$20 million for One Daytona Volusia approves grant for retail development

Published: Thursday, April 3, 2014 at 11:20 a.m. Last Modified: Thursday, April 3, 2014 at 4:33 p.m.

The vote, attended by the projects influential supporters including the France family, Atlanta developer Jim Jacoby, former Daytona Beach Mayor Glenn Ritchey and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University President John Johnson, was the final step toward securing roughly $44.5 million in public investment from the county and city.

It will make this a better place for all of us to live, work and play, Ritchey said during the meeting. This will be a linchpin project.

It will give others that have been on the sidelines a reason to get started, and start quickly.

International Speedway Corp. CEO and vice chairwoman Lesa France Kennedy told the council: I appreciate your leadership and vision for Volusia County.

The money had previously been approved in concept and faced only final approval with some added contractual language.

The Daytona Beach City Commission also gave the project unanimous support, but its contribution hinged on Thursdays approval from the county.

County Councilman Doug Daniels, who was the lone no in the councils 5-1 vote last month, still had reservations but said he was voting on faith. He said he drove to the council meeting with the intention of voting no once again.

I got a call from a friend of mine, and she reminded me that Lesa France Kennedy was the one behind this, Daniels said. And Lesa, when we met, she told me she wanted to do something for her town, something to put it on the map.

He added: Its not this agreement I have faith in, I have no faith in it at all. Lesa, Im putting my faith in you.

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$20 million for One Daytona Volusia approves grant for retail development