Economic Development
CSX Transportation and the City of Winter Haven have partnered to develop 1,250 acres of the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant #3 property into a modern Integrated Logistics Center (ILC). ILC’s are well planned commerce parks tied to an “Intermodal” rail-truck container facility.

The proposed ILC would include a truck, rail and warehousing hub for the transfer and storage of containerized consumer goods. It will be located north of Old Bartow-Lake Wales Road and west of the CSX Transportation railroad tracks and include over five million square feet of industrial, warehouse and office facilities. This is equivalent in size to over 25 Super Wal-Mart stores. Over a ten-year build-out period, it is projected to generate more than $10 billion of economic impacts and more than $900 million in local, state and federal tax revenues.

CSX chose the Winter Haven site because it is an ideal location in Central Florida and will easily serve the rapidly growing Florida market. The ILC will reduce long-haul transportation costs for shippers and provide improved freight mobility.

CSX Corporation, headquartered in Jacksonville, traces its Florida heritage to the first railroads established in the state in the 19th century. Today, the company employs 6,000 Floridians with an annual state payroll of more than $400 million. The company’s 1,750-mile Florida transportation network connects the state’s major cities and ports and is one of the nations leading transportation companies, providing rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services. The company's nationwide transportation network spans 22,000-miles, serving 22 eastern states and the District of Columbia, and connects to more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports.

This facility will be the first of its kind in the Southeast United States and one of only a handful in the country.

Hanson Pipe and Products, Inc. is locating a new manufacturing and distribution facility in Winter Haven off of Lucerne Park Road adjacent to the Walmart Distribution Center. Hanson Pipe manufactures concrete pipe products for the construction industry. The $45 million automated facility will provide 50+ jobs with hourly salaries between $10 and $25. Construction on the project is underway.

Other notable businesses locating in the City recently include the Atlanta Bread Company; Firehouse Subs and Hibbett Sports. In addition, a new Walmart Supercenter opened and renovations of the existing Wal-Mart store has started. Hill Nissan also completed construction of a new show room. All the projects are on Cypress Gardens Boulevard.

The City has strengthened its relationship with the Central Florida Development Council (CFDC). Staff is now receiving more leads than ever before from the CFDC, and both work closely on incentive packages, research and recruiting.

The Winter Haven Hospital is the City’s largest employer with more than 6,000 employees. It recently began a major expansion of both its facilities and programs. In 2004, it obtained a $40 million Industrial Bond to fund construction of six new operating rooms, a new main lobby, outpatient area and a 300-space multi-level parking garage. In 2005, it opened two of the new operating rooms for an open-heart surgery program and renovated an intensive care area to serve as a new cardiovascular intensive care unit.