In January 2006, CSX Corporation announced it had taken its first step, a proposed property purchase, toward building an integrated logistics center (ILC) in Winter Haven, Polk County. The ILC is to include a truck, rail, and warehousing hub and terminal for the transfer and storage of containerized consumer goods.
Development will be in two phases, the first starting in 2007 and the second in 2010. Employment at the ILC is expected to total 2,000 with an average wage of $43,000. Related employment in Winter Haven outside the ILC is expected to grow by 6,500.
David Greene, Winter Haven city manager, said “As experiences with similar facilities have shown, the ILC could generate more than 8,000 jobs in Winter Haven and Polk County as companies establish nearby warehousing, manufacturing, and logistics operations.” Economic research shows that over a 10-year period, operations like the proposed ILC could produce more than $10 billion in economic activity and add $900 million in state and federal tax revenue... Trade and Industry Development
