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Polk to See Manufacturing Facility, Solar Array

Friday, November 13, 2009

BARTOW – Polk County will be getting more jobs and could become a leader in renewable and solar energies in the state of Florida.

A concrete company run by Metromont Corporation has already broken ground on an 82-acre site south of Bartow and is proceeding with the construction of a brand-new, 50,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. The facility will manufacture structural pre-cast/pre-stressed concrete products and is expected to open by early next year.

This will create 100 new jobs in the county and the manufacturing company will be looking to hire across the board from engineers to laborers.

The original site for the manufacturing company was in Haines City, but the company decided to move the site to Bartow according to Rodney Carson, who is the economic development director for the Central Florida Development Council.

“This project has been going on for a while,” Carson said. “The process can be as quick as six months or some can take up to 24 months before construction begins.”

The integration of Metromont Corporation into Polk County is projected to generate between $6 and $8 million in capital investment.

While President Barack Obama visited Arcadia to promote solar energy, CFDC staff members met with a Florida-based independent power developer seeking assistance with a large-scale solar power project in Bartow as well. If the project can get approval of a Power Purchase Agreement with Tampa Electric Company from the Public Service Commission, the developer is looking to build a solar array that will provide 25 megawatts of renewable energy for residential and commercial use.

“Adding 25 megawatts of renewable energy makes Florida a leader not a follower in solar energy,” Carson said. “I’ve said that Polk County should be a leader and not lagging behind. Getting this project definitely would make us a leader.”

If the project proceeds according to schedule, construction should begin in the fall of 2010 and is expected to be complete in 12-14 months. Capital costs for this renewable energy project are estimated at $130 to $140 million. USF Polytechnic is also working on the development of algae and a plant called jatropha for biodiesel use, but it’s unconfirmed how far along that process is.

For more information, contact Charles Gonzales at the News Chief.

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