In the midst of their transitions to online learning, five local institutions of higher learning have found ways to give back to the community it serves. Florida Southern College When news of a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) started hitting the airwaves, professors at Florida Southern College were quick to act on Dr. Brittany […]
Advances in growing and favorable Florida weather offer bright future for citrus season. As growers harvest late-season Valencia oranges, the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture projects a slight decrease in orange and grapefruit production from March: About 70 million boxes for oranges, down 1 million boxes. About 5.2 million boxes […]
When AdventHealth predicted it was going to need additional face shields for members of its medical staff treating coronavirus patients, it turned to Florida Polytechnic University for help. That was three weeks ago. Now, students and staff are using 3D printers to make headbands for 4,000 shields. After working out details like a memorandum of […]
As the world copes with Coronavirus (COVID-19), we are all introduced to new routines and some of us do not like change. Whether that description fits you or not, you’re likely to benefit from a few tips to tend to your mental health during this time of crisis. “A lot of people are really anxious […]
Updated on April 13, 2020 This is not a complete list, lenders will be added as information is available to us. If you are a lender and would like to have your information displayed on this page, please email covid@cfdc.org with your application process. Lender Name PPP Loan Participation Application/ Information Bank of America Yes, […]
Florida’s Division of Emergency Management (DEM) is seeking the assistance of Florida manufacturers and suppliers to fill the needs of Florida’s hospitals and emergency care services during the COVID-19 pandemic, including N95 masks, face shields and gowns. To assist companies willing to consider a shift in production lines in order to fulfill critical needs, the […]
You may think of Duke Energy as just that, an electric company, but Duke’s three pillars — site readiness, business recruitment and economic development — show the company’s reach and willingness to help attract high-skill, high-wage jobs to the six states in which it operates. “We share our electrical expertise with our partners, we respond […]
Collecting 2020 Census data continues despite coronavirus (COVID-19) shut downs across the country, and it may be more important than ever. “Let’s just think about resource allocation right now,” said Kim Long, executive director of Polk Vision, one of the local agencies working to ensure every person in Polk County is counted. She was referring […]
Agriculture has long played a part in Polk County’s history, and with the next generation of farming families taking over, along with new blood entering the realm, it will likely stay that way for decades to come. But agriculture involves so much more than farming. In fact, the Agriculture Council of America (ACA) includes “leaders […]
Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program is currently available to small business owners located in all Florida counties statewide that experienced economic damage as a result of COVID-19. These short-term, interest-free working capital loans are intended to “bridge the gap” between the time a major catastrophe hits and when a business has secured longer-term […]