Polk County By Susan Shalhoub Polk County has big plans. Areas like downtown Lakeland have a built-in, cool vibe that can’t be easily formulated — Lake Wales and Winter Haven have an organic character that makes them unique. Paired with strong leadership and economic development, Polk is poised to be unstoppable. PHOTO COURTESY VISIT CENTRAL FLORIDA COURTESY PHOTO FLORIDATREND.COM MAY 2020 41 POLK COUNTY “We have 17 very unique cities and dynamic business leaders, with creative Downtown Winter Haven redevelopment groups that are supported Multifaceted Economy, Location by the city and care about value and Are Polk County’s Strengths profit, not just profit.” A central location along I-4 and focus on innovation, technology and – Mike Herr City Manager, manufacturing create a place to have a real impact. City of Winter Haven Citing its business-friendly climate With its beginnings in a University of and balance of economic growth with South Florida (USF) startup program, the smaller-community character, Sean Malott, company grew in San Francisco, outsourc- president and CEO of the Central Florida ing manufacturing before deciding on Development Council, calls it a great time Lakeland for its research and advanced- to be in Polk County. He and other busi- manufacturing hub. It became official The trade, transportation ness leaders see connectedness, diversity, last year, with the company investing in and utilities industry communication, innovation and location renovation, acquiring a Lakeland address category showed as key in Polk’s upward mobility. The fact and initially hiring 12 people. Polk County’s highest that the county is on the smaller side is an The city offered tax incentives in return percentage of average attribute, he says. annual employment, for high-paying jobs, Malott says. The 25.3%, in 2018. “You can locate in Polk County and job creation effort overall is the result have a community rallying behind you to of a partnership with his organiza- -Florida Legislature help you be successful,” Malott says. “It’s tion, Molekule, USF, Florida Polytechnic Office of Economic and possible to have a real impact here, while University and the Lakeland Economic Demographic Research in a larger metro market, it’s easier to get Development Council. lost.” Cities here and the entities within them Connectivity is what makes the differ- work together. Top employers — such ence, Malott says, especially connections as Publix Super Markets between businesses and higher educa- (12,500 employees), tion, yielding workforce strength. With Walmart (4,250), Lowe’s some seven higher education institutions (1,056), Amazon (900+), producing world-class graduates, compa- Rooms To Go (800) and nies are looking to put those graduates to Advance Auto Parts (615) work here, he says. — have distribution/ warehousing operations As a result of these partnerships, every- in Polk County. one benefits. -Central Florida Companies welcome Development Council Malott gives innovative air-filtration system maker Molekule as an example of Citizens Bank & Trust, founded in 1920, helped connectedness. develop the area around Frostproof. 42 MAY 2020 POLK COUNTY / FLORIDA TREND CUSTOM CONTENT Polk County is a distribution hub. A Central Florida Innovation District is planned. Agriculture remains an economic driver. 25% #1 #8 26% EMPLOYED: TRADE FASTEST GROWING MANUFACTURING JOBS EMPLOYED: TRANSPORTATION METRO AREA (LAKELAND/WINTER HAVEN) AGRICULTURE UTILITY (LAKELAND/WINTER HAVEN, 2018) Diversified markets SUMTER CO. Orlando Orlando Greg Littleton is president and International LAKE CO. Airport CEO of Citizens Bank & Trust, which Kissimmee ORANGE CO. has made Polk County its home for N Gateway Airport Kissimmee OSCEOLA CO. 100 years. Active in various eco- nomic-development efforts, he sees Polk City Davenport great opportunity in the county’s PASCO CO. 4 diverse industries — especially for Haines City POLK CO. an area long dependent on citrus, Tampa Auburndale International Lakeland phosphate and tourism. Airport Winter 570 Haven “I don’t think anyone realized the Tampa Lakeland Linder International Airport Lake Wales potential,” he says. Florida’s Turnpike HILLSBOROUGH CO. 60 Littleton calls steel producer Bartow Nucor’s investment in Frostproof — 27 a $240-million micro-mill to recycle POLK CO. River Ranch 75 scrap metal — “a huge win for our Fort Meade Frostproof side of the county and city.” Streamsong He also points to SunTrax, MANATEE CO. HARDEE CO. HIGHLANDS CO. MAP TERESANNE COSSETTA RUSSELL COSSETTA MAP TERESANNE Auburndale’s under-development test facility for innovative trans- portation, led by the state’s Bobby Green sees its location as part Green also points to the Polk Department of Transportation and of Polk’s appeal. He notes that in Cooperative Water District as an exam- Turnpike Enterprise, as an example of the late 1800s, when South Florida ple of cities working together as they Polk County looking ahead to markets Railroad came through Polk County, head into the future. The cooperative of the future. the area held advantages because of has identified water-supply projects The Central Florida Development where it was placed. It’s an asset that and has moved forward together in Council is planning an innovation remains. addressing needs. district near Florida Polytechnic With Polk “smack dab in the middle Another example of a united front, University to recruit tech companies to of the state, between the Atlantic the cooperative makes it a great place the area with residential, business and and the Gulf, between Tampa and to locate a business and a great place research opportunities. Orlando, which are two of the best to live. airports in the world,” he says, “it’s Polk has innate economic value, as “If it is good for one of our cities, just right for companies needing well. it’s likely good for Polk County,” he quick delivery. It makes sense, then, says. “And if it’s good for Polk County, that Amazon and Publix have located Location logistics it’s good for all our cities.” Longtime Auburndale City Manager here.” FLORIDATREND.COM MAY 2020 43 POLK COUNTY Restored historic downtown Winter Haven is home to galleries, restaurants, shopping, “Polk County is the the musical venue Derry Down, historic Ritz Theatre and Theatre Winter Haven. best place for business in good times and difficult times. Our Downtown Revitalizations Focus cities are resilient and on Third Spaces work tirelessly to see Lakeland and Winter Haven are among those in Polk County businesses achieve their goals and be investing in their downtowns. supportive when they Leaders realize that for cities to be suc- Catapult Lakeland, meanwhile, is a cessful, they need more than just offices downtown co-working facility on Lake are struggling.” and schools. People need places where Mirror. Having recently relocated and – Lindsay B. they can dine, walk and shop. These “third tripled in size, its 38,000-square-foot, Zimmerman spaces” maximize a community’s environ- state-of-the-art space includes a com- VP of Investor ment and enrich the lives of those who missary kitchen for food startups and a Relations & Marketing, call it home. manufacturing area. Central Florida Lakeland Community & Economic “They can grow their business without Development Council Development Director Nicole Travis — who initially having to invest in equipment and was responsible for streamlining city per- infrastructure,” says Christina Graham, mitting procedures by soliciting feedback executive director of Catapult Lakeland. from local engineers, builders and contrac- “One of our goals is that entrepreneurs tors — says the focus is a serious one. use this as a starting space and launching pad — and that they move out, hire and “Our downtown is expanding,” she says, occupy space here in Lakeland.” adding that municipal leaders know the importance of working together to leverage strengths for third spaces and other initiatives. Travis mentions Lakeland’s parks and the Lake Mirror prom- Downtown Winter enade, with its wildlife, sculp- Haven won the ture and Hollis Garden within, 2019 Great Places for example. in Florida People’s Choice Award from The Joinery offers retail and the Florida Chapter restaurant options. Munn Park of the American hosts events like food-truck ral- Planning Association. lies and car shows, with activities like open-mike sessions at Swan - American Planning Brewing. Association Swan Brewing in Lakeland features 30 taps. 44 MAY 2020 POLK COUNTY / FLORIDA TREND CUSTOM CONTENT FLORIDAPOLY.EDU CYBERSECURITY THAT PROTECTS YOUR PRIVACY Academic, research, and internships go hand-in-hand at Florida Poly. Our alumni are turning internships into jobs at prestigious organizations across Florida. Computer Science alum Travis Hills ’19 interned at Saddle Creek Logistics Services and is now an information security analyst for the Lakeland company. His education in cybersecurity and on the job training equipped him for his role protecting the data of many of the company’s top brands, and their customers. Saddle Creek provides supply chain solutions for companies such as Rack Room Shoes, Tony Robbins, and Ipsy. Our alumni are making the world a better place. |floridapoly.edu| POLK COUNTY Redevelopment is underway in historic downtown Lakeland along Massachusetts Avenue. PARKING GARAGE AND OFFICE | 01.24.2020 Street View from N. Mass. Ave. LIC: AAC001580 Ashley Cheek, vice president of busi- over 40% of ticket holders travel into the ness development for private nonprofit county to catch a show, she says. Lakeland Economic Development Council Part of the national Main Street (LEDC), says Catapult has set the stage for program, Main Street Winter Haven bases downtown revitalization. downtown efforts on historic relevance. “We’ve learned to be scrappy because Another example: Its tours of archi- we haven’t had a lot of money here. tecture by Gene Leedy, a founder of the We’ve had to be nimble to recalibrate. Sarasota School of Architecture design We’re accustomed to having tough style. A Winter Haven resident, the major- conversations,” says Kim Long, executive ity of Leedy’s structures are here.