One contract between two companies that operate worldwide has spurred a huge investment in Bartow, a boon for Polk County and the county seat. Peace River Citrus Products started work in June 2020 on a $98 million expansion at its Bartow processing plant, said Rob Clancey, president of the Bartow Economic Development Council. The expansion […]
Clients come first at the newly formed Cyndeo Wealth Partners. Matt Kilgroe said he had worked in the “wirehouse” world, national brokerage firms that include UBS, for almost 30 years when a combination of “pushes and pulls” made the team want to leave and start Cyndeo Wealth Partners in St. Petersburg in June 2020. Cyndeo […]
Like everyone, Citrus Connection has been adjusting to COVID-19, changing its service to adhere to strict guidelines and even handing out 30,000 masks at its Lakeland and Winter Haven terminals. Even though it has had to reduce service when the virus surged, it’s planning its expansion. The county’s mass transit system rolled out four initiatives […]
Two people involved in economic development in Central Florida are leading the state’s premier membership organization for economic development professionals as it navigates the post-pandemic world and fights to restore the state’s Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund program. Marc Hoenstine, director of economic development for Duke Energy Florida, was elected chair of the Florida Economic […]
As cities continue to reopen in the wake of the coronavirus, work that had been put on hold is restarting — to the delight of everyone involved. Businessman Wesley Beck says developing downtown is great for the community. “Walkability is important. It’s a lifestyle to come to work, park your car, see your lawyer and […]
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 […]