News

Results Found: 18
Thursday, April 02, 2026
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 ...read more
Categories: General News Article, Chamber, Community, Press Release
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
(March 31, 2026) – GiveWell Community Foundation (GWCF) is proud to announce a new granting milestone: since its founding in 1997, GWCF has awarded $524 million in grants to nonprofit organizations in Polk, Highlands, and Hardee counties and beyond. The announcement was made at the Community Foundation’s annual celebration of philanthropy event, attended by founders, fundholders, current and past ...read more
Categories: Chamber, General News Article, Press Release, Community, Human Interest
Monday, March 30, 2026
The Vanguard School is proud to announce that faculty member Sara Cristobal, Reading Specialist, was selected to present at the Learning Disabilities Association of America conference, a nationally recognized forum for research and practice in supporting individuals with learning differences. Cristobal delivered three presentations focused on advancing instructional strategies for ...read more
Categories: Education, Human Interest, Community, General News Article, Press Release
Monday, March 30, 2026
The Polk Education Foundation helped transform the futures of 60 graduating seniors from Polk  County Public Schools by awarding them brand-new laptops, sleeves, chargers, and headphones. This initiative was made possible through AT&T’s recent $30,000 contribution to help  bridge the digital divide for students pursuing higher education. To be selected, students first applied for Foundation ...read more
Categories: Community, Human Interest, Press Release, Education, Chamber
Friday, March 27, 2026
Webber FBLA Students Excel at State and Qualify for Nationals  Babson Park, FL (March 23, 2026)– Webber International University is proud to announce the outstanding accomplishments of its FBLA Collegiate students who competed at the FBLA State Leadership Conference. Webber students have been presented on networking, competing, and representing the university with professionalism, confidence, and ...read more
Categories: Education
Friday, March 20, 2026
TAMPA, Fla.(March 19, 2026) – On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at USF will recognize businesses from the 10-county Tampa Bay region during the 4th Annual Florida SBDC at USF Business Awards Luncheon. The 2026 Annual Business Awards will recognize Florida SBDC at USF and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) business award winners for their hard ...read more
Categories: Community, Press Release, Chamber, Human Interest
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
AdventHealth team members and community leaders cut the ribbon for the new facilities located on U.S. 27 in Haines City during a special event, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (photo courtesy: AdventHealth)   New AdventHealth Centra Care and AdventHealth Primary Care+ site in Haines City make it easier for families to get care seven days a week    HAINES ...read more
Categories: Chamber, Human Interest, Community, Press Release
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Tri-County Human Services will host its annual fundraising dinner on May 15 at the Bonnet Springs Park Event Center, and we would love to have you join us.Tri-County holds accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and ranks in the top 2 percent of providers across the nation for mental health and addiction treatment services. Our work serves ...read more
Categories: Chamber, General News Article, Press Release, Community, Human Interest
Monday, March 09, 2026
Lake Ashton Community Development District (CDD) is soliciting proposals to operate a casual restaurant/sports bar at the CDD’s Clubhouse in Lake Wales, Florida.   The objective of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to enter into a lease or management agreement with the Lake Ashton Community Development District to provide full-service bar and restaurant operations at the Lake Ashton ...read more
Categories: Chamber, Community, Economic, General News Article, Human Interest, Press Release
Monday, March 09, 2026
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 ...read more
Categories: Community, Press Release, Chamber, Human Interest
Monday, March 09, 2026
Colonel (Ret.) Mark W. Tillman served as the nation’s 12th Presidential Pilot during both terms  George W. Bush was in office, from 2001—2009. His most renowned missions include  commanding Air Force One during the September 11, 2001, attacks and covertly flying  President Bush to Iraq on Thanksgiving Day in 2003 so the President could personally thank  U.S. troops serving in a war ...read more
Categories: Press Release, Education, Chamber, Community
Monday, March 09, 2026
POLK COUNTY, Fla. (March 4, 2026) CareerSource Polk is inviting Polk County businesses to participate in the Best Places to Work Lunch & Learn, which will provide insight into the 2025 Best Places to Work application process.  This informative session is designed to help local employers understand the value of applying for this prestigious award and how the recognition can positively impact ...read more
Categories: Chamber, Education, Community, Press Release
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
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 ...read more
Categories: Chamber, Community, General News Article, Press Release
Thursday, November 20, 2025
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 ...read more
Categories: Community, Press Release, Chamber, General News Article
Friday, September 19, 2025
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 ...read more
Categories: Chamber, General News Article, Community, Press Release
Monday, June 09, 2025
  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 ...read more
Categories: Chamber, General News Article, Press Release, Community
Monday, December 09, 2024
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 ...read more
Categories: Chamber, General News Article, Community, Press Release
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
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 ...read more
Categories: Community, Press Release, Chamber, General News Article