► Polk County was honored with the Platinum Well Workplace Award from the Wellness Council of America, in its inaugural application.
► AdventHealth was given the green light to build a 400-bed hospital with a helicopter pad, at the southeast corner of Harden Boulevard and Frontage Road/Polk Parkway, as a result of a zoning change approved by the Lakeland City Commission.
► A Veterans Service Office opened inside the new VA Clinic, off Lakeland Highlands Road.
► Lakeland-based marketing agency Curious Jane was ranked as one of the nation’s top franchise marketing agencies, for the sixth consecutive year, by Entrepreneur magazine.
► Bill Freeman, former chief executive officer of the Shula Restaurant Group, plans to convert the historic Florida National Bank building, in downtown Lakeland, into Prima 135, an upscale steakhouse.
► The Florida Department of Juvenile transferred the contract at the former Polk Halfway House to AMIkids’ leadership, which will now be known as AMIkids Polk.
► Publix Super Markets Charities donated $1 million to support relief efforts in areas affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
► Berke Olcay, an owner of multi-family and single/multi-tenant commercial properties, purchased the Starbucks and Five Guys locations at 4660 and 4670 N., Socrum Road in Lakeland, for $4.1 million.
