Finalists for the Central Florida Development Council’s Jim Brantley Economic Development Award – Success in Small Business each use their experience to build and maintain relationships to better serve their customers. The winner of the Success in Small Business award will be announced at the CFDC’s annual meeting on September 26th at the SUN ‘n […]
The seven finalists for the Central Florida Development Council’s George W. Harris Jr. Economic Development Award for Success in Large Business showcase the innovative, committed spirit that keeps Polk County thriving. The Success in Large Business Award is named for George Harris. Harris is a former CFDC chairman and president of Citrus and Chemical Bank. […]
Quality staff, student-focused approaches and extensive hands-on experiences. These are the common denominators among the four nursing programs in Polk County whose national licensing exam passing rates are between 90-100%. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that nurses will be high demand for the foreseeable future. The nurse practitioner role ranked #1 in U.S […]
The Central Florida Regional Planning Council (CFRPC) does more than help government entities in the five counties it serves. It also supports residents as it seeks to improve the quality of life for everyone. July 2024, marked the CFRPC 50th anniversary of helping the Heartland of Florida. The Heartland includes the Polk, Hardee, Highlands, Okeechobee […]
Keeping the talent pipeline flowing in Polk County to ensure existing, growing and new businesses have a steady stream of qualified employees to hire is an important component of economic development. The Central Florida Development Council is doing its part to keep the system flowing efficiently. One of its five committees is the Talent Pipeline, […]
As recent college graduates are entering the workforce, they face a market with many jobs the U.S. News & World Report lists as the 100 Best Jobs in 2024. Jobs on this list are generally in demand. They pay well, challenge employees, provide a chance to advance and offer a satisfying work/life balance. All of […]
Having a work/life balance is important to many young professionals who are trying to advance in their careers while still finding time to devote to their families. In Polk County, having a healthy work/life balance is very attainable. Those profiled in the “Build a Balanced Life” video series at www.cfdc.org/life pay homage to this possibility. […]
It’s hard to keep Polk County a secret when the quality of life here stands head and shoulders above many other places. But what does quality of life mean? It’s everything from income and jobs, housing, health, education and public safety to civic engagement, mobility, culture and leisure, and beyond. In other words, it’s where […]
Polk County’s seven colleges and universities recently graduated a combined 2,743 students. The talent pipeline is full of new engineers, health-care professionals, computer scientists and more. Many of the graduates will remain in Polk County to secure jobs, some at businesses where they have completed internships. Many have graduated with STEM-related degrees in science, technology, […]
Polk County is considered the epicenter of logistics in Florida. Located in the center of the state, there is access to two major airports and four more in the county. There are 300 plus miles of rail, three seaports within 90 miles, dozens of major roadways, and available land at affordable prices and more. Longstanding […]