Central Florida Development Council , Inc.
Central Florida Development Council (CFDC) is a non-profit economic development organization founded in 1986 in Lakeland, Florida, that helps businesses evaluate, relocate to, or expand within Polk County by providing site selection, workforce, incentive, and research services across eight target industry verticals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersLakeland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Central Florida Development Council , Inc. does
The Central Florida Development Council (CFDC) is a non-profit economic development organization founded in 1986 and headquartered at 1725 Bartow Road, Lakeland, Florida. Its mission is to grow the economy of Polk County by attracting high-skill, high-wage, sustainable businesses. CFDC operates as a single-point-of-contact resource for companies evaluating Polk County for relocation, expansion, or site selection, providing services across eight target verticals: Advanced & Tech-Enabled Manufacturing, AgTech, Aviation/Aerospace/Defense, Corporate & Professional Services, Creative Industries & Tourism, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Logistics/Supply Chain/E-Commerce, and Research, Innovation & Technology. The organization is led by a small staff (1-10 employees) and funded primarily through an Investor Membership Program involving local businesses, government partners, and economic development stakeholders.
CFDC's core products and services are advisory and informational rather than technology-based. Key offerings include a GIS-based Real Estate & Site Search platform, the 3,000-acre Central Florida Innovation District initiative (linking Florida Polytechnic University with entrepreneurial entities), Data & Research analytics, an InvestReady Polk program for navigating incentives and permitting, and Target Sectors consulting. The underlying technology stack is light: a WordPress-style website, a third-party GIS site selection tool, and standard social/marketing channels. CFDC does not charge businesses for its core services; its revenue is generated through investor membership dues and likely supplemented by public-sector economic development grants and partnerships with utilities (e.g., Duke Energy's Site Readiness Program) and county government (Ad Valorem Tax Exemption, Impact Fee Mitigation).
CFDC's go-to-market is direct, sales-led enterprise engagement: identifying companies in target sectors, providing customized site tours, demographic and workforce data, and incentive packages, and shepherding deals through permitting and construction. Notable customer/case-study wins include Nucor Steel Florida ($240M rebar micro-mill, 250 employees), Amazon Air's Southeast Air Hub at Lakeland Linder International Airport, Publix Super Markets (HQ), LEGOLAND Florida, Florida's Natural, Suncoast Credit Union, and Ben Hill Griffin Inc. CFDC markets through its website, email newsletter, social channels, an annual meeting, and an annual Leadership Mission to a partner region. Distribution is regional (Polk County / I-4 Corridor / Central Florida), with a stated intent to attract global investment.
Central Florida Development Council , Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Central Florida Development Council , Inc.
- Legal name
- Central Florida Development Council, Inc.
- Website
- https://cfdc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Central Florida Development Council (CFDC) is a non-profit economic development organization founded in 1986 in Lakeland, Florida, that helps businesses evaluate, relocate to, or expand within Polk County by providing site selection, workforce, incentive, and research services across eight target industry verticals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Central Florida Development Council , Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lakeland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Central Florida Development Council , Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Investor Membership Program: CFDC is funded through investor memberships from local businesses, government entities, and economic development partners. Companies become 'investors' to support economic growth in Polk County and gain visibility and connections within the business community.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Central Florida Development Council , Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Central Florida Development Council (CFDC) is a non-profit economic development organization that serves as a single point of contact for businesses seeking to locate, expand, or invest in Polk County, Florida. It provides site selection assistance, GIS-based real estate search tools, workforce development connections, incentive and tax program navigation, and data-driven research on target industry sectors. Services are funded through investor memberships and delivered in partnership with county government, utilities, and educational institutions.
Product overview
The Central Florida Development Council (CFDC) is an economic development organization that serves as a single-point-of-contact resource for businesses looking to locate or expand operations in Polk County, Florida. Rather than a unified software product, CFDC offers a portfolio of interconnected advisory and information services including a GIS-based Real Estate & Site Search tool, the Central Florida Innovation District development initiative, Data & Research analytics, InvestReady Polk permitting assistance, and Target Sectors consulting across eight industry verticals. These services work together to guide businesses through site selection, workforce development, incentives navigation, and regulatory compliance.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Real Estate & Site Search
Quantifiable outcome
- Ranked No. 1 for diversified economy in Florida (2020)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Central Florida Development Council , Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Central Florida Development Council , Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Central Florida Development Council , Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Suncoast Credit UnioncoreSuncoast Credit Union is Florida's largest credit union and a key investor in CFDC. They announced a strategic merger with Launch Credit Union in 2026, creating an institution serving approximately 1.4 million members with $21 billion in assets and 96 branches statewide. Lady Alisha Martin serves as VP of Business & Economic Development representing Suncoast in economic development activities.
- Nucor Steel FloridacoreNucor Steel Florida, part of the largest steel company in the U.S., built a 256,000-square-foot rebar micro-mill on approximately 440 acres in Frostproof. The $240 million project employs 250 people and represents a major economic development success for Polk County, competing with South Carolina for the investment.
- Duke EnergycoreDuke Energy operates a Site Readiness Program in partnership with CFDC to identify, assess, and prepare industrial sites in Polk County. The program has prepared sites including the Haines City Industrial Park, Pebble Ridge Industrial Park, Frostproof Business Park, and others. Duke has invested over $190 million in Polk County grid improvements. Their economic development efforts have helped attract or grow 288 companies in Florida since 2001, resulting in more than 43,000 new jobs and over $4 billion in capital investment.
- Ben Hill Griffin Inc.coreBen Hill Griffin Inc. is a major citrus and agricultural company based in Frostproof and a strong corporate partner in Polk County. The company was instrumental in landing Nucor Steel Florida and works with CFDC on economic development initiatives. Ben Hill Griffin owns the Frostproof Business Park which is being marketed as a rail-served industrial park through the Duke Energy Site Readiness program.
- Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE)coreACE operates the SUN 'n FUN Aerospace Expo campus and provides year-round aviation and aerospace education programs reaching over 30,000 students annually. The organization recently broke ground on expanding the Aerospace Pavilion 2.0, adding 9,000 SF of covered flexible learning space. ACE works with CFDC to promote Polk County's aviation and aerospace industry development.
- SUN 'n FUN Aerospace ExpocoreSUN 'n FUN hosts one of the largest aviation events in the world, drawing over 200,000 aviation enthusiasts. The annual fly-in serves as a platform to connect future industry partners, inspire youth, and stimulate the local economy. SUN 'n FUN partners with CFDC to promote Polk County's aviation and aerospace ecosystem.
- Polk County Board of County CommissionerscorePolk County government is a key partner in economic development initiatives, working with CFDC on site readiness, incentive programs, and business attraction efforts. The county offers Ad Valorem Tax Exemption and Impact Fee Mitigation for new and expanding businesses.
- Florida Polytechnic UniversitycoreFlorida Poly is a key educational partner providing STEM talent for Polk County businesses. The university partnered with Catapult to enhance innovation in Polk County and has articulation agreements with Polk State College for seamless student transfers. Florida Poly opened a state-of-the-art esports arena for tech-oriented students.
- Polk State CollegecorePolk State College is a major workforce training provider in Polk County, offering programs in healthcare, aviation, business, and technical fields. The college has nursing programs with 100% NCLEX pass rates and graduated approximately 230 nurses annually. It was named one of three Florida institutions to offer online courses nationwide through the XploreFLED pilot program.
- The RuthvensmajorThe Ruthvens are a 3rd generation family-run warehouse company established in 1957, managing over 4.5 million square feet of industrial space in 92 buildings across Polk County. They own and manage properties along the I-4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando. The Kim & Greg Ruthven Family was honored as 2026 Philanthropists of the Year by Lakeland Regional Health.
- Webber International UniversitymajorWebber International University, founded in 1927, is Polk County's oldest post-secondary institution with over 700 students. The university is celebrating its centennial with a campaign raising funds for scholarships, campus improvements, and an endowed faculty chair. It partnered with MedCerts to offer online training in healthcare and IT fields.
- Southeastern UniversitymajorSoutheastern University offers aviation programs including Associate and Bachelor's degrees in partnership with Kingsky Flight Academy. The flight program has grown to over 40 aviators and graduated nearly 60 cadets producing 44 pilots. SEU opened a new 13,000-square-foot campus in downtown Winter Haven.
- Florida Southern CollegemajorFlorida Southern College has established Polk County's first School of Architecture through an anonymous donor. The college has a 96% NCLEX pass rate for nursing students and was named to The Princeton Review's 2024 guide of The Best 389 Colleges.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Central Florida Development Council , Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Florida Polytechnic University: Not a peer EDO but a key strategic partner providing STEM talent pipeline into the Central Florida Innovation District CFDC markets; comparable in its economic development role for the regional ecosystem.
Broad incumbents
- Enterprise Florida: Florida's state-level public-private partnership for economic development; partners with but also competes/co-creates with CFDC on statewide corporate recruitment, incentive policy, and marketing for inbound projects.
- Greater Houston Partnership: Large metropolitan EDO with comparable investor-membership model and target sectors (advanced manufacturing, energy, logistics, life sciences), representing out-of-state competition for major industrial relocations.
- Greater Phoenix Economic Council: Larger, well-capitalized metropolitan EDO focused on advanced manufacturing, semiconductor, and logistics — competing with Florida EDOs including CFDC for major corporate relocations and re-shoring projects.
- Charlotte Regional Business Alliance: Multi-county regional EDO with a comparable investor-membership model and similar target sectors (advanced manufacturing, logistics, financial services), competing against CFDC for Southeast US corporate relocations.
Direct peers
- JAXUSA Partnership: Jacksonville/Northeast Florida regional EDO; competes with CFDC in Florida's market for advanced manufacturing, logistics, and corporate relocations, with comparable investor-membership funding model.
- Orlando Economic Partnership: Regional EDO for the Orlando metro (Orange, Seminole, Osceola counties); directly competes with CFDC for corporate HQs, life sciences, simulation, and advanced manufacturing projects along the I-4 corridor.
- Tampa Bay Economic Development Council: Regional EDO serving the Tampa Bay/Hillsborough County area, directly competing with CFDC for the same I-4 corridor corporate relocations, logistics projects, and advanced manufacturing deals.
Regional players
- Pinellas County Economic Development: Neighbor EDO on the Tampa Bay side of the I-4 corridor with overlapping target sectors (manufacturing, professional services, defense), competing with CFDC for regional investment projects.
- Lee County Economic Development Office: Southwest Florida county-level EDO focused on similar target sectors including life sciences, logistics, and advanced manufacturing, competing statewide with CFDC for Florida-bound investment.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Central Florida Development Council , Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceCentral Florida Development Council , Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Central Florida Development Council , Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Central Florida Development Council , Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Central Florida Development Council , Inc. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Central Florida Development Council , Inc.
What does Central Florida Development Council , Inc. do?
The Central Florida Development Council (CFDC) is a non-profit economic development organization that serves as a single point of contact for businesses seeking to locate, expand, or invest in Polk County, Florida. It provides site selection assistance, GIS-based real estate search tools, workforce development connections, incentive and tax program navigation, and data-driven research on target industry sectors. Services are funded through investor memberships and delivered in partnership with county government, utilities, and educational institutions.
Is Central Florida Development Council , Inc. a public or private company?
Central Florida Development Council , Inc. is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Central Florida Development Council , Inc. founded?
Central Florida Development Council , Inc. was founded in 1986. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Central Florida Development Council , Inc. based?
Central Florida Development Council , Inc. is headquartered in Lakeland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Central Florida Development Council , Inc. make money?
One revenue line is on record: investor Membership Program.
Who are Central Florida Development Council , Inc.'s main competitors?
Florida Polytechnic University is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Enterprise Florida, Greater Houston Partnership, Greater Phoenix Economic Council and Charlotte Regional Business Alliance. Direct peers are JAXUSA Partnership, Orlando Economic Partnership and Tampa Bay Economic Development Council. Regional players are Pinellas County Economic Development and Lee County Economic Development Office.
Does Central Florida Development Council , Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Central Florida Development Council , Inc..