News

Former CFDC Chairs Offer Advice for Leaders of Tomorrow

September 25, 2020 News

As the leaders of tomorrow tackle new technology, working remotely, a changing economic landscape and other challenges, the faces of yesterday offer their advice from lessons they learned as those leading the charge. “By working together, we can accomplish great things that benefit our entire community,” said Greg Littleton, president of Citizens Bank & Trust. […]

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Now Is the Time to Be Counted: Census 2020 Nearing the End

September 24, 2020 News

With only a week — or five — left to count as many people as possible living in the United States, those involved in the 2020 Census are making the final push. No one knows yet whether counting will end Sept. 30, as President Trump wants, or whether federal judges across the nation will reinstate […]

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Reflections from Past CFDC Leadership

September 24, 2020 News

When past board chairs of the Central Florida Development Council convene, it’s easy to see why the county has come so far from the days of the East/West divide. “They actually asked each other for help often as they worked with the county and the cities to make things better, and that’s how a couple […]

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Florida Southern College Ranks in Four Categories

September 21, 2020 News, Talent Pipeline

Florida Southern College continues ranking in the top echelon of colleges and universities across the South, posting three Top 10 places and one top 20 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 “Best Colleges Guide.” “Florida Southern is consistently ranked among the most elite colleges and universities, and this year’s multiple top 10 U.S. News […]

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Florida Poly Breaks Top 75 on U.S. News List

September 21, 2020 News, Talent Pipeline

Florida’s only STEM-focused state university has landed on U.S. News & World Report’s Best Engineering Colleges Without a Ph.D. list for the first time, ranking No. 72 out of 220 schools across the nation. In its sixth year, Florida Polytechnic University is the only undergraduate engineering program in the state to appear in this category, […]

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The Health of Polk: Mental Health

September 18, 2020 News

Behavioral health, including mental illness and substance abuse, is the number one health concern in Polk County, according to the 2020 Community Health Assessment (CHA). Within that broad category, suicides, lack of mental health providers, and drug and alcohol abuse were identified as top concerns to be addressed to improve the health of Polk County. […]

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The Health of Polk

September 17, 2020 News

Mental health, access to health services, nutrition and exercise, and deaths of people walking and riding their bicycles continue as some of the top concerns for residents in Polk County, according to the 2020 Community Health Assessment (CHA) completed in May. The county Health Department and its partners gathered and analyzed data to determine which […]

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Careersource Using Cares Money to Help People Affected by the Pandemic

September 14, 2020 News, Talent Pipeline

CareerSource Polk is using a $2.5 million grant from the Polk County Board of County Commissioners to help put people back to work during the pandemic. The money is part of $126 million the county received as part of the federal government’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grant. The county used some […]

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CareerSource Polk Offers Training and Internships to Area Youth

September 8, 2020 News, Talent Pipeline

CareerSource Polk, which oversees the state and federal funds dedicated to preparing and upgrading a skilled workforce, is working with young people ages 16 to 24, introducing them to the workplace and preparing them to become the leaders of tomorrow. Whether they want to earn their GED, start working or nab their first internship, students […]

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CFDC Announces Move Into New Office

September 8, 2020 News

As Polk County continues to grow, the Central Florida Development Council is excited to announce its move into an office building being renovated by SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate, a commercial real estate brokerage firm that is expanding. The main building at 1723 U.S. 98 S., adjacent to the Grove Park Publix Shopping […]

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