New Medical Offices On the Way …
Renovations are underway on the former location of Long’s Hallmark Gift Shop. Originally built for use as a savings and loan it was converted for gift shop use as the Winter Haven Mall transitioned to the current Citi Center configuration. The First Street at Avenue G, SE location is being renovated for use as a primary care and urgent care center.
According to Jeetendra K. Issar. M.D., the facility is expected to open in four to six weeks and employ six people.
Main Street Winter Haven has announced that Anita Strang has assumed responsibilities as Executive Director for the 17 year-old organization. Anita has been a Main Street member for the past eight years and has owned and operated two downtown businesses currently operating the Laughing Owl Market.
In remarks at Main Street’s Annual Meeting (held in Winter Haven’s beautiful new downtown parking garage) Strang noted, “I’ve been a new Main Street member, a new Main Street volunteer, a new Main Street Board member and I’ve served as Main Street’s President all of which allows me to appreciate the value of our mission and the impact we can have on our downtown.”
Main Street President Michele Bannon announced Strang’s selection at the May 15 Annual Meeting.
Your friends at LEGOLAND Florida are offering Winter Haven Chamber members, family and friends a sneak preview of their brand new water park! Come ready to swim, slide and splash … or just watch!
$10 per person admission and special parking adjacent to the water park for the preview evening. All the water features will be operating and water park food venue will be open for your convenience at regular park pricing.
Tickets are available in the Chamber Lobby while they last. First come – first served. Special parking pass issued with tickets. Lobby sale hours are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Minimum credit card purchase: $20.
All proceeds from admission sales for this event will benefit the programming of the Winter Haven Chamber Foundation, Inc. Our sincere thanks to LEGOLAND Florida for this special Chamber evening.
Leadership Winter Haven Class 32 held graduation dinner last evening in the Chamber auditorium. Chamber Foundation President, Katie Worthington and Class Chairman Clay McKown conducted the festivities that featured plaque presentations by a variety of past graduates from Class 1 to Class 31.
The City of Winter Haven and the Polk Museum of Art cordially invite you to attend the 7th Annual Central Park Stroll:
Thursday, May 3, 2012
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Central Park
Downtown Winter Haven
Stroll the sculptures, enjoy live music, children’s activities and award presentations. Vote for your favorite sculpture and help determine the winner of this year’s PEOPLES CHOICE AWARD to be announced during the Central Park Stroll.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has approved Winter Haven’s Enterprise Zone designation with an effective date of today — May 1, 2012. The Enterprise Zone represents incentives for any business considering relocation within the Winter Haven Enterprize Zone. The map below shows the boundaries of the zone and and overview of some of the local incentives follows.
City Commitments of Fiscal & Regulatory Incentives
The following information was taken from the City’s application for the Enterprise Zone that was approved today.
Even though the City has significant positive economic drivers, the downturn in the national/state/local economy required the City to broaden its economic development focus and address the need for tax base expansion/diversification and the need for job creation. Notable development projects include:
CSX is proposing the first Integrated Logistics Center in the southeastern United States in Winter Haven, FL. Notable benefits of the ILC:
Total annual payroll of the ILC at build out will be $282 million
1,400 construction jobs to be created
3 million sq. ft. of warehouse space & 1.5 million sq. ft. of industrial use & .5 million of office space over a 10 year build-out
$900 Million in tax revenues over a 10 year period
Merlin Entertainments Group – the world’s second largest attraction company – opened its second U.S. Legoland park on the former Cypress Gardens property. The park will generate over 1,000 full and part-time positions and will see over 2.0 million visitors annually
Downtown Winter Haven features a growing technology hub and is home to the Inland Data and Fiber Park – a four block area 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
In 2011, a partnership between the City and the local business community resulted in the preparation of the Winter Haven Economic Development Action Plan (Plan). The Plan contains the City Commission’s goals related to economic development. Among these goals, the Commission established an economic opportunity goal to “ensure that sufficient workforce talent is available to meet the needs of existing and new businesses.” To attain this goal, a series of sub goals were created. Workforce development, improved communication, education, recruitment and partnerships were among the more common themes referenced in the sub goals.
As the City of Winter Haven increases its commitment and focus on economic development, there becomes a necessary shift within the current internal structure and organizational priorities. Coordinating economic development efforts has traditionally been the role of outside agencies like the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce and the Central Florida Development Council. The Enterprise Zone program will drive the City’s goal of improving its workforce, creating improved job opportunities and meeting its established economic development and revitalization goals.
In certifying this Plan for Winter Haven’s Enterprise Zone, the Winter Haven City Commission has also provided for the following incentives in support of the Zone.
Business Tax Receipt Fees – A 50% reduction of Business Tax Receipt fees for a period of 5 years for all new businesses locating within the nominated area.
Fast Track Permitting, Site Plan Review – Any new business proposing to locate or expand in the nominated area will be tagged and given a priority during the City’s review processes. It is anticipated that this will result in a 30% reduction in review time.
Impact Fee Waivers and Reductions – In 2007, the City created the Core Improvement Area which provides for the waiver of City and County non-utility impact fees for development within the nominated area. Depending on the type of project, this can result in a significant cost savings and represents a considerable incentive to locate in this area. The City will evaluate the merits of this program and will determine if other development related fees can be included in this program.
Development Regulation Waivers – In order to encourage development with the downtown area, certain development regulations have been eliminated for projects within the immediate downtown area. Notable regulations that have been eliminated are the requirement to provide on-site vehicular parking, the requirement to provide on-site storm water ponds, and the requirement to install perimeter landscaping buffering. This allows for a larger percentage of the site to be developed with vertical improvements. The City will evaluate the impacts of extending these waivers into all or a portion of the nominated area.
Incentive Programs – The City Commission has established several incentive programs to encourage the expansion or relocation of businesses to the City’s two CRA areas. The Downtown Incentive Fund program targets businesses primarily engaged in education, communications, research and development, technology, or a corporate headquarters with over 10 full-time employees. The expansion or relocation must result in full-time equivalent positions which pay 125 percent of Polk County’s annual average wage. Incentives include the rebate of certain utility taxes as well as grants to assist with start up costs. The City will evaluate the impact of increasing funding for this program as well as looking for other opportunities to provide financial incentives to encourage business expansion or relocation into the nominated area.
In conjunction with the Agency, and the Winter Haven Economic Development Agency, the City is committed to enacting and maintaining local fiscal and regulatory incentives within the nominated area. These incentives are designed to support the revitalization goals established for the Zone. Furthermore, the City Commission is committed to providing staff and resources necessary to implement and manage the Enterprise Zone program.
The City of Winter Haven joined with Polk State College officials to unveil a newly repainted water tower featuring the Polk State logo. The tower is located at the south entrance to the city and symbolizes the growing partnership between the college and the city. The college, with facilities throughout the county, began with its original campus in Winter Haven. Polk State will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2014. Soar Eagles!
Mayor J. P. Powell and Polk State President Eileen Holden, Ed. D. with the "Polk-tastic" tower looming in the distance.
INTERMODAL TERMINAL PROJECT UPDATE and more …
The Winter Haven area’s long awaited Intermodal Terminal Project will take a big step forward on May 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Chain of Lakes Complex Gymnasium, 210 Cypress Gardens Boulevard. The open house will feature key personnel on hand to provide a project overview, information on job opportunities, business opportunities and other relevant information.
The format will be an open house with specific stations set up for each area, providing attendees with a convenient opportunity to get the information most important to them, in a manner convenient to their schedule.
This is one more exciting step in the economic development opportunities at Winter Haven’s door. The intermodal terminal is a project of Evansville Western Railway, a subsidiary of CSX Transportation.
The event is to be sponsored by Evansville Western Railway, TransDevelopment Group, Polk Works (www.polkworks.org) and the City of Winter Haven (www.mywinterhaven.com).
Additional Information:
Intermodal Facility
The new rail-based intermodal terminal is being constructed on the city’s south side on a 318-acre site west of the CSXT mainline. Previously part of the City of Winter Haven’s wastewater treatment plant, the site will have direct, easy access to State Route 60. Evansville Western Railway will build and own the rail facility. Construction will take about two years.
Economic Development
The new Winter Haven terminal, along with the freight rail improvements made by CSXT, will improve freight movement in the state and enhance Florida’s ability to compete for global trade. Construction of the project is expected to generate hundreds of jobs in Winter Haven and Polk County. Railroad service, related trucking operations, and development of an adjacent light industrial center could generate additional growth and jobs.
Polk Works hiring model
TransDevelopment and its key construction partner Nickolas Savko & Sons, an earthworks and specialty paving company, will work with Polk County-based local workforce development board Polk Works (www.polkworks.org) to identify qualified local suppliers and subcontractors to provide jobs and future supplier opportunities.
Intermodal Terminal Open House
May 3, 2012
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Chain of Lakes Complex Gymnasium
210 Cypress Gardens Boulevard
Main Street Winter Haven hires new Executive Director
Winter Haven, FL – The Board of Directors for Main Street Winter Haven has announced that Suzette Welling has been hired as the organization’s Executive Director.
Winter Haven was named a Florida Main Street City in 1995, and Main Street Winter Haven, Inc. was established to carry out the National Main Street Approach – a successful revitalization strategy used in more than 2,200 cities across the United States.
Main Street’s objective is to improve the image of downtown by facilitating change and growth in four distinct areas: Organization, Promotion, Design and Economic Development. Main Street’s efforts benefit not just downtown businesses, but the entire community, with downtown serving as an anchor necessary for economic growth. A vibrant downtown is shown to attract industrial development, young professionals needed for growing businesses, and tourists to our area, as well as increasing the City’s tax base and bringing more jobs to our City.
The responsibilities of the organization’s Executive Director include working with Corporate Officers and the Board of Directors to set executive policy; manage production and planning for fundraisers and community events; participating in public policy efforts; planning and executing development programs; managing finance and administration; and facilitating all marketing efforts.
Welling’s professional experience is in the management of law firms, most recently as the Chief Operating Officer for Ross Vecchio law firm in Lakeland. In that role she was the director of finance, human resources and marketing / public relations. Working closely in this position with US Congressman Dennis Ross, Suzette had the opportunity to serve the community through many organizations, including Alliance for Independence, Polk Arts Alliance, Achievement Academy, American Cancer Society, Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, and Lakeland Kiwanis. In addition to having experience in marketing and event planning, Suzette brings the strategic planning and financial strengths needed to help the organization successfully grow. Her recent achievements include Tampa Bay Business Journal CFO of the Year for Small Business, 2009; finalist, Women of Distinction Award 2008, National Association of Women Business Owners; and graduate of Leadership Lakeland Class XXVII.
Main Street Winter Haven Members, Sponsors and Benefactors will have the chance to meet Suzette next month at Main Street’s Annual Meeting, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. May 15. It will be held at the Downtown Winter Haven’s new parking garage. For more information, please visit www.mainstreetwinterhaven.com
Wakeboarder silhouetted by the setting sun as the crisp, cool Chain of Lake's spray rises from a speeding towboat.
Photograph by Sean O’Shaughnessy
