Advanced manufacturing and the high-skill, high-wage jobs that come with it are finding their way to Polk County, further diversifying the economy and elevating wages. Winter Haven sold 77 acres of surplus land to Florida Can Manufacturing for $3.3 million so the Miami company, which also owns Florida Caribbean Distillers, a manufacturing and distilling company […]
Creating the eighth-largest banking company in the Southeast, the merger of CenterState Bank and South State Bank will allow CenterState, which is headquartered in Winter Haven, to provide more products and services to its clients. “Our merger of equals with South State Bank meant that CenterState Bank was on the forefront in creating one of […]
The three largest energy providers in Polk County agree on one thing: The more advancements that are made in generating and storing solar energy, the more the renewable source will continue to grow. “Solar energy is important; it’s a cleaner source for getting energy,” said Lakeland Electric General Manager Joel Ivy. “But the intermittency of […]
The coronavirus put life on hold for many in the second quarter of 2020, but the City of Lakeland continues to see residential growth in a key part of its city: downtown. Two residential projects are in the works: Broadway Real Estate Services is building a 90-unit apartment complex at Lake Avenue and Lime Street […]
As the population of Polk County continues to grow, Central Florida Health Care is growing with it — with plans to continue well into next year. The non-profit health care organization started in Frostproof in 1972, providing medical services in a clinic staffed with a doctor and a nurse to the agricultural community in rural […]
As Polk County continues to grow, long-time medical providers and more recent additions to the scene agree: Polk County is the hottest spot for health care in Central Florida. “Polk County is poised to be a great health home as we bring more physicians to the area,” said Holly Vida, director of Marketing and Community […]
The once-a-decade Census of every person living in the United States does more than just give us a glimpse at how much we’ve grown. It also has economic impacts that range from how much money local and state governments get from the federal government to services offered to local residents, data that governments and businesses […]
Farmer Jon’s Popcorn is heading south from its Rochester, New York, base, choosing Lakeland as the location for its new manufacturing facility. The company co-owned by Peter Causyn has leased warehouse space from The Ruthvens at 4000 N. Combee Road, choosing it over other locations in surrounding counties. This gives the gourmet popcorn company a […]
The coronavirus pandemic has reached into almost every sector in some way, including ones you might not think about, like garbage. From more residential and less commercial to much more yard waste and junk, Polk County’s two largest public works departments are finding new ways to handle the surge. “Everyone is home purging their stuff […]
With NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center predicting an above-average Atlantic hurricane season — 13 to 19 named storms, of which 6 to 10 could become hurricanes — the agency’s Lakeland-based Hurricane Hunters are preparing for their busiest time of year. “We really do anticipate an active season, and that makes everyone nervous,” said Carl Newman, deputy […]