Polk County Rail Hub

One of the bigger economic development stories to hit Winter Haven in a while is the proposed CSX Integrated Logistics Center. Numbers like $10.5 billion in economic impact and 8,500 jobs tend to get your attention. -- Empirical Polk

In the article the proposed CSX terminal in Winter Haven is talked about as a major hub of activity:

CSX plans a huge terminal in Winter Haven that could become one of the nation’s largest distribution points for consumer goods such as clothing, toys, household goods and electronics. -- Empirical Polk

Today is link to the Winter Haven Chamber Blog day...... A recent post about the proposed CSX project has generated quite a bit of discussion, 24 comments as of this post. Some of the comments are for, and some... Empirical Polk

I've been in Las Vegas for a bit attending a conference, but I'm back in Polk County now. Over the next few weeks I plan on catching up on all the details surrounding the two biggest projects in Polk County. The CSX facility and the Heartland Parkway. -- Empirical Polk

Update: Billy has more today, including a link to another map. I have another theory though. Perhaps the N/S line does in fact link up with the E/W line in Lakeland by Lake Wire. Then both lines share that main... Empirical Polk

Billy Townsend has a post up digging deeper into some of the major numbers associated with the CSX project. He's looking at three things: Jobs, Truck Traffic and Rail Traffic. First off, are the jobs numbers inflated, or more... -- Empirical Polk

CSX: It's one of the biggest economic development stories to hit Winter Haven in years. The project has significant long-term effects on the economy, growth, image and environment of Winter Haven. It's a big local story, so where is... -- Empirical Polk

Update: This morning's paper has an expanded version of the story. Billy has been blogging/reporting about it for a while, but the Lakeland Ledger (and the rest of the city of Lakeland) have finally noticed the CSX deal. From the... -- Empirical Polk

Chuck asks why the meeting between CSX and a group of Lakeland business leaders is being held behind closed doors. Good question. Chuck quotes Kathleen Munson from the Lakeland Area Chamber Commerce. "Initially, we need to learn as much... -- Empirical Polk

Two interesting developments in the CSX project today: - Tom Palmer from The Ledger blogs about a CSX land deal and asks if the City of Winter Haven can objectively review development approval applications. - Billy Townsend posts a... -- Empirical Polk

The Polk County Commission is on the road today to visit a CSX facility outside of Atlanta. This afternoon I was talking with a friend about this 'roadtrip'. I wondered if they were flying or driving, they're driving. Next... -- Empirical Polk

The review process will slow the project down some, but it should continue to move forward.

On a side note, it's good to see that Winter Haven City Manager David Greene actually spoke to the press. He's quoted a number of times in the article. -- Empirical Polk

This is to confirm that the Department is prepared to work with you on a Preliminary Development Agreement pursuant to Section 380.06 (8), Florida Statutes for the CSX Integrated Logistics Center Terminal Project. A Preliminary Development Agreement would allow CSX to construct a substantial portion of the overall project prior to the issuance of a Development of Regional Impact Order. If you wish to proceed toward such an agreement we believe it could be completed fairly quickly.”

What this means I do not know. Any DRI experts care to comment? -- Empirical Polk

The CSX/Blogging article ran in today's Ledger. I think John Chambliss did a good job with the write-up. The article looked more at the overall issue of hyperlocal blogging rather than the specific development of the CSX story itself. Here are a few random thoughts:

- Susan McManus from USF states that blogs are a form of activism. That's not always the case and it's not always good to make broad generalizations about what a blog is or isn't. A large number of people who blog aren't interested in activism. -- Empirical Polk

I think it's safe to assume that CSX's public relations firm is Fleishman Hillard. On Monday, the day the CSX/Blogging article ran, EP had quite a few visitors from Fleishman's offices. -- Empirical Polk