In Polk County’s Lakeland-Winter Haven MSA, among the fastest-growing jobs are post-secondary teachers, chemical equipment operators, family general practitioner doctors, medical care aides, and chefs, according to CommercialCafe and the Tampa Bay Business Journal. It should come as no surprise that these jobs are in demand, here’s why: POST-SECONDARY TEACHERS The number of college-level teachers […]
With cooperation from three landowners and input from residents, the City of Auburndale is creating a Lakes District to preserve its rural heritage, create community focal points and protect its pedestrians and bicyclists. The result could meld nicely with the Central Florida Innovation District to attract researchers, entrepreneurs and businesses to a growing high-tech area in […]
Have you ever wondered why Polk County and its cities come up on so many “best” lists, whether it’s the best place to retire, start a business, attend college or the like? We asked six leaders in different fields why they love living and working in Polk, here’s what we found out. Crown Jewels “I […]
The Central Florida Development Council hosted an informational preview event on Monday to continue the process of outlining a vision for the Central Florida Innovation District (CFID) and seek feedback. Community leaders, CFDC investors, area landowners and the public were invited to the meeting at Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland. The goal of the meeting […]
Despite the language barrier, a new school and an unfamiliar culture one Polk graduate is now excelling at a Polk institution of higher learning hoping to pursue a career in medicine. Jessica Echevarria moved to the United States from Cuba when she was seven, knowing only how to say “Yes,” “No” and a few other […]
Local Jenkins High School Graduate Pursues Love for STEM at Florida Polytechnic University. At age 19, Elise Araiza already knows she wants to be a mechanical engineer. The Florida Polytechnic University student is majoring in that, with a concentration in nanotechnology, cementing her love for science and math that developed at George Jenkins High School […]
Middle and high school students now have one more tool to help them prepare for college or careers, thanks to a collaborative effort led by Polk Vision. “Be The Future Be U is two things: It is a collection of resources and it is a community of engaged students focused on preparing for their future,” […]
At a little over a year old, the Advanced Mobility Institute at Florida Polytechnic University is garnering attention, partnerships and money that will further its work on autonomous vehicles and its role in the Central Florida Innovation District. The National Science Foundation recently awarded the AMI a $350,000 grant for equipment. “NSF grants are very […]
One man was so well-respected, so instrumental, so admired when the county began emulating the state Department of Commerce’s initiatives nearly 35 years ago that the Central Florida Development Council has named its small-business award in his honor. Addressing Jim Brantley, the first director of the agency that has since been renamed the Central Florida […]
The Lunz Group and Draken International are the winners of the Central Florida Development Council’s 2019 Success in Business — Economic Development awards, the highest honors the agency awards yearly. The Lunz Group won the 2019 Jim Brantley Economic Development Award – Success in Small Business, while Draken — the 18th fastest-growing private company in […]