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Winter Haven receives $1.5 million grant to improve railroad access at Logistics Park

By and
Updated  March 10, 2025 5:33pm EDT
Winter Haven
FOX 13 News

Winter Haven receives $1.5 million grant to improve railroad access at Logistics Park

FOX 13's Carla Bayron reports.

The Brief

    • The city of Winter Haven received a $1.5 million grant to improve railroad access to Logistics Park on Monday.
    • Gov. Ron DeSantis said during the news conference that better railroad access will eliminate the need for some semi-trucks on the roads.
    • The area will also benefit from more shipping and railroad jobs, he said.

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Governor Ron DeSantis presented a $1.5 million check to the City of Winter Haven to expand railroad access on Monday.

Governor Ron DeSantis presented a $1.5 million check to the City of Winter Haven to expand railroad access on Monday.

This money, through Florida's job growth grant fund, will create an expansion to the Central Florida Intermodal Logistics Center.

What they're saying:

"This is a key distribution point in the center of our state,' aid DeSantis. "CSX rail, major highways including I-4, SR-60 and US-27. These investments combined with our Moving Florida Forward initiatives will continue to help alleviate checkpoints in the supply chain."

Through the grant, businesses at the Integrated Logistics Park on Logistics Pkwy will be able to have direct railway service from the nearby CSX Intermodal Terminal to their warehouses, a more cost-effective move.

DeSantis said that better railroad access will eliminate the need for some semi-trucks on the roads.

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"My main focus on the roads is the workers and families being able to not be caught in traffic, but it does help with the logistics, it does help with the shipping to be able to get these trucks up and down the highway," DeSantis said.

It's a project that's a dream come true for the city's mayor as it has been twelve years in the making.

"It's going to have a tremendous economic impact because they'll enhance their businesses, and it will reduce truck traffic on our roadways, so we're just happy," said Mayor Nathaniel Birdsong, Jr.

Winter Haven receives $1.5 million grant to improve railroad access at Logistics Park.

Currently, three companies, including Coca-Cola, use the park and there's more than 6.5 million additional sq. ft. of space available.

Big picture view:

Because of this new infrastructure project, global corporations are now interested in coming to the park.

The total cost of the project is $3 million. The state grant will cover half of the project while the rest will be paid for by Tratt Properties and the Winter Haven Economic Development Council.

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Florida's freight railroad activity has produced over 500,000 jobs, according to DeSantis.

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The Source: Information for this story was provided by Governor Ron DeSantis.

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