Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 227
The health and wellbeing of hundreds of area residents may improve thanks to a $10,000 grant intended to help a local business grow and prosper. American Express and Main Street America announced that Yoga Bliss is one of the 500 small business owners nationwide who have been awarded one of the grants, distributed through the "Backing Small Business" grant program. business is owned by Megan Rimer, who has a degree in criminology from USF, but stepped into yoga as a teen,...
Although the summer doldrums would predict otherwise, downtown Lake Wales is buzzing over the opening of a popular new coffee shop, one of the newest businesses to open during the ongoing transformation of the area. Latte Lounge offers coffee beans sourced from a small business in Virginia, creating fresh and flavorful handcrafted beverages, along with a changing variety of cookies and pastries in a warm and inviting atmosphere, well stocked with new books by local authors....
A long-vacant space in the Orange Grove Shopping Center in Lake Wales will soon be home to a large new Ollie's store amid a burst of new residential development in the area. Ollie's is a discount department store with 521 locations, and more opening this month in other states. There are several locations in central Florida, including one adjacent to the Lakeland Square Mall. Other nearby Ollie's locations include Avon Park and Kissimmee. Ollie's stores feature more than 20 sep...
An upbeat message of economic progress was shared with more than 100 area business leaders during a Business After Hours event at the Eagle Ridge Mall Tuesday evening. The event was sponsored by the Lake Wales and Winter Haven Chambers of Commerce. Eagle Ridge Mall General Manager Curtis Gibson told the gathering that the mall "belongs" to the people of the Ridge, from Frostproof to Winter Haven, and touted the expansion of business that has been happening there. When he took...
The June Business Expo luncheon hosted by the Frostproof Chamber of Commerce drew a crowd of local businesspeople Tuesday to network, sharing camaraderie and ideas. More than 20 organizations were represented at the event, organized by the Chamber's new executive director Emily Bennett, who introduced each business to the crowd. Business representatives were then given an opportunity to speak at the event, offering a chance to introduce their product or services to others in...
(Editor's note: This story introduces a new series addressing the economic impacts of real estate development in the Lake Wales and east Polk County area.) Lake Wales has a need for economic development, and it can only be achieved through responsible growth. Attracting new businesses will provide greater opportunities for the community. In recent years, Polk County has experienced a fast growing population which has stimulated developments across the area. According to the U....
After over two decades serving the Lake Wales community, Montella's Fish Market is closing its doors for good. Owners Lisa and Mike "Junior" Montella have decided that they will retire after running successful fish markets in Florida for 37 years. The property at 1341 SR 60 East may be in for a big change. "The buyer is going to lease it," Montella stated. "He's an investor." Lake Wales News sources indicate that the purchaser of the property scouts, purchases and leases...
A new 24-hour Dunkin outlet is planned for a small outparcel facing SR 60 East at Southgate Shopping Center in Lake Wales. Dunkin has two existing outlets in the city, which are expected to remain. Approval of the site plan will be considered by the city's Planning and Zoning Board at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28. Designs for the proposed free-standing building include the 24-hour one-lane drive-through service window as well as an indoor lobby open during more limited hours....
A new Panera Bread restaurant is expected to rise soon on a vacant parcel adjacent to the Aldi grocery on US 27 north in Lake Wales. City officials have revealed that they have conducted a pre-construction meeting with the developer, and construction should begin within weeks. Panera is the latest in a wave of chain restaurants finding sites on the fast-growing corridor near Eagle Ridge Mall. Panera Bread, based in St. Louis, MO, offers a bakery-café style restaurant that...
The oldest business in Lake Wales is celebrating yet another significant date. On May 15 the venerable Yeoman's Feed and Seed marks its 111th year and its first year under the ownership of John and Chuck Elam, who purchased it from Richard Jahna. The company has remained in continuous business in Lake Wales since 1913. The Orange Avenue operation is receiving high marks from area residents for the many improvements the brothers have brought to the operation. The business...
Lake Wales Municipal Airport was among stops on a multi-county tour hosted by the Central Florida Regional Planning Council for Florida's Secretary of Commerce Alex Kelly. The multi-county tour was conducted in partnership with cities, counties, and economic development partners over two days on April 8th and 9th. The visit aimed to showcase rural communities, aviation, and the work of the many economic development agencies in the region. Lake Wales City Manager James Slaton...
Those who are tired of keeping up with the mowing, want to find a good permanent lawn service, or just need a break from the chores now have a great new option. Lake Wales area homeowners now have an easy way to get a quick fill-in lawn service, or a year-around scheduled or on-demand service for all that green space, thanks to an on-demand service called "GreenPal.". GreenPal, which has been described as "Uber for lawn care," is now offering their service in the Lake Wales...
(NAPSI)-Addressing climate change is an all-hands-on-deck undertaking. It requires a smarter, stronger, and cleaner energy grid that provides affordable, reliable power when and where people need it. The grid of the future will have to be at least twice the size of what it is today-most likely even bigger. That means jobs-thousands and thousands of them across a wide variety of industries, from manufacturing technology, such as batteries and wind turbines, to electric vehicle...
Westfield, N.C. (March 07, 2024) – The Certified Agriculture Dealer (CAD) Program, and their partner RFD-TV, announce they have selected the 8 Certified Agriculture Dealer locations for the March 19, 2024, to help bring a local flavor to the Washington D.C. events scheduled to celebrate National Agriculture Day. "This is AgRally's fourth year as America's only national springtime agriculture event. From calves dropping everywhere between both coasts, to the season's first seed...
Freddy's, a "fast-casual restaurant concept," will become the newest addition to the Lake Wales restaurant scene as it opens this week. The 2,751 square-foot, freestanding restaurant seats 76 guests, has additional seating on the patio and offers drive-thru service. Mobile ordering is available through the Freddy's app and website. The new eatery opens Thursday, March 14, at 23525 Hwy 27, just across from Eagle Ridge Mall. "Freddy's is committed to providing high quality food...
If you are one of the many customers who took a test drive or made a service visit to Lake Wales Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram or any of the four other area auto dealerships owned by the "Low Payment Kings" during February, you were part of a larger effort on behalf of St. Jude's Children's Hospital. The Low Payment King dealerships of Polk County, powered by the Mahalak Auto Group, made a donation of $6,274, representing a contribution for every test drive and service visit during...
The public is invited to take a seat at the table this Tuesday to discuss economic development in the Lake Wales area to "increase the city's economic health." The community forum is an opportunity for residents to help "identify key community assets, set goals and increase the City's economic health," according to organizers. The effort has been made possible by FloridaCommerce through a Competitive Florida Partnership grant that will enable the City to identify those assets...
A desire to combine family and "flair" has resulted in a business that customers are describing as "a delight. Since opening less than two months ago Mimi's Bakery has quickly become a new favorite for an early-morning crowd that heads to downtown Lake Wales to enjoy artisanal baked goods to kick off the day. Cases filled with Danish pastries and artisanal breads emit a delicious aroma, accompanied by the fragrance of freshly-brewed coffee. "Where else can you get a cup of cof...
A continuing rise in readership and community reach is evidence of the growing awareness and trust of LakeWalesNews.net among residents of the Ridge area. The expansion of readership and advertising is powering an expansion of news coverage as well as the News increases coverage of events in Frostproof, Babson Park, Indian Lake, and surrounding communities through the hiring of new staff and correspondents. Analytics provided by Google indicate that LakeWalesNews.net is the to...
Lake Wales newest restaurant, Kualao, celebrated its recent opening with a ribbon cutting this week, hosting an enthusiastic group of fans to free samples of their creative and authentic cuisine. A group of local guests and an impressively large family gathered for the event this week, which was co-hosted by the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce. Chef & owner Manivanh Kai Kounnavong introduced a few flavorful samples from their kitchen and shared some interesting facts...
Several dozen Rotarians, area business people, and many of their customers attended a "Ridge Taking Care of Business" networking opportunity Thursday evening at Native Imagery in Lake Wales. Guests were treated to live music by singer and guitarist Mickenzie Peisher, along with a variety of beverages and a very tasty buffet provided by Wales Point Restaurant. The event was organized by members of Rotary on the Ridge, a 44-member group that meets for after-hours connections on...
The Office of the Tax Collector for Polk County (TCPC), Joe G. Tedder, reminds business owners that the deadline to renew their County Local Business Tax Receipt (BTR) is Monday, October 2, 2023. Any business that does not renew its BTR by the deadline will face late penalties. The late renewal penalty after the deadline in October will be 10% of unpaid taxes owed plus collection costs; the penalty rises to 15% plus collection costs in November, and continues to rise each...
A celebration of 19 years of contribution toward the development of community leaders drew some 200 guests to the annual meeting of Polk Vision Wednesday evening. The gathering in the auditorium of Theatre Winter Haven included a review of the progress and growth of the community. During the nearly two decades of existence the program has held annual leadership classes offering deep dives into the forces that power the local economy, education, and government, among other topi...
Another Lake Wales business is joining the growing wave of movement to solar power, with installation of a large rooftop array slated for this fall. The Low Payment Kings dealerships, powered by Mahalak Auto Group, has announced a major commitment to sustainability by going solar at their Lake Wales Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM, Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM of Winter Haven, and Posner Park Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM FIAT dealerships. "We are thrilled to partner with ESA to take this major...
A new business incubator funded in large part by the City of Lake Wales was celebrated at a recent ribbon cutting featuring a host of government and business representatives. The 3,570 square-foot incubator was developed from a former dental office by Florida Development Corporation, which will be moving its headquarters to the new facility from Tampa, according to city sources. Some 75 guests joined officers of the corporation for the celebration. The $1.2 million...
