Tampa Bay Business Journal features Lakeland-based AgAmerica Lending as one of its Fast50, a list of the fastest-growing private companies in the Tampa Bay area. In a QA, CEO Brian Philpot says the company’s staff has doubled in size over the last year as it plans to launch a western HQ in Boise, Idaho, and […]
Category: Business
Posted inBusiness
Business Groups Split on City Commission Candidates
The race for Lakeland’s open at-large commission seat has produced a rare split among Lakeland’s business leaders. BusinessVoice Inc., the political action committee affiliated with the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce, endorsed Carole Philipson for the open seat. Her equally-funded opponent in the five-way race, Chad McLeod, has been endorsed by Lakeland First, a PAC […]
Posted inCity Hall / Local Gov't
Consultant: Lakeland Well Situated to Build Internet Provider
Urgency inflected a meeting of the city’s broadband task force Thursday, and though little new information emerged about the ongoing process to create an internet service business plan, the city’s consultant assured commissioners it was on schedule to meet the Aug.5 deadline.
Posted inBusiness
Tampa Tech Hub Embarc Partners With Catapult Lakeland
Catapult Lakeland is among 50 national and regional partners named this week by Embarc Collective, a Tampa innovation hub for tech startups backed by Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinick. For the local business incubator, it means access to high-tech resources and potential opportunities for emerging businesses based at Catapult, according to Christina Graham, Catapult’s […]
Posted inBusiness
Texas Iced-Tea Chain Starts Its Expansion in Lakeland
HTeaO, a quick-serve iced tea franchise with a Texas flair, has opened a location at 3920 S. Florida Ave. that is both its first Florida location and the first franchise out of 80 being developed in five states. Grand opening was Friday.
Posted inBusiness
Citrus Industry Honors Bob Behr, Florida’s Natural CEO
Behr, a Lakeland resident, was honored with Florida Grower magazine’s Citrus Achievement Award at the Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference. Source: https://www.theledger.com/news/20190614/lakelands-bob-behr-floridas-natural-ceo-honored-by-citrus-industry-with-prestigious-citrus-achievement-award
Posted inBusiness
MidFlorida Deals Signal New Growth Strategies
MidFlorida Credit Union’s pending merger and acquisition deals with two banks allows the Lakeland-based institution to spread its footprint into fast-growing portions of Northeast and Southwest Florida, the Business Observer reports. The credit union’s first bank purchases also signal a new growth strategy of becoming a non-bank bank, the weekly newspaper reports. Source: Business Observer
Posted inBusiness
Home Depot Chooses Warehouse Site Off County Line Road
Home Depot is planning an 800,000-square-foot distribution center just west of County Line Road. The city of Plant City is offering a seven-year exemption from property taxes for the facility at Wiggins and Rice Roads that is expected to employ 150 initially and possibly up to 350 eventually. “This is a win for all of […]
Posted inBusiness
Carvana Expands Vehicle Delivery to Lakeland
Carvana, an online used-car dealership with an inventory of more than 15,000 vehicles, has added Lakeland to the roughly 130 markets where it offers as-soon-as-next-day delivery.
Posted inActivism
Lakeland Women’s Collective Plans Co-Working Space
The Lakeland Women’s Collective is organizing a co-working space that it says will be for female, femme-identifying and non-binary persons. The location: 818 E. Lemon St, near the Lake Mirror Center | website Source: LALtoday