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fox13news.com

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Voters approve property tax increase in Polk County

A major boost is coming to Polk County classrooms after voters approved a property tax increase Tuesday to fund teacher retention, school safety and core student programs. FOX 13's Carla Bayron reports.

Polk County, FL · 2d
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uncoveringflorida.com

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This Florida Farmers Market Is the Perfect Excuse to Get Out of Bed on Sunday

Fresh coconut water poured straight from the coconut is a real Sunday morning option here. That alone sounds like a better plan than hitting snooze. I like a market that starts with something that playful. The stalls don’t stay on one road, either. They stretch along a downtown main street...

Clermont, FL · 4d
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The Ledger

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Data center planned for existing warehouse in Auburndale | Exclusive

(This article was revised to include comment from the CEO of the Central Florida Development Council.) Another data center is planned for Polk County, and the developers hope to avoid the fervent opposition that greeted a proposed facility in Fort Meade . Hillwood Development Company filed an application on Nov. 4 for a building permit on the Auburndale Technology Center, which will occupy two existing buildings at 810 Pace Road. The 75-acre site lies within the Central Florida Innovation District surrounding Florida Polytechnic University. The two buildings, totaling about 500,000 square feet, have been vacant since construction finished last year. The property, just east of the Polk Parkway, lies within Auburndale’s city limits. “This was the right place, the right location, the right scale for this kind of a project,” said Charles Korrell, senior vice president for Texas-based Hillwood Development Company. “There aren't many of those around the country, and there are plenty of large greenfield developments. You see them all over West Texas. You’re seeing them here in Florida, seeing them all over the country. Not much industrial space is appropriate or available for this kind of development.” Pace Road DC Development Company, a subsidiary company, bought the property

Auburndale, FL · 2d

hoodline.com

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Florence Villa Garden Could Yield 2,800 Pounds of Produce a Year, Backers Say

A community garden taking shape in Winter Haven's Florence Villa neighborhood aims to improve access to fresh produce. Organizers say families can struggle to afford healthy food. Volunteers began tilling the soil and installing the first section of fencing in August, and the site already includes a little free pantry stocked with non-perishable food that stays open around the clock.

Winter Haven, FL · 2d
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familydestinationsguide.com

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Locals Are Quietly Moving To This Sleepy Florida Town Where Rent Still Starts Around $800

There’s a town in the middle of Florida where the rent is still reasonable, the bowling alley is still open, and nobody is in a particular hurry to do anything. That town is Wauchula, and if you haven’t heard of it yet, you’re about to understand why a growing number of people are quietly packing their things and heading to Hardee County.

Wauchula, FL · 3d

Main Street Dollars

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Homeowners 65 and older in Polk County, Fla., DeSoto County, Miss., and Boston have March 1 and April 1 deadlines to claim 2027 senior property tax exemptions

Homeowners 65 and older in Polk County, Florida, DeSoto County, Mississippi, and Boston can cut their 2027 property tax bills with senior exemptions, but each program has a filing cutoff. Florida’s Polk County wants paperwork by March 1, while DeSoto County and Boston close their windows April 1. The Florida break can take up to […]

Polk County, FL · 5d

Lakeland Gazette

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New Auburndale Data Center Site Targets 40 MW at Recker Highway

Hillwood Development Company filed an application for a building permit for a planned data center in two existing buildings on 75 acres in Auburndale. A widespread initiative is converting an existing warehouse into a data center directly in Auburndale. Instead, data center and high-intensity industrial interest in and around Auburndale...

Auburndale, FL · 2d

centralfloridaagnews.com

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Kevin Fussell Forging a Path for Family’s Ranching Legacy to Prevail

Kevin Fussell’s family has raised cattle in Central Florida since the years after the Civil War. Back then, there were no fenced pastures and few reasons to own land when cattle could graze freely across the open range. Today, the fifth-generation Polk County rancher faces a very different problem:...

Polk County, FL · 1d

The Citrus Tea News

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Bartow City Commission Nov. 2: Lakeland Electric Franchise for Wind Meadows South Advances as $24.5 Million in Water Loans Move Forward

The Bartow City Commission advanced a Lakeland Electric franchise for Wind Meadows South and approved plans tied to $24.5 million in state water loans. The post Bartow City Commission Nov. 2: Lakeland Electric Franchise for Wind Meadows South Advances as $24.5 Million in Water Loans Move Forward first appeared on The Citrus Tea News and was written by Steven Steiner . The Citrus Tea News covers Polk County, Florida. Truly Local News. Truly Polk County. thecitrustea.com

Bartow, FL · 2d

Bay News 9

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Property tax cut raises concerns for Lakeland Community Theatre

LAKELAND, Fla. — Concerns are growing for Lakeland Community Theatre as Amendment 3 could affect funding for the historic building the nonprofit calls home. Florida voters approved Amendment 3 on Tuesday, increasing the homestead exemption for average homeowners. The change is expected to provide residents property tax relief, but Lakeland officials estimate it could reduce the city’s general fund revenue by about $12.5 million over the next two years.

Lakeland, FL · 1d

The Ledger

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Geico plans permanent layoffs for 114 in Florida starting Dec. 31

(This article was revised to clarify the locations of the workers and correct the number of current regional locations for Geico.) More than 114 remote employees in Florida who report to Geico's Lakeland office will begin losing their jobs by the end of the year, according to a WARN notice the company sent to the Florida Department of Commerce. The anticipated mass layoff will affect "remote employees who report into the Lakeland office in its Staff Counsel, Florida PIP organization," the notice said. Geico expects the layoffs to begin on or about Dec. 31. The layoffs will affect employees in Florida but will not affect any Lakeland residents, according to a Nov. 5 email from Geico's corporate communications. Florida's recent tort reform led to the layoffs. "The legal system reforms enacted in Florida in 2023 have significantly reduced litigation volume in the state, contributing to a more stable insurance market and real savings for our customers," said Ross Feinstein, lead external communications for Geico. "As that litigation has declined, we have adjusted our Staff Counsel operations accordingly, with a focus on identifying potential opportunities for our people across the company.” The job losses are expected to occur in stages, between

Lakeland, FL · 2d

tbbwmag.com

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Florida Company Unveils Hybrid-Electric Amphibious Aircraft

Bartow-based Maxwell Aircraft has unveiled a hybrid-electric amphibious airplane designed to carry 2,000 pounds of cargo over 1,000 nautical miles, with plans to begin flight testing in 2027. The company announced its patent-pending M1 Hybrid on Friday, Nov. 6, with a cargo version designed to operate from land or water...

Bartow, FL · 23h

Climate Crisis 247

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Florida Real Estate Prices Move In The Wrong Direction

Florida · 2d

stpeterising.com

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156-acre Wagon Wheel Flea Market property in Pinellas Park slated for massive redevelopment

More than six years after the Wagon Wheel Flea Market closed its doors, plans are taking shape to redevelop the sprawling property that was once home to one of Pinellas County's most popular weekend shopping destinations. Pinellas Park-based Belleair Development Group is under contract to purchase approximately 156 acres at...

Pinellas Park, FL · 1d

TheStreet

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Chuck E. Cheese wants to bring adults back to the mall

The chain has a bold new strategy that's not based on pizza.

St. Petersburg, FL · 6d

tbbwmag.com

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Tampa Bay furniture giant Kane’s acquired by private equity firm

Pinellas Park-based Kane’s Furniture, a longtime Tampa Bay retailer with nearly 80 years of history and more than 1 million square feet of showroom space across Florida, has been acquired by Massachusetts private equity firm Onyx Partners Ltd. The acquisition covers 18 retail properties across Florida, with Onyx closing...

Tampa Bay Area, FL · 2d

Tampa Free Press TFP

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Hillsborough County Clerk Boldly Engages Employees To Reshape Work Lives

Clerk Victor Crist Makes Rare Move to Modernize Agency’s HR Management HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. —...

Hillsborough County, FL · 2d

thatssotampa.com

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Tampa Bay’s Power Design launches Build the Nation to pave a path to careers in skilled trades

As Tampa Bay, Florida, and the entire country experience unprecedented growth, there is a massive shortage of the people needed to make it happen. As it turns out, one of our region’s biggest private employers wants to change that. Power Design, the design-build contractor headquartered in North St. Pete,...

Tampa Bay Area, FL · 23h