Doing Business
Connecting you with the right opportunities
Concierge services by the WHEDC bring together all of the resources, investors and relationships within our community to welcome new investment, new businesses and new opportunities to Winter Haven. Our goal? To provide any and every service that can create value for prospective new businesses, expanding business and their employees. From small family businesses to Fortune 100 companies, we’ve worked with them all. You can rely on our personal experience and expertise to put you in touch with the best resources, sites and talent for your business.
Typical services include:
- Confidential business consulting services and/or referrals
- Introduction to community leaders, institutions and government resources
- Assistance with regulatory issues
- Permitting guidance and interventions
- Negotiating fees and financing opportunities
- Market Analysis and Reports
- Providing access to workforce development and training opportunities and funding
- Processing of incentive/inducement applications
- Design of incentive programs
- Performing neighborhood and corridor analysis to identify market opportunities
- Recruiting new business opportunities for existing businesses
- Building relationships in new market locations to enable local business growth and export
Industry-focused for industry strength
From career academies, which expedite preparedness of middle and high school students with college credit courses and industry certifications, to Florida’s 12th State University, Florida Polytechnic University (Florida Poly) and Polk State College’s Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center specializing in incumbent worker training, the Winter Haven community is committed to producing and maintaining an educated, skilled workforce.
The talent—and volume— to power your business
With access to more than 9 million people within 100 miles, you’ll have no trouble finding workers with the experience and expertise to fit your industry. Logistics? Manufacturing? Medical? Infotech? We’ve got you covered.
115k
People in Greater
Winter Haven
5.0m
People within a
90- Minute Drive
6
Colleges and Universities within a 20-Minute Drive
Polk County’s Education System Is a Strength
Florida Polytechnic and Polk State College are prime examples of educational institutions working directly with the private sector to conduct research and training that meets the needs of industry. As Winter Haven expands its regional connectivity, Florida Polytechnic and Polk State are leading the way in workforce development to meet the growing demands of the region.
Florida Polytechnic
Florida Polytechnic University is a powerful economic engine within the state of Florida and the only public university in the state exclusively dedicated to STEM. With a strong emphasis on hands-on learning and industry collaboration, Florida Poly aims to give students a rigorous education with real-world relevance and prepare them for leadership roles in the growing high-tech fields. Florida Poly offers five master’s degrees and 12 bachelor’s degrees, with innovative concentrations ranging from machine intelligence to aerospace and artificial intelligence.
Polk State College
Polk State College is Polk County’s largest-serving institution of higher education and workforce training with seven locations and more than 23,000 students served each year. Polk State’s credit programs add $215.5 million in total income to the local economy with 55% of this resulting directly from the increased earnings students and alumni receive due to their Polk State education. The College offers 25 associate degrees, six bachelor’s degrees, and 26 certificate programs in areas including Advanced Manufacturing, Business, Commerce and Transportation, Education, Health Sciences and Nursing, Public Safety, and STEM.
Polk State Corporate College & Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center
The Polk State Corporate College and Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center specializes in customized education and training that responds directly to the workforce needs of local employers. Programs range from registered apprenticeships to short-term training that leads to nationally recognized industry credentials. The Corporate College serves approximately 9,000 individuals annually and the Advanced Technology Center boasts 47,000 square feet of space including laboratories and classrooms retrofitted with state-of-the-art equipment.