Investing in Site Readiness Powers Industrial Opportunities

Polk County has benefited from Duke Energy’s Florida Site Readiness program, and it’s showcasing three sites that the energy-production company has studied for industrial development. It’s the company’s way of supporting economic development in the counties it serves. 

Prepared by the CFDC and published by the Central Florida Media Group in Central Florida Ag News.

Communities with studied sites include Frostproof, Fort Meade, Lake Wales and Haines City. All have access to electricity, water, sewer and natural gas. All are located within short drives to major highways – U.S. 27, U.S. 98 and Interstate 4, with ready-access to Tampa and Orlando international airports and Port Tampa Bay. 

More importantly, they can serve more than 11 million people within 100 miles and leverage a workforce of more than 2 million people within 60 miles. That workforce is supported by seven higher-ed institutions that work with businesses to provide needed training.

Site Ready

With high-grade utilities readily available, the sites are perfect for logistics and manufacturing companies, research labs and more. Three of the sites ready for development through the Duke Energy program are: 

• Pebble Ridge Industrial Park, located at the intersection of U.S. 27 and U.S. 98 in Frostproof, spans 478 acres across 47 parcels. The site offers direct rail access via CSX, ample room for expansion, and presents no major barriers to development. 
• Fort Meade Rail-Ready Industrial Site is a 205-acre property along U.S. 17 in southwest Polk County. With direct rail access, strong power infrastructure, and excellent connectivity, it’s ideal for manufacturing and industrial development. 
• The Hunt Brothers Site in Lake Wales offers 505 acres for lease with rail access via Florida Midland Railroad. Currently zoned agricultural, the site’s conceptual plan includes four large industrial buildings (260,000 to 1 million sq. ft.) and eight smaller facilities, making it ideal for scalable industrial development. 

Proactive site‑development research catalyzes investment. It identifies optimal industrial zones, helping to forecast infrastructure needs, and align cross‑county networks (transport, workforce, research), which all strengthen Polk’s economic resilience. 

To learn more about these sites and others available in Polk County, visit the CFDC website or contact us at www.cfdc.org or 863-937-4430. We can help answer questions and point you in the right direction.