A selection of Insight Polk stories examining how growth, policy, and community systems affect daily life across Polk County and Lakeland. | Kayla Borg, LkldNow
3-minute read
Polk County is growing fast. Experts anticipate a population increase in the county of over 20% by 2030, according to the United Community Indicators.
But for many people who live here, that growth doesn’t always feel like opportunity. It feels like harder choices, tighter margins and resource systems that are difficult to navigate.
Nearly 15% of Polk County residents live in poverty, and 33% of Polk County households are classified as ALICE — asset limited, income constrained and employed.
That’s where Insight Polk comes in.
Why Insight Polk matters
Insight Polk is about clarity and care for the community and the individuals navigating systems that don’t always see them. Through Insight Polk, LkldNow brings attention to barriers that are often overlooked and explores potential solutions to improving local quality of life.
“At United Way of Central Florida, we know that real change starts with understanding,” said Christina Criser Jackson, president and CEO of United Way of Central Florida. “Insight Polk’s focus on human-interest stories … helps shine a light on the experiences behind the data, fostering empathy, awareness and more connected community solutions.”
Polk County is at a crossroads of rapid growth, rising costs and workforce and healthcare strain. The choices made now will shape the future, who benefits and who gets left behind.
Lived experiences in Polk County
Insight Polk’s community-needs-driven reporting digs into how policies and practices affect real people in Lakeland and across Polk County.
The United Community Indicators Project tracks local key metrics, using data from the United Community Needs Assessment and other sources to measure conditions in Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties.
Insight Polk stories focus on six key areas identified by the United Community Indicators Project:
These factors affect decisions for everyone in the community. They can also disproportionally affect the realities of families juggling schedules, working multiple jobs and trying to make ends meet.
Insight Polk reporting asks, where are the opportunities? Who benefits? Who is missing? What barriers remain?
The people behind the numbers
Since Insight Polk’s creation in fall of 2024, these stories have revealed similar challenges. Different people, different situations — but many with the same pressure points.
| Courtesy of Kim, an ESE paraprofessional in Polk
Time poverty: families juggling work, school and caregiving — with little to no support
Rising costs of living: expenses outpacing median income
Lack of affordable housing: few options accessible to low-income households
Transportation gaps: jobs, classes or services that exist but aren’t easily reachable
Childcare and caregiving strain: decisions shaped by who can provide care and when
The stress of navigating systems: complex rules, paperwork and disconnected services
Insight Polk exists to keep those realities front of mind — not just for policymakers, but for the community, neighbors and anyone who lives here.
Where reporting and community data intersect
Data from the United Community Indicators Project provides a foundation for Insight Polk’s reporting. Insight Polk connects numbers on a dashboard to real households, kids, seniors, workers and neighbors.
“LkldNow provides essential local news to our community, and we are proud to partner with them on the Insight Polk series,” said Callie Neslund, president and CEO of GiveWell Community Foundation. “Through this community-needs-driven reporting, data from the United Community Indicators dashboard is transformed into stories that bring to life the challenges faced by those in our community, and highlight meaningful solutions that strengthen and improve quality of life.”
The goal is simple: Help residents understand how big-picture decisions show up in daily life, where the gaps remain, and what’s making a difference.
Insight Polk examines community conditions and solutions in six target areas from UCIndicators.org: economic & employment opportunity, education, housing, food security, transportation & infrastructure, and quality of life.
LkldNow’s Insight Polk independent reporting is made possible by the United Community Indicators Project with funding by GiveWell Community Foundation & United Way of Central Florida. All editorial decisions are made by LkldNow.
Kayla Borg is a Lakeland native and graduate of Western Carolina University, where she earned her degree in English and film production. She began her media career in Atlanta at CNN, quickly rising from production assistant editor to technical director/editor, leading live broadcasts alongside field reporters. Since then, she’s worked in education, instructional design and independent filmmaking.
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