National Logistics Day Highlights Polk County’s Supply Chain Industry
Since it was started six years ago by Logistics Plus, National Logistics Day has played an important role in showing appreciation for those who keep the national and global economies moving.
Now observed annually on June 28, the day shows appreciation for those in the all-important logistics industry. Estimates show more than 9 million people work in the logistics industry in the United States. This includes more than 20,000 employed in the Logistics & Distribution category in Polk County, according to JobsEq – Chmura Economics.
The industry’s revenue was estimated to be $212 billion nationwide in 2022. And, it’s grown faster than the national economy since then; expenses are estimated at more than $1.5 trillion.
Logistics includes everything from planning the flow of goods and resources (procurement and warehousing) to executing that plan (transportation and distribution), ensuring products reach customers at the right time, place and in the desired condition.
Logistics in Polk County
The industry plays an important role here in Polk County. Our central location, in the heart of one of the fastest-growing states, offers a place where companies can reach 11 million people within a 100-mile radius and 20 million people with same-day delivery.
They can do that in many ways. Polk County is blessed with more than 300 miles of railway, one international airport and three regional ones, and thousands of miles of road, offering companies easy access to transport and deliver goods. It also can access international airports in Tampa and Orlando, and three seaports within 75 miles.
“With $1.4 billion in GDP (gross domestic product) produced for Polk County in 2023, I’d say the Logistics & Distribution industry has a significant impact on our county,” said Alex Price, Director of Business Development for the Central Florida Development Council. “Polk County is not defined by just the number of trucks on the road. Polk County is now a multi-modal Logistics & Distribution hub. This industry is growing. It’s allowing the citizens of Polk County to have a better life in and out of work.”
Air Service
Since Amazon Air arrived in Polk County in June 2020, it continues to see growing activity at three regional hubs, including Lakeland. It also operates three warehouse and fulfillment centers in Lakeland and Davenport.
Amazon Air has helped put Lakeland Linder International Airport on the map in terms of cargo. The airport (LAL) recently passed Tampa International Airport in the state ranking for cargo flowing through 10 airports, landing at No. 3 behind Miami and Orlando international airports.
Lakeland Linder’s location on Interstate 4 between Tampa and Orlando has aided Amazon Air’s growth. It is just one sign of the health of Polk County’s largest airport, which has an economic impact of more than $1.4 billion, supporting more than 8,300 jobs and $410 million in payroll.
“There’s no doubt that Polk County has been a logistics hub for the better part of 15 years. It is perceived as a premier location across the entire Southeast United States,” Price said. “The addition of Amazon Air further defines and diversifies Polk’s economy. Not only can product move on our roads, but it can also move above Polk County — think 30,000 feet.
“Polk is in a position to welcome the newer technology of logistics and use additional industries, like aerospace and aviation, to fulfill the needs of business,” he said.
Rail Service
Companies can also look to rail to move that product. CSX and Florida Midland Railroad operate some of the more than 330 miles of mainline track in Polk County. They serve companies like Coca Cola in the CSX Intermodal Logistics Center in Winter Haven and Lowe’s Home Improvement at the Frostproof Business Park.
The Winter Haven intermodal site can process up to 300,000 shipping containers annually. It is a key distribution point in the center of the state served by CSX rail, making it possibly the only one in the state with such access.
“The CSX Intermodal Logistics Center assists companies locally by speed to market and the reach of new markets,” Price said. “With the ability to move product very quickly and uninterrupted, businesses locally can use this facility to connect with the rest of the world. With that access, the sky is the limit for companies in Polk County.”
It also serves another role.
“It is a vital part of recruiting companies to Polk County,” Price said. “Speed to market is most often the No. 1 need of a business. Having a facility like CSX allows Polk County to be at the top of the site selection list.”
In Frostproof, Midland Railroad provides rail service to the 225-acre Frostproof Business Park at Scenic Highway & T.S. Wilson Road. The business park also offers heavy power, water and gas infrastructure; a talented labor pool; and a strategic location for businesses looking to locate in Central Florida.
Polk also offers other sites:
- Haines City Industrial Park offers direct CSX rail linkages.
- Several properties in Mulberry front or are located near CSX rail.
- A large industrial zoned rail ready site within Fort Meade.
Jobs Land Here
Companies that locate their logistics businesses here often invest heavily and bring in high-paying jobs. This investment increases the tax base, helping local governments provide services from police and fire to recreation and health. They also hire people who contribute to the local economy, whether it’s taking clothes to the dry cleaners, having cars fixed at the local mechanic or eating at nearby restaurants.
For instance:
- Coke Florida employs 200 people at its 407,000-square-foot warehouse in the Winter Haven logistics facility and could hire up to 100 more.
- Lowe’s employs 35 people at its flatbed distribution center at the Frostproof Business Park.
Logistics has been a crucial industry in Polk County for decades. It will continue to move the local economy forward for many years to come.
