S3 E8 #74 "The State of the City of Lakeland, FL"

Lakeland is growing, and the decisions being made today will shape what it feels like to live, work, build, and do business here for years to come.

In this episode of Elevate Polk,  @ChrissanneLong   and Dan @thumberg  sit down with Shawn Sherrouse, City Manager for the City of Lakeland, for a deeper conversation about the 2026 State of the City, Lakeland’s strategic priorities, and how city planning connects to small business, infrastructure, public safety, quality of life, and economic development.

Shawn walks through the realities of managing a growing city, including aging water and wastewater infrastructure, major road and corridor projects, public safety investments, community survey results, city services, and the balancing act between keeping costs competitive and preparing for future growth.

The conversation also shifts into the economic development lens: how local businesses can engage with the city, why city purchasing matters, how events like the Central Florida Business Expo support business connection, and why Lakeland’s cost of doing business may be one of its most important untold stories.

This episode is a candid look at the work happening behind the scenes in Lakeland — and why business owners, entrepreneurs, and community leaders should be paying attention.

In this episode:

✔️ What a city manager actually does
✔️ Why Lakeland’s growth is putting pressure on infrastructure
✔️ How community input shapes city priorities
✔️ The five strategic focus areas from the State of the City
✔️ Why public safety, parks, and quality of life matter to business growth
✔️ How FDOT, the city, and other agencies work together on major road projects
✔️ Why local vendor opportunities and city purchasing matter
✔️ The role of events like the Central Florida Business Expo in economic development
✔️ How Lakeland’s utility rates, millage, and cost structure impact competitiveness
✔️ What Lakeland still needs to get right as it continues to grow

Lakeland’s future is being shaped right now. This conversation helps connect the dots between city government, local business, infrastructure, and the broader economic future of Polk County.

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Brought to you by: 
It’s 3PM | https://Its3PM.io 
Central Florida Business Expo | https://CFLBE.com