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Aviation

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Polk County, Florida: Where Innovation Propels Economic Growth

The Polk County Technology Region boasts numerous aviation assets, and our community is at the center of the Florida High Tech Corridor, where businesses located here enjoy easy access to Tampa and Orlando International airports. Polk County offers comapnies a large, well-trained labor force supported by 10 colleges, universities and technical schools. Some of the reasons we are Florida’s best venue for aviation performance and profitability include:

  • Within a 100-mile radius reside 8.6 million people and a workforce of 3.4 million
  • Located at the center of the Florida High Tech Corridor with three major research universities and the state’s only polytechnic university
  • Polk County businesses have easy access to two of the best airports in the world – Orlando International Airport and Tampa International Airport
  • Combined, these airports serve 55 million passengers annually with 1,300 daily flights to all major US markets and 25 international markets
  • Home of the Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In, the Florida Air Museum and the Central Florida Aerospace Academy
  • More than 100 companies, employing 15,000 persons, perform aviation services at four general aviation airports
  • Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, two runways: 8,500 feet and 5,000 feet
  • Bartow Municipal Airport and Industrial Park, three runways: two 5,000 feet and one 4,400 feet; and rail access
  • Winter Haven Municipal Airport at Gilbert Field, two runways: 5,000 feet and 3,999 feet
  • Lake Wales Municipal Airport, two runways, each 3,999 feet; and rail access
  • Companies in Polk County have the option of shipping goods from the nearby deep-water ports of Tampa, Manatee and Canaveral
  • Designated home of the CSX Railroad Integrated Logistics Center on 1,250 acres of industrial land in Polk County to serve the container needs of businesses throughout the United States
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