MOVE YOUR BUSINESS FORWARD
Located in the heart of Florida, along the I-4 Corridor between Tampa and Orlando, Polk County is one of the state’s most connected regions and the logical place for logistics, supply chain distribution companies to prosper.
At the epicenter of Florida’s distribution chain, companies in Polk can reach nearly 20 million people with same-day delivery, giving them an advantage over competitors in the growing e-commerce and delivery markets.
Home to the CSX Intermodal Logistics Center
Polk County’s Winter Haven is home to the Intermodal Logistics Center, a key distribution point in the center of the state, served by CSX rail and major highways, including I-4, State Road 60 and U.S. 27. Capable of processing up to 300,000 shipping containers each year, this centralized hub manages transportation, logistics and distribution for Central Florida’s regional markets.
The logistics, supply chain and distribution industries employ more than 700,000 people in the state; jobs in each category are there for those looking for employment in Polk County as companies expand and new firms move in.
Interstate 4 offers easy access to the northern part of the county, as State Road 60 and U.S. Highway 27 do to the south and east, respectively. Port Tampa Bay, an international facility, handles shipping 45 miles to the west, and the CSX Intermodal Logistics Center about 30 minutes southeast in Winter Haven offers rail service. Foreign Trade Zone 79 assists companies along the I-4 corridor to strengthen their international competitiveness in their respective industries.
To complete the picture, there’s access to people. Nearly 20 million people in Florida can be reached within a day, giving companies that locate here an advantage over competitors in the growing e-commerce and delivery markets.
With Fortune 500 companies like Publix, Amazon and Walmart already doing business in Polk County, it’s easy to see why others are following their trail.
Leading Education Programs
Polk State College
Designed specifically to support Central Florida’s rapidly growing logistics industry, Polk State collaborated with leading training providers and component manufacturers to develop and deliver this specialized curriculum. Programs include an Associate of Science in supply chain management and a Transportation & Logistics Specialist college credit certificate.
Florida Polytechnic University
Within its Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics program, Florida Poly offers a logistics and supply chain management concentration. This program gives students hands-on experience in analyzing supply chain efficiency across industries, developing systems integration technology and overcoming obstacles to always meet demand. Students gain skills in statistical analysis, data visualization and modeling.
Florida Southern College
Florida Southern offers a supply chain management graduate certificate. This certificate is designed to address challenges to an organization’s internal supply chain and its external suppliers and customers. The supply chain management course emphasizes the importance of processes and relationships while the operations management course reinforces the functional aspects of managing an organization.
Featured Employers
In the News
RealCold Breaks Ground on 386,000sq ft. Class-A Cold Storage Facility in Central Florida
January 29, 2024
Location, Business Climate, Access to People Propels Polk County in the World of Logistics and Supply Chain
April 24, 2023
Growing Supply Chain Industry is Supported by Local Talent Pipeline
May 9, 2022
Saddle Creek Technology Center is Developing New Logistics Ideas
May 3, 2022
Logistics Contributing to Polk’s Economic Growth
July 26, 2021
New Owners of Intermodal Logistics Center Hope to Spur Growth
May 19, 2021
Supply Chain Management Programs Critical to Polk’s Economy
July 9, 2019
