Posted: July 1, 2009: 12:42 pm
Here’s a hot deal for a wet, refreshing time for up to four people … just print this page and take it to the park for the discount admissions …
Add a Comment | See other posts filed in: Crazy Things To Do, Cypress Gardens, General Announcements, Parks and Green Space, Tourism
Posted: June 30, 2009: 4:58 pm
Reiss Engineering, Inc. announces the opening of their Polk County, Florida office, located at 21 3rd Street NW, Winter Haven. The 1200 sf suite is owned and managed by 6/10 Corporation. The transaction was handled by 6/10 Commercial, Inc.
Founded in 1998, Reiss Engineering provides general civil and environmental engineering and consulting services to public and private sector entities throughout Florida and the United States. The firm’s expertise encompasses a wide range of areas including water, wastewater and reclaimed water projects, as well as stormwater and land development. Reiss engineers provide services associated with the planning, permitting, and final design of municipal and private utility systems and developments. www.reisseng.com.
“We are very excited to announce the opening of an office in the heart of Polk County,” comments Gary J. ReVoir II, P.E., Vice President of Reiss Engineering. “Reiss Engineering has had the privilege of working with Polk County and the local governments on our recent water supply plan. We feel that this location will not only bring us closer to our clients, but provide us with increased opportunities for community involvement.”
Add a Comment | See other posts filed in: Commercial Developments, Downtown, General Announcements
Posted: June 25, 2009: 9:02 am
GOAL:
A Polk County School Board Process for Selecting Contractors
that is “Fair, Equitable and Transparent”
A “white paper summary” of a June 15 Meeting between Polk County Chamber of Commerce representatives and Assistant Superintendent for Facilities/Operations, Fred Murphy.
Over the past 90 days a number of Polk County’s Chamber executives and their
volunteer leaders have been approached by local contractors who felt the process used for selecting contractors to manage major construction projects of the Polk County Public School System was flawed and unfair. There exists a strong feeling that dollars spent for Polk Schools should be spent with those businesses that are legitimately based in Polk County. There also exists a strong desire to ensure the process is free of favoritism.
Following discussions that initially took place between Lakeland, Bartow and Winter Haven Chamber executives, a decision was made to request a meeting with Polk Public Schools Administration. Immediately upon inquiry Superintendent Gail McKinzie offered to arrange such a meeting with Assistant Superintendent for Facilities/Operations, Fred Murphy. (Murphy was tapped to resolve contractor selection and favoritism issues in November 2008 following the initiation of an FBI investigation into alleged wrong doing by district staff.)
On Monday, June 15, Mr. Murphy met with representatives from the Bartow, Davenport, Haines City, Lakeland, Mulberry and Winter Haven Chambers of Commerce. The two-hour meeting was framed by a thorough review of where Polk Public Schools are in their efforts to create a Contractor Selection Process that is “fair, equitable and transparent.”
Mr. Murphy spoke for the majority of the two-hours allocated and displayed a sincere commitment to creating a selection process that may not always make every one happy but a process that will truly be “fair, equitable and transparent.” The phrase is repeated here again to underscore Murphy’s repetitive statement of commitment.
He provided detailed information regarding the policy which is currently in its final draft stages. More importantly Mr. Murphy addressed two important points:
a.) Within the new policy (under development), the mere offer of a gift by a contractor to a School Board representative will cost a contractor any future right to do business with the School Board. There has not been a “gift policy” in place and specifications are being drafted to prohibit gifts of more than $50 in value.
b.) The new selection process will include a “local recognition of proximity” policy that will provide a legally defensible edge for Polk County-based contractors.
Chamber representatives present felt that positive steps were being taken to develop a process for contractor selection that was indeed “fair, equitable and transparent.” Those Chambers present have since conferred and expressed confidence that Fred Murphy’s goals for the Contractor Selection Process will be a significant step forward and hold the potential to restore contractor confidence and respect.
The new policy is expected to be presented to the School Board for consideration by August. When the policy is finalized we will present the document in its entirety.
The commitment of all Chambers involved is to bring positive change to this contractor procurement process. Mr. Murphy displays a sincere grasp of the challenge and the commitment to make such positive change.
We encourage your comments on this important “buy local” issue.
3 Comments | See other posts filed in: Economic Development, Education, General Announcements, Perspective
Posted: June 15, 2009: 12:08 pm
Got Milk? Velda Farms? You may have noticed a new two-story building coming out of the ground behind Andy’s Igloo. No, it’s not additional storage for ice cream … but close. The 15,000 sq. ft. building will house the Velda Farm’s Corporate offices currently located in Lakeland. Approximately 50 people will now be housed in the building that represents more than a $2 million investment.
About the Company…
Arthur Vining Davis, former Chairman of the Aluminum Co. of America, built the Velda plant in the 1940’s in Miami to process pineapples that he planned to raise nearby. However, when this proved to be unsuccessful, Mr. Davis started manufacturing ice cream around 1947; milk processing was added shortly afterward. This Miami operation was later sold to a dairy cooperative, which also had a plant in Winter Haven. Velda Farms was sold by the dairy cooperative to the Southland Corporation in 1962. In 1964, a separate operation in Tallahassee also known as Velda Farms and owned by the Coble family was purchased by the Southland Corporation.
Under Southland’s ownership, a major enlargement and modernization of the Miami plant was began in 1976. The Winter Haven plant was renovated and enlarged a few years later.
Throughout the ensuing years the company was owned by a variety of corporations. Other dairies were acquired and the product line expanded.
On December 22, 2001, Velda Farms became a part of the Southeast Region of National Dairy Holdings, LP, headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Its line of business is whole dairy products manufacturing fluid milk, ice cream/desserts, cheese and creamery butter. Annual sales are estimated at more than $200 million.
Contractor is Winter Haven-based Everett Whitehead and Son, Inc.
4 Comments | See other posts filed in: Commercial Developments, Economic Development, General Announcements, Real Estate
Posted: June 3, 2009: 5:08 pm
Just in time for summer vacation, Splash Island Water Park at Cypress Gardens is open seven days a week for summer. Beat the heat and enjoy the thrills of water slides or simply float your cares away on the lazy river. In addition, half-price admission is offered for the water park after 3 p.m. everyday in June, July and August.
Splash Island Waterpark is open until 7 p.m. Sunday through Friday and will now be open Saturday’s until 10 p.m. featuring Splash Party Nights that include live entertainment.
Live entertainment this Saturday, June 6 is “Blowing Trees” peforming at the Paradise Wave Pool stage at 7 p.m . and 8 p.m.
3 Comments | See other posts filed in: Cypress Gardens, General Announcements, Tourism
Posted: June 1, 2009: 3:02 pm
Killebrew, Inc. has been named Contractor of the Year by the Florida Chapter of the American Public Works Association. The company was nominated by Michael Crumpton who noted that “Killebrew, Inc. performed exceptionally on several fronts completing projects ahead of schedule and an average of 10% under budget.” He further noted, “the company produces work of outstanding quality and is available for emergency needs 24/7.
Company CEO, Sam Killebrew said of the award, “It is our staff that makes our business great. You are only as good as the people you have working for you and this award is for them.” The Killebrew team is pictured below.
The company is a one-stop design/permit/build contractor handling everything from pipe lines to pump stations and pipe bursting projects.
15 Comments | See other posts filed in: Commercial Developments, General Announcements, Success Stories
Posted: May 12, 2009: 3:54 pm
TransDevelopment Group and Kearney Construction, the design-build general contract team for the planned intermodal and automotive rail terminal facility in Winter Haven, will postpone their May 20 2009 job fair. The event was scheduled to provide information to the local labor pool and to identify qualified Polk County suppliers and subcontractors interested in work related to the construction of the rail terminal facility.
Immediate construction of the rail terminal facility was needed to accommodate the development of SunRail, Central Florida’s commuter rail system. The Florida Legislature, however, failed to approve SunRail. As a result, the intermodal and automotive rail terminal facility will now be developed on a more deliberate timeline consistent with business demand.
TransDevelopment and Kearney Construction will reschedule the job fair and announce the date and location of the event in the future.
1 Comment | See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, Commercial Developments, Economic Development, Employment Opportunity, General Announcements, Transportation
Posted: May 7, 2009: 4:38 pm
Haines City’s Cromer International Press has announced that Winter Haven’s Wilson Printing is now a part of their family of companies. Cromer President Mark Peebles notes that printing and customer service for Wilson clients will now be done in Haines City. Peebles also noted that Carl and Joni Wilson will remain associated on a consulting basis.
Cromer International is a member of the Greater Winter Haven Chamber and a full service printing company that has operated since 1971.
4 Comments | See other posts filed in: Commercial Developments, General Announcements
Posted: : 1:05 pm
Businesses! Enjoy no cost summer interns when you link with Polk Works!
Summer Job Links
By participating in this program, you will be paired up with summer employees at no cost to you!! You write the job descriptions. Polk Works creates the links! Polk
Works will pay them, too! Interested?
Prerequisites:
It’s a win, win situation-Polk Works will create the links between employee and employer and even write the checks. Each of the 300 Polk Works-paid interns (ages 16-24) selected will earn $8/hour and will work up to 30 hours per week for six weeks. That means, each intern could earn up to $1,440 this summer at no cost to you. Plus, this income will help stimulate Polk County’s economy. Together, we create links that work. Important dates …
Friday, May 29: Application Deadline
Friday, June 12: Polk Works Summer Job Links
Mandatory Supervisor Orientation
Monday, June 15: Summer JobLinks Begin!
August 2009: Summer Job Links End!
Go to www.polkworks.org to apply today!
It’s fast, easy and just a few clicks away from new summer employees.
Add a Comment | See other posts filed in: Commercial Developments, Economic Development, Employment Opportunity, General Announcements
Posted: : 1:04 pm
Work will begin May 11 on a repaving and upgrade of State Road 655 (Recker Highway) resurfacing of a 3.3 mile stretch of Recker Highway from Avenue G, NW near Winter Haven to U.S. 92 in Auburndale.
In addition to the resurfacing, this Florida Department of Transportation project provides for the installation of a four foot wide paved shoulder on both sides of Recker Highway, a new traffic signal at the intersection of Recker Highway and County Road 542 and major drainage enhancements all along the corridor.
A complete upgrade of the railroad crossing at Recker Highway and Thornhill Road will be performed by CSX Railroad while the FDOT project is underway. The work on the railroad crossing will require a detour and that will be posted well in advance.
The project officially begins with the installation of silt fences and erosion control on Monday, May 11 and Tuesday, May 12, followed by milling and paving scheduled to begin at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, May 13 at Avenue G, NW. The entire project is expected to take about 115 days to complete.
This project will affect drive times for those using this route for daily travel. Please plan accordingly … and drive safely.
Add a Comment | See other posts filed in: General Announcements, Transportation
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The Official Website of the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce
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