Home > Quality of Life

Print This Page | Text Size: AAAQuality of Life

Quality of Life

“We are a company that knows that our investment in technology and innovation gives us the lead in cost containment and accuracy. However, it is our people and their commitment to service that really distinguishes us from our competitors. We know that we will find a workforce in Polk County that will be the basis for our continued growth.” – Damien Lamendola, President and CEO of WelldyneRx in Lakeland

Because of its outstanding logistics and great business climate, Polk County has emerged as one of Florida’s leading office, manufacturing and distribution centers. A 2008 Industry Cluster Analysis by SRI International revealed that the primary business sectors that will thrive in this environment going forward are Life Sciences & Medical Services, Research, Engineering & High Tech, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Business & Financial Services and Agribusiness & Agritechnology.

This hot market’s bright future is ensured by new industrial and business parks coming on line along Interstate 4, US Highway 27, State Road 60, County Line Road and within the interior of the massive county larger in square miles than the state of Rhode Island. Major national, regional and local developers have acquired more than 5,000 acres of Business Park and industrial property which will support up to 25 million square feet of office and industrial space. These certified sites are supported by a full complement of utilities and are permitted for construction.

The Polk County industrial market continues to outperform the majority of the major industrial markets in the State. The market’s ideal location between the Tampa Bay and Orlando Metropolitan Statistical areas, coupled with its relatively low rental rates and cost of living, has helped maintain tenant demand.

Some of the major corporations which have taken advantage of Polk County’s numerous assets for years include Publix Super Markets, W.S. Badcock Corporation, Florida’s Natural Growers, GEICO, State Farm Insurance, Lockheed Martin, Ford Motor Company, Pepperidge Farm, Sherwin Williams, Coca-Cola and McKesson Pharmaceuticals. Some of the newer additions to our family of businesses include WelldyneRx, GTECH, Caterpillar, Cellynne, Aldi Foods Market, Firmenich and Lemon-X.

The business community and our ten education and training partners have come together in Central Florida’s Polk County to create a quality, responsive program designed to improve the skills of our growing workforce of 276,000 persons. Our community hosts the state’s only polytechnic university and, together with the Polk County School Board and our other public and private institutions of private learning, provide customized training programs which match the needs of business with the talents of our diversified workforce. From programmable logic control training to nursing instruction, educators in Polk County have long realized that their specialized teaching is critical in any profit and success formula.

 

Testimonials
"The county's business environment and the ongoing support of the CFDC have helped us achieve [our] goal for many years and we look forward to our continued partnership."
- Charles Matthews, VP Operations, Florida's Natural Growers
"We initially targeted Polk County because of its obvious logistical advantages, but we were immediately impressed by the tremendous support and cooperation we received from the CFDC. A building can be built anywhere, but what makes a project...successful is a cooperative relationship with community leaders and the availability of a dedicated and reliable workforce."
- David Behm, VP, Aldi Inc.
"From a personal and business perspective, being new to Polk County has been a very positive experience. We are excited to live and work in Polk County and look forward to what the future has to bring in terms of growth and opportunities."
- Stacy Hackworth, Facility Manager, Ferguson
"We found the economic development atmosphere and support from Polk County to be a true asset in our decision to locate our new, state-of-the-art facility in Lakeland. When you are building the most advanced manufacturing facility your industry has ever seen, you have to have confidence in the long-term commitment of the community. We found just that in Polk County and are pleased to be one of their newest business neighbors and partners."
- Ross Dalton, President, GTECH Printing Corporation
"In 1962, State Farm opened its doors in Winter Haven, which is now our Florida headquarters. We are so proud to be a part of this great Polk County community. Polk County provides State Farm with a workforce that brings diverse talents and experiences to provide the quality service our State Farm customers expect and deserve."
- Jim Thompson, Sr. Vice President, State Farm Insurance