It is long overdue for Polk County to leave behind its mobile home and agri-business roots. This project can and will spark job growth, retail sales, and construction activity. All are necessary ingredients in reinventing the region.

Our next challenge will be for the key players to fall into line and fully embrace this project. There are those that could be viewed as being on the losing side of yesterdays vote. One that comes to mind in Paula Dockery. However, this will be a good test to see if she has what it takes to be the states next governor. Will she be able to pick herself up, dust herself off and drop the parochial approach? I am encouraged by the Lakeland voters choice of Gow Fields – who certainly is more capable of looking beyond the city limits to forge strategic partnerships.

I’m not sure if anybody really understands all of the ramifications of the Senate’s action yesterday. What is known is that if we don’t look forward and invest in our state, our kids will continue to sling hash at McD’s, foreclosures will continue to be the norm, and Polk will continue to be a second (or third) tier county.

We will look back on this decision as a positive turning point for the great State of Florida and in particular Polk County.