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PSC to Kick Off New Agriculture Institute

cfdc — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:45:27 +0000

Organizers of Polk State College’s newest program, the Agriculture Business/Technology Institute, said they hoped it would lead the way in addressing critical industry issues, including the need for greater security in the food chain.

The institute kicks off this week with six one-day classes on water management and agricultural safety. Those are two of three critical areas the institute will focus on during its first year based on recommendations from an advisory panel of local and regional agricultural officials.

The third is homeland security, which will be offered through a series of online courses beginning in the next couple of months, said the institute’s director, Tom Grothouse.

As a former American Airlines manager working in Miami on Sept. 11, 2001, Grothouse experienced the necessity of raising awareness for tighter security measures in agriculture. American owned two of the four airplanes involved in the 9/11 attacks.

“American and United airlines were the only airlines attacked that day, but the entire industry was shut down for 21 days,” he said.

The lesson for agriculture: “It doesn’t matter who gets attacked, the entire industry will suffer.”

The institute is part of the PSC Corporate College, which offers nondegree courses that train workers and managers on important business-related skills. This is the first program in Florida focusing on workforce technical training in agriculture, the state’s second-largest industry, Grothouse said.

Ben Albritton, a member of the institute’s advisory committee, agreed the programs fill unmet needs, particularly i

What we’re finding in agriculture is we have to stay on top of agricultural advances, particularly in food processing and packaging,” said Albritton, a Wauchula grower, former chairman of the Florida Citrus Commission and Republican candidate for Florida House District 66, which covers Hardee and parts of Highlands and Polk. “This is hugely visionary.”

The online security courses will offer training for everyone from management to workers on recognizing and monitoring security risks, Grothouse said. They will deal with businesses along the entire food chain from the farm and ranch through processing/packing companies to the supermarket.

Although the U.S. has avoided a major terrorist attack to its food chain, the fact is a small vial of a lethal chemical, such as the nerve toxin ricin, could be introduced anywhere along the chain, injuring thousands directly and, like 9/11, affecting whole industries, he said.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has identified three foods – juice, water and milk – that are particularly vulnerable, Grothouse said.

The food security training “really fits well in Polk County because it has so many (citrus juice) processing and packing plants,” Albritton noted.

The institute is planning a homeland security summit for Oct. 1 in Winter Haven featuring experts from the federal government, law enforcement and corporate security, Grothouse said.

The advisory panel also recommended the need for more technical training in agricultural safety and water management.

“They’re constant needs, and they’re growing needs,” said Albritton,

The three water management courses this week will deal with water-use permitting, water management and an introduction to a state program call FARMS, or Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems, Grothouse said. The other three classes will deal with occupational safety regulations, equipment safety and respiratory protection for farm workers involved in chemical spraying.

All six cost just $60 per person for about four hours of classroom time. In its first year, the institute hopes to offer more than 20 other similar classes serving more than 300 workers, Grothouse said. It hopes eventually to develop a mobile classroom that can travel the entire state.

“I expect it to be successful,” Albritton said.

[ Kevin Bouffard can be reached at kevin.bouffard@theledger.com or at 863-422-6800. Read more on Florida citrus on his Facebook page, Florida Citrus Witness. ]

Florida No. 1 for Workforce in the Nation

cfdc — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 15:22:45 +0000

CNBC has ranked Florida No. 1 for Workforce in the nation in its fourth annual America’s Top States for Business study.

Florida has received the top ranking for the second time based on several indicators, including the education level of the workforce, the number of available workers, union membership and the relative success of each state’s worker training programs in placing participants in jobs.

To view the CNBC workforce rankings, please visit CNBC.

GOVERNOR CRIST APPLAUDS FLORIDA’S NUMBER ONE WORKFORCE RANKING

cfdc — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 08:26:45 +0000

Governor Charlie Crist, continuing his commitment to strengthening Florida’s workforce and economy, today announced that Florida has been ranked number one in the nation for its workforce by CNBC. The ranking came in CNBC’s fourth annual America’s Top States for Business rankings — a study of all 50 states that examines 10 different categories, including workforce, to measure each state’s ability to attract businesses. Florida moved up from the number three spot in 2009, reclaiming the number-one ranking the state held in 2008.

“The Sunshine State is home to the best talent in the world,” said Governor Crist. “We are committed to creating a highly skilled, innovative workforce across all industry sectors, and we take great pride in the role our workforce plays in driving Florida’s businesses into the 21st century.”

The workforce rankings in CNBC’s annual study are based on several indicators, including the education level of the workforce, the number of available workers, union membership and the relative success of each state’s worker training programs in placing participants in jobs. Workforce Florida Inc., the state’s business-led workforce policy and oversight board largely appointed by Governor Crist, is charged with strengthening Florida’s business climate and helping Floridians enter and advance in the workforce.

“We are committed to providing Floridians and businesses with the tools they need to ensure Florida’s competitiveness in the global marketplace,” said Workforce Florida Chair Belinda Keiser. “To receive the number-one ranking for the second time is a testament to the tenacity of our workforce, and to the excellence of Florida’s programs and collaborative partnerships that ensure we are able to create and sustain highly skilled talent.”

Most employment and training services in Florida are provided at the local level through the state’s 24 regional workforce boards, the backbone of the state workforce system. Key leadership is also provided by the Agency for Workforce Innovation, which is charged with administering workforce services in Florida.

In 2009, Florida’s workforce system provided services including job search, referrals and placement assistance as well as training to more than 1.7 million people.

The workforce ranking is one of the most heavily weighted categories in determining each state’s total score in the CNBC study, along with the cost of doing business and quality of life. This year, Florida placed number 28 in the study’s overall ranking for top business states for the second consecutive year.

Since its 2000 inception, Workforce Florida has developed and directed numerous successful initiatives aimed at addressing the state’s workforce needs. Among them are Quick Response Training (QRT) and Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) grants, which reimburse businesses for a portion of the cost of training employees. Recently, Workforce Florida developed a new, five-year state strategic plan, with statewide input from Florida businesses and the education sector. The plan confronts the challenges of getting Floridians back to work while focusing on the most promising opportunities to diversify our state’s economy by strengthening talent development at every level of Florida’s Talent Supply Chain.

Through the recently launched Microsoft® Elevate America initiative, an innovative public-private partnership, free technology training is available to Floridians for a limited time. Another recent workforce-system initiative, responding to a real-time need confronting the state, is the creation of the Florida Gulf Recovery Jobs web portal at www.floridagulfrecoveryjobs.com. The portal is dedicated to helping Floridians access information about jobs stemming from recovery and cleanup of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

To view the CNBC workforce rankings, go to http://www.cnbc.com/id/37516706..”: To find out about the comprehensive workforce services and resources available in Florida, visit www.EmployFlorida.com.

Thousands Flock to see plans for Winter Haven’s Legoland

cfdc — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:56:04 +0000

WINTER HAVEN — If Thursday’s open house to unveil plans for Legoland Florida was a concert, then Legoland officials were rock stars.

Contractors, job seekers, children and the curious clamored for information about the theme park scheduled to open in fall 2011.

The interest was so high that Winter Haven police officers had to direct traffic to and from the Orange Dome at the Chain of Lakes Complex where Legoland officials offered glimpses of what’s to come. City officials estimated that more than 3,000 people came to the open house.

Ashley Holmes, a 12-year-old from Auburndale, was among those who found the plans creative and entertaining.

“Children see them (Lego building bricks) as fun and a way to express themselves,” Ashley said. “I think all the designs are fun.”

The open house, intended to show how the former Cypress Gardens will be transformed into an interactive theme park, included artist renderings of plans for some attractions.

Lego models, such as the White House with the Obamas standing on the steps, were on display, and stations were set up for people to build their own models.

John Jakobsen, managing director for Legoland Parks, said park officials have been looking for a Florida location for 10 years and Cypress Gardens, between the Orlando and Tampa markets, is the perfect location.

“We’re offering a brand that’s known already and has the ability to draw people from other locations,” he said.

Jakobsen said 1,000 workers will be hired by opening day. So far, 25 people have been hired.

More than 50 rides, shows and attractions will be featured at the park, Jakobsen said. Attractions include the Factory Tour, which shows how Lego bricks are molded and shaped.

Admission prices for the park are still being decided, said Kim Isemann, director of sales and marketing.

John Ussher, Legoland’s general manager of development, received thunderous applause when he said company officials plan to keep the botanical gardens that were an essential element of the old Cypress Gardens.

Merlin Entertainments Group acquired the defunct Cypress Gardens theme park in January. Merlin, the world’s second-largest owner of tourist attractions, currently operates four Legoland parks — three in Europe and one near San Diego.

In addition to the curious, contractors looking for business were hoping to rub shoulders with Legoland officials. Ryan Whitehead, vice president of Everett Whitehead & Son Inc., said his construction business is 3 miles from the theme park.

“I just think everybody is anxious and hoping to get a glimpse of the site plan,” Whitehead said. “It would be good to keep the money local. I think it’s important, especially with today’s financial environment.”

Winter Haven City Manager Dale Smith said he loved seeing the huge turnout.

“It just shows what kind of energy Legoland can inspire for the community,” he said.

Tom Patton, executive director of the Central Florida Development Council, was pleased Legoland is getting the community involved early. “I think it’s outstanding,” he said. “It gives you an idea of what to expect when they officially get here.”

For more information, please visit the St. Petersburg Times.

Florida Sports Hall of Fame Unveiled in Auburndale

cfdc — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:52:29 +0000

AUBURNDALE | At age 49, the Florida Sports Hall of Fame has a new lease on life along with new digs to call home.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Tuesday at the Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing building to unveil the Florida Sports Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame encompasses 2,000-square feet on the first floor of the Sports Marketing building.

The Florida Sports Hall of Fame will officially open to the public on June 29. The Hall of Fame hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, but only when events are going on at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex.

Hank Longo, visitor services manager of Outpost 27, was responsible for setting up the Hall of Fame display. Longo not only handles operations at Outpost 27, an arm of Tourism and Sports Marketing, but was the driving force behind the creation of the Hall of Fame.

“It came out the way I visualized it coming together,” Longo said. “It’s an unbelievable and amazing experience.”

County Commissioners Bob English, Ed Smith and Sam Johnson were in attendance along with city commissioners from Auburndale, Winter Haven and Davenport. English, Smith, Rick Dantzler and Doug Sanders made small speeches during the ceremony. Mark Jackson, director of Tourism and Sports Marketing, led the ceremony.

There were several Hall of Fame members in attendance and recognized including top fuel drag racer Don Garlits, race car drivers Bobby and Donnie Allison and former University of Florida physical education professor Ruth Alexander, a trailblazer for women’s college sports.

A ceremony was held Tuesday night for the induction of the 2010 Hall of Fame class of Lake Wales native and former World Series MVP Pat Borders, Olympic medalist Catie Ball-Condon, sports columnist for the Gainesville Sun Jack Hairston, who will be inducted posthumously, and professional golfer Hubert Green.

Dantzler, president of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, said the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex on Berkley Road was the right destination for the Hall of Fame. A big reason the Hall of Fame didn’t succeed in Lake City was lack of visitor traffic, Dantzler said.

“This is a perfect fit for Lake Myrtle because of the amount of traffic that will come through here for sporting events,” Dantzler said. “What better way to spend a few hours in between games and getting out of the heat than coming in to visit the Florida Sports Hall of Fame.”

Dantzler talked about plans for the Hall of Fame, known as Phase II, which expands the facility 8,000 to 10,000-square feet. Expansion plans for Phase II are expected to happen in three or four years, according to Dantzler.

The Hall of Fame was founded in 1961 by the Florida Sportswriters Association and didn’t have a home until it opened in 1974 at Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven. It remained at Cypress Gardens until 1986 and relocated to Lake City in 1991. Due to a lack of state funding, the Hall of Fame was closed in 2000.

“Two years ago we stood here in an empty field to break ground on the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex,” English said. “This is another dream coming true for Polk County and Lake Myrtle.”

Visitors are greeted at the door of the Hall of Fame with a nine-screen display showing highlights of Hall of Fame members. Garlits donated one of his 44 top fuel drag racing cars, which is on display in the front of the building.

The walls are lined with memorabilia from football helmets and jerseys to baseball bats and golf clubs. There are game jerseys including Miami Dolphins quarterback Bob Griese, Florida running back Emmitt Smith and former Boston Celtics’ great Dave Cowens, who played basketball at Florida State hanging in glass casings.

“This is a great milestone for Polk County to bring the Florida Sports Hall of Fame to Lake Myrtle,” Jackson said.

For more information, please contact Charles Gonzalez at The Ledger.

Bartow High Named 1 of Best in U.S.

cfdc — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:54:09 +0000

BARTOW | For the sixth consecutive year, Bartow High School has been named one of the top schools in the country on Newsweek’s “America’s Best High Schools” list.

Bartow High ranked 168 out of 1,623 schools listed by the magazine. Last year the school ranked 142 of 1,557 schools, its highest ranking ever.

Bartow High also includes an International Baccalaureate program and Summerlin Academy, a military school.

Ed Vetters, principal of the IB program, said student and faculty efforts at both the IB school and Bartow High help the school do well on the list each year.

“We’re constantly pushing to encourage students to take AP exams and do well on them, and that’s one of the major factors in the (Newsweek) indexing,” he said. “We’re proud to be representing Polk County.”

The IB program has helped increase the scores on the Newsweek list in the past because of the method used to rank schools, Newsweek contributing editor Jay Mathews said.

Mathews compiles the school list each year. He divides the total number of International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement and Cambridge tests taken by students at a school each year by the number of graduating seniors. This score becomes a school’s Challenge Index, which is used to rank schools throughout the country.

An IB program often boosts a school’s score each year because the program usually requires students to take IB exams. Only about 70 percent of students enrolled in AP courses take the AP tests nationwide, however, which can lower the scores of schools without IB programs, Mathews said.

Steel Company Ta Chen Heads to Lakeland

cfdc — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:51:45 +0000

LAKELAND | A Taiwanese steel company is relocating its Davenport facility to Lakeland, looking for better highway access.

So what’s the big deal?

If you ask local economic development officials and real estate observers, Ta Chen International’s move to Lakeland could finally spur new development in the area along Interstate 4 and State Road 33.

Officials say Ta Chen’s 140,000-square-foot lease at First Park at Bridgewater will help soak up empty industrial space and possibly allow other projects to move forward.

“Until (First Park) fills up, you’re going to see little or no speculation building along the I-4 corridor in the Tampa and Polk County markets,” said Jim DeGennaro, senior business marketing manager for the Auburndale-based Central Florida Development Council.

“In my opinion, that building has been the bellwether on the I-4 corridor that a lot of brokers have been watching.”

Ta Chen’s lease will leave 260,000 square feet empty at First Park, which has struggled to find tenants in a difficult market the past two years, according to the facility’s leasing agents with Cushman & Wakefield. But as the site fills, other developments are waiting in the wings near I-4 and SR 33.

The area’s previously announced projects include:

Lakeland-based firm The Ruthvens wants to build 3 million square feet of industrial space on 300 acres.

The Rockefeller Group in Miami plans to build 1.2 million square feet of office and industrial space on 113 acres.

Browning Investments of Indianapolis has plans for 1.5 million square feet of industrial space on 104 acres.

Polk State College Launches Agri-Business/Technology Institute

cfdc — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:59:44 +0000

The Corporate College at Polk State College has established an initiative to develop and deliver technical training for Florida’s agricultural industry.

It has formed the Agri Business/Technology Institute with a plan initially to focus on Homeland Security, agricultural safety and water management.

The Institute gives Florida’s agricultural economy an entity it can turn to for specialized training not found at any other institution of higher learning, said Rob Clancey, director of the PSC Corporate College, in a prepared statement. Agriculture is Florida’s No. 2 industry, the release said.

The ABTI is aligned with the Florida Banner Center for Agri-Business, headquartered at the Florida Farm Bureau in Gainesville, and will compliment degree-granting programs in agriculture offered by the University of Florida, Florida Southern College and other schools in the Sunshine State.

ABTI is scheduled to launch in mid July. All areas of study will be tailor made for agriculture industry executives and their employees, including migrant workers, the release said.

When the program begins, ABTI will offer courses at PSC campuses in Winter Haven, Lakeland and Lake Wales, as well as the PSC Corporate College Airside Center campus in Lakeland. Two additional PSC campuses in Bartow and Davenport will be used when they become available, the release said.

One of ABTI’s long-range goals is to introduce a mobile classroom that will enable it to bring its training programs to groves, ranches and farms throughout Polk, Highlands, DeSoto, Hardee, Sarasota, Manatee and other Florida counties where agriculture is a key component of the economy.

For more information, visit the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

Legoland to Have Capital Images

cfdc — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:39:44 +0000

LAKELAND | Casinos are coming to Polk County. Little ones, that is.

And no gambling.

Legoland Florida in Winter Haven will contain replicas of scenes from Las Vegas, as well as Washington, D.C., and other locations, a company executive revealed Thursday afternoon to Lakeland business leaders.

John Ussher, general manager of Merlin Entertainments Group, unveiled new details of the forthcoming theme park during a Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Lakeland Yacht & Country Club.

Legoland Florida is scheduled to open in November of 2011 at the former Cypress Gardens attraction in Winter Haven.

Ussher displayed artists’ renditions of plans for the park, the heart of which will be a “Miniland,” a collection of elaborate models constructed from about 20 million Lego bricks.

Ussher did not release drawings of the proposed park for publication.

Ussher said the Miniland at the Polk County attraction will replicate some elements of the version at Legoland California, including depictions of Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., and California.

The highlight of the local Miniland will be a Florida area shaped as a peninsula surrounded by water.

Ussher said Legoland model-makers plan to incorporate elements from Kennedy Space Center and Daytona Beach, and probably some landmarks from Polk County.

Details on possible local scenes had not been finalized, he said.

The artists’ rendition of the Florida section of Miniland showed miniature boats floating in the water surrounding the peninsula.

England’s Legoland Draws Raves from Polk Commissioners

cfdc — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 13:50:02 +0000

BARTOW | The caption on an image shown at Wednesday morning’s meeting of the Polk County Commission read: “Meet your new boss.”

The slide, part of a presentation from tourism leaders to the commission, depicted a young boy beaming as he stood amid water jets at the Legoland Windsor theme park in England.

The photo was part of a message to commissioners: Children in the 2-through-12 demographic will soon exert considerable economic power in Polk County.

Tourism executives Tom Patton and Mark Jackson briefed commissioners on their May trip to Legoland Windsor, where they met with leaders of Merlin Entertainments Group, the park’s parent company. Merlin, based in Poole, England, plans to open Legoland Florida in the fall at the former Cypress Gardens property in Winter Haven.

Commissioner Bob English was among 44 business and tourism leaders who made the trip.

“This is an organization Tom and I walked away (from) more impressed with after the trip,” said Jackson, Polk County’s director of tourism and sports marketing. “It’s a phenomenal organization with phenomenal resources.”

Jackson and Patton, executive director of the Central Florida Development Council, also visited the Legoland Billund park in Denmark. They described immaculate parks staffed by knowledgeable and dedicated employees, and they spoke of such amenities as free diapers in baby-changing stations.