. 25 for the State of the City Luncheon, a joint production by the Chamber of Commerce and city of Ormond Beach.
The theme was “Ormond Beach, the investment of a lifetime.” A video montage showed the mayor and city commissioners describing the highlights of the past year.
Mayor Ed Kelley pointed out that one of the founding fathers was John D. Rockefeller, a businessman who influenced others, including Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone and Sir Malcolm Campbell, to visit the city.
“They shaped our city’s landscape,” he said.
Pointing out highlights of the year, Kelley mentioned the Strategic Planning Workshop, attended by citizens and businesspeople, which came up with goals and action steps to encourage economic growth in the city, including industrial and retail development.
City Commissioner James Stowers, whose term will end this year because he did not seek re-election, praised the private-public partnership that resulted in the landscaping of North U.S. 1 from Interstate 95 to Airport Road.
“A group of citizens and business people had countless meetings,” he said.
The group raised $20,000 in private money and received donations of $20,000 each from Ormond Beach and Volusia County. This encouraged FDOT to provide a grant of $750,000.
Commissioner Troy Kent mentioned two current projects, a parking lot in the New Britain area that will help residents visit the area, and the addition of reclaimed water on the beachside south of Granada Boulevard.
Using reclaimed water from the city means that the homeowners will not need to water their lawns with a well, thereby conserving water in the aquifer.
Commissioner Rick Boehm said that, as a Vietnam veteran, he was gratified to see about 100 Vietnam veterans honored by the city in a ceremony at the Performing Arts Center.
He also mentioned the new software installed at the Planning Department to ease the approval of development plans.
With the new software, developers can present their plans on a computer, rather than bring in large rolls of paper.
Commissioner and Mayor-Elect Bill Partington said a major development was the Environmental Discovery Center in Central Park.
He said it was the result of volunteers, advisory boards and City Commission members working tirelessly for years.
“It’s an example of what can be accomplished when we work together,” he said. “This year, it hosted Enviro Camp, where campers can be hands on with the environment and learn the importance of preservation.”
A Volusia County ECHO grant provided half of the $800,000 cost.
Another success has been the Community Garden on Hammock Lane. A second garden is being planned to open next spring on Fleming Avenue, and Partington said there are already 25 people on a waiting list.
Other new items in 2016 included the installation of welcome signs and a city initiative called Ormond Beach 2 Go, where city staff visit neighborhoods and have a remote City Hall for a day.
In conclusion, Kelley said he was proud to be part of the expansion of the retail base, business park and economic development projects. He said Ormond Beach has strong, effective leadership, a vibrant business community and a quality of life second to none.
“Ormond Beach is the investment of a lifetime,” he said.
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“It’s an example of what can be accomplished when we work together”
BILL PARTINGTON, on the Environmental Discovery Center
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Busy businesses
Mayor Ed Kelley pointed out the diversity of businesses in the city. He mentioned ECN, which is now expanding into the third floor of their building on West Granada Boulevard; Skyo Industries, which hired 20 employees and moved into a vacant 20,000-square-foot building in the Airport Business Park; Prime Global Group, which relocated from New Jersey and plans to add 38 jobs in three years; Ameritech Die and Mold South, which has modernized a building at the business park; S.R. Perrott, which broke ground on a new office facility; and Super Petrel, a Brazilian light-aircraft manufacturer, which opened a facility at the airport for airplane assembly and sales.
