Nothing proved the adaptability of Polk County’s higher education institutions quite like 2020. When the coronavirus pandemic moved schools all over the country to close their doors in March, colleges quickly transitioned to online classes and many other changes. As 2021 begins, the presidents of six education institutions in Polk County already have plans in […]
About a year after the first noted COVID-19 case and there is still a lot of research being done on the disease, some of it in Polk’s backyard. Dr. Ajeet Kaushik, assistant professor of chemistry at Florida Polytechnic University, is being featured in the World Health Organization’s database of global literature on the coronavirus, focusing […]
As local residents start receiving their $600 stimulus checks in the second round of pandemic relief money, Polk County prepares for the possibility of more funds while also sharing how it spent its first-round share. The $900 billion relief bill passed in December 2020 is the second-largest federal stimulus package; the largest was the $2 […]
As community leaders began tackling the urgent need for more and better coordinated behavioral and mental health concerns, the coronavirus pandemic has pushed this issue to the forefront even faster and further, it also prompted more people to provide input on the topic in a recent survey. “The number of people seeking new patient appointments […]
With renewed commitment to customers and enough energy to move all projects from idea to fruition, the City of Lake Wales is striking gold on many fronts. “We want to get the word out about the good work we are doing in Lakes Wales,” said James Slaton, an 18-year city employee who worked his way […]
In a year consumed by a pandemic, unrest, the presidential election and myriad other things that easily could have distracted the best of us, our county and city managers kept their collective eyes trained on the future, making progress when they could have been forgiven for just keeping the boat steady. Now, they are looking […]
Polk County’s business-friendly atmosphere, inviting communities, sunny days and quality of life continue to attract new residents, ranking Polk No. 1 in Florida’s net migration – people moving here from other states. Polk County ranked No. 8 in net migration in the country, drawing more than 17,000 people in a year. The county has grown […]
TECO has donated a total of $2 million to support customers affected by the pandemic. To help the community during this unprecedented year, Tampa Electric and TECO Peoples Gas are granting $1 million in bill credits to customers in need. A one-time $85 bill credit will appear on January bills for residential customers who have […]
New York Times best-selling author Austin Kleon will headline Southeastern University’s College of Arts & Media’s virtual Expressions Storytelling Institute and Writers’ Conference in January. “This year, the focus is on the business of being creative, and we tried to find somebody who could touch as many audiences as possible,” said Hannah Benefield, a creative […]
Two new board members are joining the new chair, vice-chair and secretary/treasurer to work with the Central Florida Development Council as it continues its mission to attract new industries to the area and help ones already here grow. Polk State College President Angela Garcia Falconetti became chair of the CFDC’s board of directors at its […]