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Central Florida Cluster Study

 

Download the Economic Retrospective of Polk County

Download the Executive Summary

Download the Industry Cluster Analysis

 

“Unless you know your game’s feeding, sleeping and daily habits, unless you plan your hunt in great detail and follow your plan with precision, you are not hunting at all … you’re just walking in the woods.”

- Howard Hill, Legendary Archer

 

Polk County and Central Florida have witnessed significant economic and demographic shifts over the last two decades. Following a series of adverse developments, including a downturn in the phosphate industry, several citrus crop freezes, and the closure of teh Piper Aircraft manufacturing facility in Lakeland, Polk County has undertaken a series of initiatives to diversify its economic base. In recent years, the county has experienced a shift in employment toward higher-skilled and higher-wage industries, while migrating away from traditional sectors, such as agriculture and natural resources. Simultaneously, the county has seen continued population growth, steady growth in business establishments, and a significant drop in unemployment over the long term.

In support of its efforts for continued industry diversification and sustained economic growth, the Central Florida Development Council (CFDC), a public-private partnership charged with improving the county’s economic performance and prospects, contracted SRI International to conduct this research assignment to provide a foundation of information and analysis upon which to build sustainable cluster development strategies. Accordingly, this report presents detailed data regarding Polk County’s industry clusters, with comparisons to the regional economy encompassing Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, and Orange counties. The report also presents analysis aimed at identifying potential target clusters for competitiveness, enhancement and investment promotion activities. This analysis of potential target clusters considers economic synergies and competition at the regional, national, and/or global levels, as well as the importance of adopting an international perspective to assess the viability of economic activities in today’s interconnected world.

In the Industry Cluster Analysis of Polk County (below), Section I summarizes key findings and recommendations derived from SRI’s research and analysis. Section II provides an overview of the industry clusters that comprise the economy in Polk County and its surrounding counties, along with a discussion of key regional assets supporting cluster development initiatives and potential challenges for economic development efforts. Section III provides in-depth analysis of seven potential target clusters for Polk County to consider for initial cluster development strategies.

The CFDC would like to thank its sponsors for their support!

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Tampa Bay Partnershippsc logo 

 

University of South FloridaCentral Florida Regional Planning CouncilFlorida High Tech Corridor

Testimonials
"The county's business environment and the ongoing support of the CFDC have helped us achieve [our] goal for many years and we look forward to our continued partnership."
- Charles Matthews, VP Operations, Florida's Natural Growers
"We initially targeted Polk County because of its obvious logistical advantages, but we were immediately impressed by the tremendous support and cooperation we received from the CFDC. A building can be built anywhere, but what makes a project...successful is a cooperative relationship with community leaders and the availability of a dedicated and reliable workforce."
- David Behm, VP, Aldi Inc.
"From a personal and business perspective, being new to Polk County has been a very positive experience. We are excited to live and work in Polk County and look forward to what the future has to bring in terms of growth and opportunities."
- Stacy Hackworth, Facility Manager, Ferguson
"We found the economic development atmosphere and support from Polk County to be a true asset in our decision to locate our new, state-of-the-art facility in Lakeland. When you are building the most advanced manufacturing facility your industry has ever seen, you have to have confidence in the long-term commitment of the community. We found just that in Polk County and are pleased to be one of their newest business neighbors and partners."
- Ross Dalton, President, GTECH Printing Corporation
"In 1962, State Farm opened its doors in Winter Haven, which is now our Florida headquarters. We are so proud to be a part of this great Polk County community. Polk County provides State Farm with a workforce that brings diverse talents and experiences to provide the quality service our State Farm customers expect and deserve."
- Jim Thompson, Sr. Vice President, State Farm Insurance