Southeast Volusia has landed another win. The latest piece of Central Florida’s growing industrial jigsaw puzzle is the April 29th closing on 20 acres of industrial-zoned property by Old Dominion Freight Line, just south of Oak Hill, Florida. The purchase represents plans for a new truck terminal to be built by the nation’s leading less-than-truckload carrier. When a carrier as well-respected as Old Dominion decides to call your area home, it’s a signal to pay attention to the direction the economy is moving.
Why Oak Hill? Why Now?
Old Dominion didn’t stumble upon this 20 acres of land by mistake, and when you know how logistics providers operate, you can see why. Truck terminals are carefully planned, long-term investments. They need ample space for expansion, direct access to main freight highways, ready industrial zoning, and a community that supports freight as a building block of the local economy. Oak Hill delivers on all of those priorities.
Zoom out on the map. The southernmost portion of Volusia County, Oak Hill provides direct access to I-95 and U.S. Highway 1. This geographic advantage allows for expedient transit of goods both north toward Daytona and Jacksonville and south to the Space Coast and Orlando. This strategic location is also ideal for moving goods west into the heart of Central Florida’s distribution network. For a company such as Old Dominion, which has built a reputation on speed and reliability, this kind of positioning is priceless and difficult to secure in a significant size.
The Impact for You and Southeast Volusia
New truck terminals offer more than just building space. They create jobs, including driver positions, dockworkers, dispatchers, mechanics, and administrative staff, and expand the local tax base. These terminals represent permanent freight infrastructure which benefits manufacturers, distributors, aerospace suppliers, and more that SEVMTC works to attract and retain on a daily basis.
If a manufacturer in New Smyrna Beach or Edgewater is considering a future expansion, the first and most obvious question is “How can I get product in and out?” With each additional logistics anchor in your region, the answer to that question becomes increasingly positive. Old Dominion’s presence is a clear indicator to other shippers, suppliers, and potential users of industrial property that Southeast Volusia is equipped to support substantial operations.
A Region Built on Manufacturing
It helps to understand just how much manufacturing muscle already exists in Southeast Volusia. The combined region is home to more than 100 manufacturing and industrial firms, with the largest concentration in Edgewater and New Smyrna Beach. These aren’t small operations. The region’s roster includes names like Boston Whaler, Everglades Boats, EdgeWater Power Boats, Dougherty Manufacturing, Schultz Engineered Products, Sauer Incorporated, and INCERTEC, companies that between them represent thousands of jobs and significant freight activity every single day. SEVMTC was specifically formed to support and grow this industrial base across New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, and Oak Hill, and the coalition’s work is reflected in the depth and diversity of manufacturers that now call this region home. Every one of those companies ships product. Every one of them receives raw materials and components. Old Dominion’s new terminal puts a world-class logistics provider right in their backyard.
Connecting It to the SEVMTC Mission
These kinds of business growth projects are exactly what SEVMTC works to create. SEVMTC markets your region as a launch pad for aerospace, aviation, manufacturing, and technology companies. A significant part of marketing your region is showcasing what is already on the ground: world-class infrastructure, access to interstate and rail service, proximity to deep-water ports, and now a logistics powerhouse adding a facility to support these industries.
SEVMTC also played a direct role in making this happen. When Old Dominion needed to navigate the county approvals process, SEVMTC stepped in to help move things forward. That’s what this coalition does. Getting a project like this across the finish line takes more than a willing buyer and available land. It takes a local partner who knows the process, knows the people, and is committed to making sure good projects don’t get stuck in red tape.
Each of the partnering cities of New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, and Oak Hill provide different pieces of the growth picture. Oak Hill, with its zoned industrial acreage and transportation advantages, is becoming an increasingly vital link in the regional logistics network. The Old Dominion closing is proof that local leaders have done a great job to prepare industrial sites for business and welcome outside investment.
A Closer Look at the Bigger Picture
Southeast Volusia currently houses nearly 400 manufacturers that serve the aerospace, marine, automotive, healthcare, and testing industries. All of these businesses rely on freight transportation. Each and every one of them will benefit from Old Dominion choosing to locate its new facility in this region.
April 29th’s closing represents one signature on one document, but its impacts will be felt throughout the area’s economy for years to come. To discover more about the opportunities waiting for your business in Southeast Volusia, visit sevmtc.com, where you can review available industrial sites, access workforce resources, and learn about available financial incentives designed to enhance business investment.