As the Central Florida Development Council looks forward to 2021 focused on a recovering economy, it also reflects on the accomplishments from a year dominated by the coronavirus. “We foresee a future where the hub for high-tech employers may be in Polk County’s Central Florida Innovation District, capitalizing on the business-friendly location centrally positioned between […]
Through its Site Readiness program, Duke Energy is working to spur growth in the southeast region of Polk County. Having prepared the Frostproof Business Park, owned by Ben Hill Griffin Inc., for sale, Duke, along with the Central Florida Development Council, the city of Frostproof, Florida Midland Rail and the landowner will begin marketing it […]
CareerSource Polk is hosting a Veterans & Community Virtual Job Fair from 9 am to noon on Thursday, November 19 to connect job seekers with more than 25 companies that are eager to hire Polk County residents. CareerSource Polk, which oversees the state and federal funds dedicated to preparing and upgrading a skilled workforce, has […]
Students entering grades 6 through 10 in the 2021 – 2022 school year have the opportunity to begin thinking about their future now, especially if they want to attend a specialized school or career academy. Open enrollment for both runs from Nov. 10 through Jan. 12. Thirty of the county’s career academies have been recognized […]
Grindley Williams Engineering is celebrating its five-year anniversary in style, moving into a new building to accommodate its growing number of employees now serving five southern states. The company’s new office at 4175 S. Pipkin Road, Suite 210, in Lakeland was designed by The Lunz Group and incorporates the space Grindley Williams Engineering (GWE) has […]
Lakeland’s new city manager, Shawn Sherrouse already knows what he wants to focus on first: engagement with customers and citizens. “I want to develop a platform that likely will be web-based where our citizens and customers can go to offer suggestions. If they’re receiving service in a way that they’re not happy with, or if […]
The Lakeland Mayor’s Council on the Arts has been busy, handing out nearly a quarter of a million dollars in grants and unveiling a new website. The arts are a critical component in every community, enhancing residents’ experiences and helping attract newcomers to the area. In Polk County, the arts provide an economic impact of […]
Florida Polytechnic University, the state’s only public university dedicated to STEM, is on a roll, ranking high in the state in one of WalletHub’s lists, working with the military to solve problems and gaining accreditation for its police work. The state’s newest university, Florida Poly offers degrees in science, technology, engineering and math fields, leading […]
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, FHS and Polk Public Schools Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd walked away with top honors at the Central Florida Development Council’s annual meeting on October 15. Southern Glazer’s won the George W. Harris Jr. Economic Development Award for Success in Large Business. The award, given to companies with at least 100 employees, […]
As the new board chair of the Central Florida Development Council, Dr. Angela Garcia Falconetti plans to keep the county’s economic development organization focused on its strategic initiatives as the country continues battling the coronavirus pandemic. “We have strategic goals that are guiding the CFDC, and I want to make sure we set objectives within […]