Insight Polk examines community conditions and solutions in six target areas: economic & employment opportunity, education, housing, food security, transportation & infrastructure, and quality of life.
LkldNow’s Insight Polk independent reporting is made possible by the Community Indicators Project with funding by GiveWell Community Foundation & United Way of Central Florida. All editorial decisions are made by LkldNow.
Learn More about this important Project
Inside Insight Polk: Challenges and Solutions Shaping Lives in Polk County
Community-informed reporting that connects data, resources and lived experience.
Demand for Skilled Trades Growing Faster than Polk Workforce
How are employers and colleges recruiting the next generation of skilled tradespeople?
Polk County Launches Bus Pass Program to Help Residents Get to Court
A new partnership in Polk County is tackling a hidden barrier to navigating the justice system.
Operation Green Light Offers a Path to Help Restore Driver’s Licenses
The one-week event waives collection fees from April 13-17. Full payment is still required.
Alta Schoolhouse Plans Second Lakeland Preschool Campus at Former Little Sprouts Site
The Tennessee Avenue expansion will add care for one-year-olds and increase childcare capacity in a city where preschool openings remain limited.
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$80K Grant Expands Polk Reads AmeriCorps Program
The Polk Education Foundation plans to expand AmeriCorps Polk Reads into fourth and fifth grades and five additional schools, with a GiveWell grant honoring Mabel Schaefer.
Planning a Move to Bartow, Mi Escuela Wants People to Think Differently About Montessori
The bilingual, tuition-free public charter school’s new Bartow campus will feature a student kitchen, art studio with a kiln, dance space, and gardens.
For 1 in 5 Students, Reading is a Barrier — Roberts Academy Is Working to Change That
Florida Southern College’s Roberts Academy marks 15 years of helping students with dyslexia close literacy gaps — and reshape their futures.
Young Chefs Take the Spotlight at IDEA Lakeland Cook-Off
National program uses hands-on cooking to build confidence and encourage healthier habits among students.
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Where to Find Free Summer Meals for Polk County Youth
About 1 in 5 children in Polk County live in a household that cannot access enough food — these organizations are trying to bridge the gap.
Small Farm, Big Impact: ‘My Tiny Greens’ Adapts to Polk’s Shifting Ag Landscape
A Lakeland microgreens business born from a homegrown pandemic project shows how small farms are evolving.
Lakeland’s VISTE Sees Rising Senior Food Insecurity as Grocery Costs Continue to Climb
The Lakeland nonprofit is seeing more walk-ins, more anxiety and higher demand as older adults struggle to afford groceries.
Polk County’s Food Relief Gears Up as SNAP Benefits Lapse
Up to 85,000 Polk County residents could lose access to grocery assistance.
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Gospel Village Opens 48 New Apartments for the Chronically Homeless
The biggest expansion in Gospel Inc.’s history welcomes its first residents on Friday, May 15.
Meet ALICE: For One Polk County Mom, the Holidays Reveal the Gaps Families Fall Through
She works full time, goes to school and parents three kids. The holidays reveal how thin the margin really is.
Residents Voice Concerns at Lakeland Housing Authority Board Meeting
Residents and community leaders voiced concerns at Monday’s Lakeland Housing Authority meeting, prompting calls for greater accountability and public dialogue.
Meet ALICE: Earning Above Poverty, Falling Short on Basics
A local father shares what it’s like to live paycheck-to-paycheck, despite decades of work experience — and why he believes more people are ALICE than we realize.
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As Polk Ages, Families Struggle to Find Affordable Adult Day Care
More than 12,000 Polk County seniors are estimated to need help with daily activities, but families and providers say cost and logistics often put care out of reach.
Lakeland Stayed Bronze for Bikeability. Here’s What Riders Say Needs to Change.
Lakeland is expanding trails, but reaching Silver will require safer routes for everyday riders.
How Lakeland Regional Health Is Closing Maternity Care Gaps in Polk County
National recognition points to evidence-based care, newborn support and keeping high-quality maternity services close to home.
Free Bus Rides for LVIM Patients Now on Citrus Connection
Free Citrus Connection rides help remove a persistent obstacle to care, essentials and work across Polk County.
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For Lakeland Residents Without a Car, Getting Around Can Be a Daily Struggle
For about 1 in 13 Lakeland households, getting to work, groceries, school, and doctor visits can mean long walks in heat or rain, missed buses, and costly workarounds.
Citrus Connection Expands Evening Service to Meet Rider Needs
FDOT grant extends evening bus hours to support Polk workers and families
Lakeland Electric Rate Increases Tied to Fuel and Environmental Costs
Typical household to see about $3.20 added to monthly bill as city covers environmental costs and fuel hikes.
Memorial Boulevard: Can a New Homeless Shelter and Economic Revitalization Coexist?
‘Memorial Works’ crew would give homeless people stipends for cleaning, landscaping and beautification.
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