Polk Education Foundation Awarded $80,000 from the Mabel Schaefer Legacy Grant through GiveWell Community Foundation to Expand AmeriCorps Polk Reads Literacy Initiative
Polk Education Foundation has been awarded an $80,000 grant from GiveWell Community Foundation in honor of Mabel Schaefer’s legacy. This investment will allow the Polk Education Foundation AmeriCorps Polk Reads program to pilot Building Blocks Literacy: an expansion beyond its traditional Polk County Public Schools kindergarten through 3rd-grade focus that will begin serving 4th - and 5th -grade students over the next two years. This pilot will help determine how well upper-elementary students
Florida SBDC at USF Announces 2026 Regional Performance and Small Business Award Winners
TAMPA(May 14, 2026) - The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at University of South Florida (USF) announced its 2026 performance and small business award winners on May 13, 2026, during the 2026 Florida SBDC at USF Annual Business Awards held at USF’s Phyllis P. Marshall Student Center. Winners are now eligible for Florida SBDC Network state awards. State award winners will be announced at the Network’s Annual Conference, held in Port Charlotte this coming August.During the awards, attendees
SUNCOAST CREDIT UNION INVESTS $50,000 IN POLK EDUCATION FOUNDATION TO BENEFIT POLK COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS STUDENT SUCCESS
The Polk Education Foundation received a generous $50,000 investment from Suncoast Credit Union, strengthening multiple programs and initiatives that directly support students, teachers, and schools across Polk County. Suncoast Credit Union awarded a major gift of $25,000 to purchase much-needed school supplies for the Free Teacher Market, helping Erase the Need for students and classrooms. Teachers shop the resource store at no cost and fill an orange Suncoast Credit Union tote with supplies that
Wawa Summer Fun Days Back in 2026 with 8 Days of Complimentary Admission
Lake Wales, FL - Wawa and Bok Tower Gardens are teaming up again to offer Wawa Summer Fun Days featuring complimentary admission on the last Thursday and Friday of May through August.The 2025 Wawa Summer Fun Days will be May 28-29, June 25-26, July 30-31, and August 27-28.Pre-registration is requested for this complimentary offer. Visitors can register at https://boktowergardens.org/wawa-summer-fun-days-2026/ The extremely popular seek & find game "Where's Wally" will be back again adding another level
AdventHealth Heart of Florida and AdventHealth Lake Wales earn national recognition for promoting or
Local donors help save and enhance dozens of lives across Florida DAVENPORT, Fla. (Monday, May 04, 2026) -- AdventHealth Heart of Florida in Davenport and AdventHealth Lake Wales have received national recognition for their efforts to help more people receive lifesaving and life enhancing organ, eye and tissue transplants through the DoNation Campaign. Behind this recognition are patients and families whose lives have been changed by the generosity of donors in the community. According to LifeLink of
Five Polk State Baseball players named All-Citrus for 2026
Friday, May 1, 2026 — After a fifth 30-win season in six years, Polk State Baseball was well￾represented on the All-Citrus Conference Team, released Friday. Five Eagles were recognized as All-Conference performers. Freshman catcher Marvin Montenegro was the lone first-team selection. This season, the Lakeland native hit .342 with five home runs, 45 RBIs, 52 runs scored and 16 stolen bases. Montenegro also led the Eagles with four triples. Freshman outfielder Bradyn Potter, redshirt freshman
Mabel Schaefer’s Inspiring Legacy Story Grants to local nonprofits in Polk and Highlands counties honor Mabel Schaefer’s legacy
LAKELAND, FL (April 30, 2026) – What does it mean to leave a legacy? A lifetime of legacy is not measured simply in years, but in the values, compassion, and inspiration a person leaves behind. Mabel Schaefer had a profound influence on many during her lifetime and is still impacting lives today. Mabel lived a full and remarkable century, guided by her steadfast faith and a deep commitment to others throughout her 100 years. As an educator, she devoted herself to her students, believing that education
CareerSource Polk Launches 2026 Annual Meeting with Interactive Theme and Community Fundraiser
POLK COUNTY, FL. (April 20, 2026) – CareerSource Polk announces that registration is now open for its Annual Meeting and Best Places to Work Awards Breakfast, taking place Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 8:00 am at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. FL. This year’s event marks a major milestone as CareerSource Polk celebrates 30 years of workforce development and support in Polk County. The 2026 Annual Meeting and Best Places to Work Awards Breakfast will bring together business leaders, community
Why Every Lake Wales Business Should Have a Media Kit Ready Before the Call Comes
A media kit (also called a press kit) is a curated package of materials that tells your business's story to journalists, partners, and investors — on your terms, before they ask. For businesses in Lake Wales and the broader Lakeland-Winter Haven area, where the Economic Development Council is actively drawing new attention to the region, being prepared matters. Studies show that 70% of journalists prefer finding company information independently rather than waiting for an email response — meaning if your
AdventHealth Heart of Florida and AdventHealth Lake Wales open applications for 2026 community impact grant
Click Here: 2026 Community Impact Grant Eligibility Requirements DAVENPORT, Fla. (Friday, March 05, 2026) -- AdventHealth Heart of Florida and AdventHealth Lake Wales have opened the application period for the 2026 Community Impact Grant, an initiative designed to expand community health programs and strengthen access to whole‑person care throughout Polk County. Local nonprofit and community-based organizations are invited to apply for one-year grant funding aimed at addressing some of the area’s most
Scaling Market Research for a Changing Business Landscape in Lake Wales
Local businesses across the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council face a familiar challenge: the market never sits still. As customer expectations shift and regional opportunities evolve, companies must keep their research practices nimble enough to monitor new patterns, test assumptions, and make decisions with confidence. This article explores practical ways to expand and modernize your market research without overwhelming your team or your budget. Learn below about: Why
How to Get More Customer Referrals: Smart, Strategic Moves for Small Business Owners
Attracting new customers is essential, but when your existing customers become your biggest fans, you unlock one of the most cost-effective growth levers in business: customer referrals. Referrals build trust faster than advertising. They cost less than paid search. And they scale when you build systems—not just hopes—around them. But here’s the problem: most small business owners wait for referrals instead of engineering them. Let’s fix that.Summary in a Snap If you're a small business owner and want
These Are Smart Ways to Keep Your Costs Low When Starting a Restaurant
Opening a restaurant is exciting, but the financial side can be daunting. Rent, equipment, staff, and permits quickly add up. The good news: with the right strategy, you can keep costs lean without cutting corners. 1. Start Small Before Scaling Instead of investing heavily in a large location, many first-time owners test their concept in lower-cost formats: Food trucks or pop-up kitchens Shared commissary kitchens Weekend farmer’s market booths These options help validate your menu,
Beneath the Surface: What Founders Miss About Risk Until It Bites Back
Launching a startup is often described as a leap of faith, but that metaphor misses something important—it implies a single moment of risk. In truth, starting and scaling a company means walking a daily tightrope, balancing opportunity with uncertainty, growth with exposure, ambition with fragility. The mythology around entrepreneurship loves to spotlight risk-takers as if recklessness is a virtue, but smart founders know better. Risk isn't just something to stomach—it's something to study, strategize,
The CTA, BOI and FinCEN: What Does this Mean for Lake Wales, FL Businesses?
The Corporate Transparency Act may require certain U.S. companies to disclose beneficial ownership information to FinCEN to combat financial crimes. While a Texas federal district court’s preliminary injunction puts this requirement on hold, many experts expect that to be overturned. In that event, failure to file could lead to fines of $500 per day, up to a maximum of $10,000, and possible criminal penalties. Read more for details on how this may impact your business in the future. 1. Determine if
Business Acrobatics: Adobe Tools Help Women Entrepreneurs Nail the Landing
As we celebrate Women's Small Business Month this October, it's important to recognize the innovative tools that empower women entrepreneurs to streamline their operations and drive growth. Adobe Acrobat offers a suite of features designed to enhance productivity, making it easier to manage documents, collaborate with teams, and handle essential business tasks efficiently. For women business owners looking to save time and focus on scaling their ventures, these solutions can be a game-changer in
