As more companies move to or expand in Polk County, it’s creating more jobs, attracting new employees and generating the need for additional housing. All that’s making the county a hotbed for residential and multi-family construction, led by the two largest cities, Lakeland and Winter Haven. Nicole Travis, deputy city manager for Lakeland, named two […]
Residents continue moving to Polk County from across the country and around the world, pushing our population to about three-quarters of a million people. But just where are they coming from? The New York Times reports that people are leaving the largest urban areas like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago and heading to counties […]
Planning for an emergency situation is never easy: You might not have any idea what the emergency will entail or be able to find the time to work on one. But it’s a critical cog to keep your business running when the unexpected happens. If we could look back on 2020 with 20/20 hindsight, we […]
When Jacqueline Byrd became superintendent of Polk County schools in February 2016, her goal was to unite the county around educational excellence and ensure every student, teacher and administrator was committed to the long-term vision. As she prepares for her last day in the office on June 18, Byrd reflects on how far the district […]
“Summer’s coming and so are more people,” says Garrett Kenny, owner of Balmoral Resort Florida in Haines City. “As more people started getting vaccinated in the second quarter of 2021, we saw an increase in vacation interest,” said Kenny, CEO of the Feltrim Group, which built the $110 million Balmoral Resort, a 115-acre vacation home […]
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and this year, Peace River Center is focusing on eliminating the stigma associated with mental illness so everyone knows it’s okay to seek help. To tackle the issue, Peace River is kicking off a yearlong community campaign that encourages people to talk about mental health issues, seek treatments and […]
By Emily Rogers, Emily Rogers Consulting + Coaching The workplace is rapidly evolving and for most organizations, work will never look the same as it did before COVID-19. Organizations around the globe are determining what their workplaces of the future will look like in the new normal and there is a vast spectrum of approaches […]
As manufacturing, distribution and logistics companies continue to move into and expand in Polk County, one prime piece of land — the Central Florida Intermodal Logistics Center (ILC) in Winter Haven — is under new ownership, likely signaling future growth there. The Tampa Bay Business Journal (TBBJ) reported the sale, valued between $15 million and […]
The continued growth of airport-related industries, extensive expansion by existing companies and steady management have Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL) providing an economic impact of $1.5 billion, nearly triple the number from two years ago. “Lakeland Linder International Airport has more than proven its worth for the $500 million invested over the past decade,” said […]
Sitting along scenic Lake Alfred, a stone’s throw from Tampa and Orlando, the beautiful and historic Adams Estate offers a setting to hold everything from weddings and family reunions to business retreats and meetings. About six years ago, brothers Bud, John and Max Strang and their sister, Eve Bass, decided to turn their maternal grandmother’s […]