- May 29, 2026
Daytona Beach officials are considering a fresh look at the city's long-term economic development strategy, with an emphasis on updating its vision plan, improving investment opportunities and recognizing the distinct needs of both the beachside and mainland areas.
During the May 20 City Commission meeting, Daytona Beach Economic Development Advisory Board Chairman Bob Rand presented a series of recommendations designed to strengthen the city's economic future and improve its competitiveness with similar communities.
In January, the Economic Development Advisory Board sent a letter to city commissioners outlining several recommendations aimed at strengthening Daytona Beach's economic future. During his presentation, Rand said the board wanted to move beyond its traditional advisory role and take a more proactive approach to identifying opportunities for growth and investment.
"The purpose of the letter was to support long-term economic growth and investment in Daytona Beach," Rand said, adding that the city should ensure economic opportunities remain competitive with peer communities.
Rand said the city should revisit its long-term vision plan and develop a clear 20-year roadmap with measurable benchmarks to help guide future growth.
"The board recognizes the existence of a vision plan that the city has," Rand said. "We recommend that the city be more of a collaborative process for updating and refreshing the Daytona Beach plan. Clearly articulate a 20-year vision of Daytona Beach and establish measurable benchmarks and implementation goals."
The board also emphasized that Daytona Beach's beachside and mainland areas function as "two really separate economic machines" and require tailored strategies while still working together to achieve broader city goals.
"The beachside and the mainland, they're very separate. However, they need to work together to accomplish the goals of the city," Rand said.
Rand pointed to recent successes that could serve as building blocks for future growth, including improvements along International Speedway Boulevard, continued westside development, expansion of local universities and the addition of industrial projects and job opportunities.
Another focus area involves redevelopment and attracting private investment. The board recommended addressing blighted properties along major corridors such as A1A, International Speedway Boulevard and U.S. 1 while working to improve investor confidence in Daytona Beach's image.
"We've got a number of vacant parcels of land right on the ocean," Rand said. "There's a reason why people aren't investing in those properties."
Rand also highlighted what he sees as one of the beachside's biggest economic challenges: a tourism season that is too short to sustain many businesses year-round.
"I think one of the issues we have is let's take A1A. We've got a community over there that really has a six or seven month season," Rand said. "A small business cannot survive on six months of business."
According to Rand, Daytona Beach should explore additional events and attractions during slower months to drive tourism and support local businesses outside the traditional peak season.
"We need economic drivers over on the beachside," Rand said. "There needs to be thought put into how we can generate more events in the off season over there."
He pointed to events such as the former Wings and Waves Air Show as examples of attractions that filled hotel rooms and brought visitors to the beachside during slower periods of the year.
The discussion prompted Commissioner Quanita May to ask what types of businesses the city should be working to attract to the beachside.
"What types of businesses would you like to see down there?" May asked.
Rand responded that restaurants remain one of the area's greatest needs but said attracting them has been difficult because the customer base is not yet large enough to support many year-round operations.
"We need restaurants, we need good restaurants, but we don't have the base to support good restaurants," Rand said.
He said creating additional off-season events could help generate the visitor traffic needed to support restaurants, retailers and other businesses along the beachside corridor.
The advisory board also highlighted infrastructure improvements, suggesting the city continue enhancing major gateways into Daytona Beach, including the LPGA Boulevard corridor, Williamson Boulevard, Clyde Morris Boulevard and Beville Road. Rand said those entry points help shape visitors' first impressions of the city and should reflect the community's growth and investment.
Commissioners generally welcomed the recommendations and expressed interest in revisiting Daytona Beach's long-term vision and development priorities.
Commissioner Quanita May said the city should evaluate whether its current priorities remain aligned with the broader vision established in its master plans and suggested a future workshop to review those guiding documents.
"I appreciate you wanting us to go over the master plan to kind of see if we have to evaluate it. Are we actually on target with the master plan?" May said. "Would it be possible in the future at some point to have a little maybe workshop and just go over the individual master plans to see if we're on track? Because I know we have our priorities. That's one thing. But then are those priorities fitting in with the ultimate vision of where the city is going?"
Commissioner Monica Paris agreed that many of the priorities outlined in the city's vision plan remain relevant today, including public safety, quality of life and family-friendly neighborhoods. She also supported the idea of creating a citywide strategic work plan to help guide future decisions.
"I agree. And I think we should probably implement a strategy work plan that they mentioned for the Main Street, but as a city whole, because I did read our vision plan. It hasn't changed that much," Paris said. "I think everyone wants family friendly, cleaner streets, public safety, quality life. We're still in the same ballpark as we were 20 years ago, but I think those are the basics, what everybody really wants from their city."
Rand said the board's recommendations are ultimately aimed at creating a stronger and more resilient Daytona Beach through collaboration between city leaders, staff and stakeholders.
"The board believes that the recommendations will contribute to a stronger and more resilient Daytona Beach," Rand said. "Promote sustainable economic growth and long-term tax base expansion."
