Nestled among 88 acres just east of U.S. 98 South in Lakeland, Southeastern University continues to grow in every way — students, faculty, buildings, even sports. And that excites its 15th president, Dr. Kent Ingle. “SEU is becoming a nationally recognized educational institution. We have been listed by The Chronicle of Higher Education as one […]
To say the City of Mulberry is at a crossroads would be wrong: Mulberry is the crossroad, and it’s embracing its position in Polk County and Central Florida. “Our location is ideal — the proximity to State Roads 60 and 37, and 60 going from one end of the state to the other,” said Mulberry […]
In Central Florida, when we think of tourism, we think of LEGOLAND Florida Resort, Disney World, Universal Studios and the like. But sports is a growing market, and Polk County is at the heart of it all, whether it’s baseball, basketball, soccer, water skiing or something new. Sports tourism had an economic impact of $138 […]
With nearly 10 million people within 100 miles of the Polk County/Central Florida region, and roughly 20 million people within 200 miles, there’s no wonder why Polk is known as the logistics hub and THE place to build warehouses and distribution centers. For 60 years, The Ruthvens have been at the forefront of warehousing, and […]
In five short years, Florida Polytechnic University, Florida’s 12th university has grown from a 170-acre field of green grass and palm trees to an international college with 1,424 students who are already making a difference in the world. “We accomplished so much in our first four years, from achieving regional accreditation to graduating our first […]
The George Harris, Jr. Economic Development awards recognize organizations with a positive impact on the economy through job growth or expansion activities. Awarded for excellence in the promotion of free enterprise, community service, economic stability and quality growth. Awards are presented in two categories: Success in Small Business – less than 100 employees Success in […]
Connecting college students with careers in Polk is an important goal for the Central Florida Development Council and Polk Vision — and the main reason behind an upcoming career fair. “All of our schools are very different and we attract different employers, so I think having a countywide fair is the perfect way to expose […]
With more and more people moving to Polk County and Central Florida daily, office space is filling up. The reasons are clear, starting with the need for Realtors to help you find a house; lawyers and title companies to handle that purchase; bankers to secure mortgages; and more. And then there’s the massage therapist to […]
Cities in Polk County Focus on Growth in their Specialty Areas The medical sector continues to build along the corridor surrounding Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center near Haines City, industrial warehouses and aviation are thriving in Lakeland, and Nucor near Frostproof could be a “game-changer.” Whether it’s one of those cities, Winter Haven, Lake […]
Growth equals opportunities, and many of Polk County’s cities are working collaboratively to solve growing problems that exist today or are anticipated in the near future. Roads. Population increases. Jobs. Infrastructure. “Obviously we want to see growth, more people coming here,” said Ashley Cheek, vice president of business development for the Lakeland Economic Development Council. […]