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Home > About the CFDC

About the CFDC

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Central Florida Development Council is the Catalyst for Polk County Growth

During the 1980s, Polk County was wracked by double-digit unemployment caused by a downturn in the phosphate industry, back-to-back major citrus freezes and the closing of a Piper Aircraft manufacturing facility in Lakeland. Responding to these events, an energetic group of business leaders teamed with county officials to form the Central Florida Development Council (CFDC). Many people point to the formation of this public/private partnership in 1985 as being the catalyst to turning around Polk County’s stagnant economic condition.

"The CFDC, through its volunteer base, provided a focus for Polk County’s future," said Gene Engle who has served as president of the Council for three terms and who was one of its founders. "They united Polk County with its 17 municipalities and, in a short period of time, the CFDC was responsible for successfully diversifying our economy and for setting the stage for quality development. The value of these volunteer hours is priceless to our community."

Since its inception, the CFDC has helped generate more than 19,000 jobs for Polk County citizens and more than $3.2 billion in capital investment. Fortune 500 companies like Ford Motor Company, McKesson Pharmaceuticals, Lockheed Martin, GEICO, Coca-Cola, Wal-Mart and Sherwin Williams have all located facilities in Polk County under the CFDC watch.

Ron Morrow, who, like Engle, was one of the pioneers of the CFDC and a past president, said some of the major companies that have located in our community definitely would not have been here without the involvement of the model economic development agency.

Splash Island at Cypress Gardens

"What the CFDC has sold over the years is really intangibles to capture the attention of decision makers," Morrow said. "Painting a positive picture for companies has been vital to relocation efforts. The CFDC has been very good at adding value to our inherently strong business climate."

The CFDC’s success, Engle said, can also be traced to its ability to act quickly to meet the demands of an increasingly more complex and competitive world of economic development.

"Economic development is a practice and profession in constant evolution," he said. "The CFDC, which has received numerous local, state and national awards as well as advancing the quality of life for our citizens, looks very little like it did in the mid-1980s. Changes in our economy and the competitive nature of business and tourist development have played a hand in reshaping our marketing strategies."

Hunt Berryman, this year's CFDC president, said that the dedication and support of the CFDC Board is evidenced by the many successes of the organization. The volunteer board’s investment in the strategies of the organization will continue to improve the quality of life for Polk County citizens.

"It is evident that Polk County is the epicenter of future growth and activity for Central Florida. As we plan for a new year the Central Florida Development Council is anxious to lead Polk County in becoming the dominant player in the region."