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Polk County is strategically located in the center of the Florida peninsula, about equal distance from the east and west coast and half way between the Georgia-Florida border and the Southern tip of the peninsula. Polk lies on the Interstate-4 corridor, 25 miles east of Tampa and 35 miles southwest of Orlando. As the geographic center of Florida, it is estimated that more than 7.5 million people reside within a 100 mile radius of Polk County. This is one of the largest concentrations of population in the southeast.

Polk County has emerged as one of Florida?s leading office, manufacturing and distribution centers do to it's central location and business climate. An Industry Cluster Analysis was performed by SRI International that revealed  primary business sectors that will thrive in this environment going forward.  These sectors are Life Sciences & Medical Services, Research, Engineering & High Tech, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Business & Financial Services and Agribusiness & Agritechnology.

Polk's industrial market continues to perform better than most of the major industrial markets in the state of Florida.  There are several new industrial and business parks being developed along Interstate 4, US Highway 27, State Road 60, County Line Road and within the interior of the county. Major national, regional and local developers have acquired over 5,000 acres of Business Park and industrial property which will support up to 25 million square feet of office and industrial space.   Polk County's perfect location between Tampa Bay and Orlando, along with its low leasel rates and cost of living, has helped maintain tenant demand.

Some major corporations which have taken advantage of Polk County include Publix Super Markets, W.S. Badcock Corporation, Florida?s Natural Growers, GEICO, State Farm Insurance, Lockheed Martin, Ford Motor Company, Pepperidge Farm, Sherwin Williams, Coca-Cola and McKesson Pharmaceuticals. Some of the newer additions to our family of businesses include WelldyneRx, GTECH, Caterpillar, Cellynne, Aldi Foods Market, Firmenich and Lemon-X.

Legoland Florida will open in 2011.  Located in Winter Haven, it is anticipated that over 1,000 new jobs will be created, along with 2 million visitors annually.  This will be a major catalyst in bringing people to Polk County.