Florida has become one of the hottest destinations for manufacturing in the United States, and for good reason. Manufacturers looking to relocate or establish new facilities are increasingly delving into Florida. Thanks to no state income tax, no inventory tax, port access and a regulatory-friendly climate. Not all Florida locations are created equal—you probably know that.
While considering where in Florida to open a factory, one must think beyond cheap real estate. If a facility is set up too far away from either the supply chain or key transportation routes, the result will be paying for logistics and scheduling. Location matters more than most people realize.
Southeast Volusia County is popping up after looking at the manufacturing environment in Florida in 2026. Here’s why.
What Actually Makes a Great Manufacturing Location?
Before getting into the specifics, it’s important to be real about what should be assessed when deciding where to start a manufacturing business.
Can goods really be moved around successfully? Getting to the interstates, ports, railroads, and airports may not seem glamorous, but it happens every day. Can raw materials be received easily? Is it possible to ship finished goods without hassle?
Are there skilled workers out there? Is it possible to find people who know what they’re doing? Are there any regional colleges imparting training to professionals related to the industry? Can people be hired who actually want to live there? This is also important.
How much money does it cost to run? The commercial property, local taxes, employees’ line of business, fast and organisation eats away at the bottom line.
Are there other manufacturers nearby? Established supply chains? Resources and partnerships that are industry-specific. Makes life easier?
What is the attitude of local government towards manufacturers? Are there real incentives available? How painful is the permitting process? Do the authorities realize that producers create employment and stimulate growth?
Is growth possible during times of need? Will the space soon run out or will there be a wall hit in five years requiring a move?
All these questions are answered solidly by Southeast Volusia County. Here’s why.
Southeast Volusia County: Florida’s Best-Kept Manufacturing Secret
The untouched environment, affordable residential and business options, and central location promote business growth. This location is not just another dot on the Florida map but it will play an important role in the future of aviation and aerospace. Actually, the future’s already here.
Location: This Geography Is Almost Perfect
To properly assess Southeast Volusia’s advantages for manufacturing, the analysis must start with geography.
The Space Coast and Kennedy Space Center are just south. That’s not hyperbole, but a ticket to one of the world’s most vital aerospace and aviation ecosystems. The Space Coast has become widely recognized for its satellite, missile, and spacecraft manufacturing. Companies can tap into that.
Daytona Beach is immediately to the north. For client meetings, prospective job candidates, and other visits requiring a larger metro area, this is right at hand. But businesses aren’t directly caught up in the expenses and crowds that come with it.
Orlando is not far to the west. Access to Orlando’s market or resources is close. But the amount paid is a fraction of what the cost of actually being in Orlando is.
Think about that for a minute. Businesses get the best of worlds being in between three major Florida markets—Space Coast, Daytona Beach, and Orlando, all at no premium. That’s not just convenient. That’s strategic.
Land: Building What’s Needed Is Actually Possible
Southeast Volusia has a fair amount of land for sale as Florida continues to get hotter. It offers improved sites that are ready to go and raw land for building.
Need a turnkey facility? There are options. Want to build exactly what the operation requires? The land’s available. Looking to start small with room to expand later? That can be done here.
Good luck sourcing available industrial land in South Florida or downtown Orlando without losing a kidney. In Southeast Volusia, businesses can honestly afford to build the facility the company requires, rather than taking whatever fits the budget.
Labor: The Workforce Story Gets Really Good
Southeast Volusia has people who want to work. Finding bodies is one thing but the quality of talent that can be accessed and the pipeline that keeps feeding operations is another.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is right here. For those who haven’t heard of Embry-Riddle, it is one of the world’s foremost aerospace and aviation institutions producing engineers, technicians and technical graduates each year. This is not just a great recruiting tool—it is a sustainable competitive advantage sitting in the backyard.
There are five colleges and universities located near Embry-Riddle. In other words, there will be continuous access to fresh talent, alongside research partnerships and internship programs which essentially give the opportunity to audition possible new hires. Additionally, there is also the educational infrastructure to ensure the workforce stays sharp.
Florida has no personal income tax as it is a right to work state. This means that the salary presented can help employees and make recruiting easier. Compensation packages become more attractive without it costing money.
Utilities: Boring But Critical
Look, nobody gets excited about utilities. But if operations have ever been handled at a facility where it has unstable power, or at a facility where the utility company is always surprising with unanticipated charges, this stuff matters.
Utility providers in Southeast Volusia are dependable and cheap. Their involvement in the economic development process is more than that. They’re prepared to work with manufacturers on their needs. They’re partners in success, rather than just vendors who send bills.
Government: They Actually Get It
The Southeast Volusia Area’s local government is pro-business. What does that actually mean?
- Allowing processes that do not make anyone want to tear their hair out
- Useful support for economic development rather than bureaucratic obstacles
- Leaders who believe that manufacturers create true jobs and drive growth
- It’s a business environment made to help businesses succeed, not tie them up in red tape
Everything else becomes easier when local government gets it. More time can be dedicated to developing the business instead of fighting bureaucracy. Southeast Volusia gets it.
Research and Education: The Embry-Riddle Advantage
More discussion about Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is needed because this will truly make a difference for manufacturers.
Embry-Riddle is much more than “a college nearby.” It is a global leader in the study of aerospace and aviation technology. For manufacturers, that translates into real advantages:
Direct talent pipeline – Constant supply of young engineers and skilled technical professionals who are trained in the skillsets that are needed.
Research partnerships – Working together on research and development, testing and innovation projects.
Internship programs – Students can be evaluated prior to onboarding them through internship programs. Good ones can be identified early and new relationships built.
Continuing education – Offering advancement educational opportunities for current workers who don’t need to leave the area.
Ties to Industry – Ability to plug into the wider aerospace and aviation network that Embry-Riddle brings.
This type of educational anchor institution is something that most manufacturing regions would love to have. Southeast Volusia just has it, ready to work with businesses.
Aviation Access: This Is Where It Gets Wild
What makes Southeast Volusia stand apart from every other manufacturing site in Florida? Taxiway access at an impressive five airports.
If a business is in the aviation, aerospace or any industry where direct access to an aircraft matters, it is phenomenal! Aircraft can be taxied right down to the factory. Not close to the airport. Cargo doesn’t need to be transported to the airport. Airplanes can taxi right to the building.
Good luck finding access, affordability, and business climate anywhere else in Florida—or anywhere else in the country. It basically doesn’t exist.
The Daytona Beach International Airport offers commercial service and cargo capacity for anything else that may be needed.
Quality of Life: A Secret Recruiting Weapon
Life is good in southeastern Volusia County. That is a huge asset when looking to hire talent. Here’s what can be offered to employees:
- Most parts of the year, it is great weather
- Great beaches along the Atlantic Coast
- Amazing inland canals, springs, lakes
- World-class fishing
- The value of properties is at a level that makes them affordable for employees to buy a home
- Expensive land and construction costs
- Exceptional healthcare
- Reputable schools, both public and private
- A lot of universities and colleges for furthering education
As companies compete for a talented engineer from California or an operations manager from New York, offering all this (plus no state income tax) makes the job far easier. Quality of life isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a competitive weapon in the war for talent.
The Tax Climate: Real Money Matters
Here’s what matters to the actual bottom line.
Florida does not have a personal income tax and that $100k salary in Southeast Volusia puts significantly more money in an employee’s pocket when compared to a similar salary in California, New York, or most other states. Compensation packages become more competitive at no additional cost.
If large amounts of inventory are held (raw materials, in-process, finished goods), property taxes are not paid on that inventory. That may mean significant yearly savings depending on the operation.
The overall tax structure in Southeast Volusia is pro-business. Because of state and local incentives, enterprise zones, and a real commitment to keeping the tax burden low, Southeast Volusia is a place where businesses can succeed.
The Aviation and Aerospace Future Is Happening Now
Southeast Volusia has a bright future when it comes to aviation and aerospace. Nonetheless, in this case the discussion is not about some bet on something that might happen. The future is happening right now.
Kennedy Space Center’s activity is accelerating. Commercial space companies are booming. Advanced air mobility and urban aviation are progressing towards becoming a reality. Aviation technology is evolving rapidly. Aerospace manufacturing is growing.
Southeast Volusia sits right near all of this activity. The manufacturers that settle here now, will ride this wave for decades to come.
Who Should Seriously Consider Southeast Volusia?
Southeast Volusia is particularly ideal for:
Aviation and Aerospace Manufacturers – The closeness of Kennedy Space Center, a strong talent pipeline from Embry-Riddle, and taxiway access at five airports is literally unique anywhere else.
Advanced Manufacturing – Technical talent, research partnerships, and a pro-business environment are available for those looking to develop products or set up a factory.
Marine Industry – Close to Atlantic coast, established marine manufacturing presence, access to waterways & ports.
Medical Device Manufacturing – A skilled workforce, partnerships with universities for innovation and proof of concept, a clean environment for manufacturing processes, and a location on the East Coast for distribution.
Technology Companies – Five colleges and universities that produce technical graduates, have reasonable operating costs, and a quality of life that helps to attract talent.
Any Manufacturer Looking to Grow – Ample land. Expanding infrastructure. Pro-business environment. And a region that’s still early enough in its growth curve that establishments can happen before costs rise.
The Window Won’t Stay Open Forever
What needs to be realized is this: Southeast Volusia is at that sweet spot right now where the infrastructure and work force are already developed but costs haven’t yet caught-up to match the more developed markets.
That window doesn’t stay open forever. As more manufacturers figure out what Southeast Volusia offers—and they will, because word gets out—demand for industrial space will increase, land prices will rise, and competition for workers will get stiffer.
Manufacturers who act now, while land is available and priced reasonably, will have sustainable competitive advantages. With the necessary facilities, established workforce relationships, and operating costs in place, they can compete aggressively on price while still maintaining healthy margins.
Southeast Volusia will likely become one of Florida’s manufacturing leaders in five years. Will companies be Early Adopters who benefit tremendously or ones who pay a hefty premium to catch up in 2026?
The Bottom Line
SE Volusia County is the place to start a manufacturing business in Florida in 2026! If this is what a new article suggests, wouldn’t businesses want to do so?
The combination of strategic location, available land, technical workforce pipeline, aviation and aerospace access, pro-business climate, reasonable costs, and quality of life is truly unique. The sector’s growth is extended in an area that’s located at the heart of aviation and aerospace growth.
Florida’s manufacturing boom is real and accelerating. Participation in the growth of Florida is only possible when the location choice is within Florida. However, only some locations will allow maximization of the growth for the business.
Manufacturers can be successful for decades in Southeast Volusia County thanks to the area’s infrastructure, workforce, costs, and strategic location.
The window is open. The question is whether businesses will walk through it.
For more information about manufacturing opportunities in Southeast Volusia County, contact the Southeast Volusia Manufacturing and Technology Corridor (SEVMTC) or visit www.sevolusia.com to explore available sites, incentive programs, and connections to the region’s aerospace and aviation ecosystem.