Business in Winter Haven

Downtown Winter HavenA growing number of companies are learning that Winter Haven is a premier city and great for business. The city has staff dedicated to economic development and community redevelopment and works in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and East Polk Committee of 100 to facilitate business growth and relocation.

Major segments of Winter Haven’s economy include: Tourism, healthcare, retailing, wholesaling and distribution. Citrus, a major agribusiness of Polk County, is processed into juice and other products for distribution worldwide.

Downtown Winter Haven features a growing technology hub and is home to the Inland Data and Fiber Park - a four block area downtown offering safe data storage and emergency back up facilities to both government and corporate clients from throughout Florida and both national and international interests. The area is home to 26 technology companies employing more than 230 people. Its 300,000 square feet of space are expected to grow to 350,000 by 2012 and employment is project to grow to 500 jobs averaged $43 to $69,000.

Key to the growing sector is a University of South Florida Polytechnic affiliated businesses accelerator that assists emerging technology startups. It is housed in the SixTen Plaza pictured on this page.

Evansville Western Railway, an affiliate of CSX Transportation, will build a multi-million-dollar Integrated Logistical Center (ILC) on a site within the community's southern border. On-site employment is projected at 2,000 jobs with the potential for 6,500 more indirectly. The project is estimated to cost more than $10 billion at build out.

Several industrial parks and an excellent transportation network of roads, railways and air travel serve our growing business community. A Wal-Mart regional distribution center, State Farm Insurance and Sherwin-Williams Paint Company have major facilities here. There are a variety of stock brokerage houses ready to provide investment services.

The Central Florida Development Council assists in the creation of quality jobs by attracting new business to the area and by assisting local firms in their expansion efforts. The CFDC has a number of initiatives including Business Development, Communications and Film, International Trade, Small Business Development, Sports Marketing, and the Central Florida Visitors and Convention Bureau.

Central Florida Development Council
2701 Lake Myrtle Park Rd
Auburndale, FL 33823
phone 863.551.4700
cfdc.org
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Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 1420
Winter Haven, FL 33882-1420
phone 863.293.2138
winterhavenfl.com
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