How the Florida Heartland empowers businesses and residents: Responsive utilities that focus on consumer and industry needs, and cutting-edge infrastructure that assures the utmost productivity and personal satisfaction.

POWER TO CONNECT: STATE-OF-THE-ART FIBER INFRASTRUCTURE

The Heartland’s rapidly expanding fiber infrastructure is opening powerful professional and personal opportunities throughout the region, with on-going fiber installation by leading providers including Glades Electric Cooperative, working with Conexon Connect, an experienced specialist in rural fiber installation. Available symmetrical service speeds range between 100 Mbps and 2 Gbps. Live better and work more effectively amidst rural beauty that puts a world of opportunity at your fingertips.

POWER FOR PRODUCTIVITY: ELECTRICAL SERVICE THAT IS CUSTOMER-FOCUSED, INNOVATION DRIVEN

Heartland providers are moving to the forefront to serve the region’s industries and residents.

  • Electric cooperatives: Deeply connected to Heartland communities.  Backed by a long history of responsive service, Heartland cooperatives are valued community members and include Peace River Cooperative, Glades Electric Cooperative and Lee County Electric Cooperative, all supported by the generation facilities of Seminole Electric Cooperative.

  • Florida Power & Light (FPL): Green energy leadership here in the Heartland.
    FPL is assuring a brighter energy future with solar energy centers located throughout the region: Sawgrass, Blue Heron and Hammock Solar Energy Centers in Hendry County; Citrus Solar Energy Center in DeSoto County; and Lakeside Solar Energy Center in Okeechobee County. FPL’s “solar tree” at La Belle High School is generating both energy and interest in a powerful green energy future.

  • Duke Energy: Bolstering the Heartland economy. Duke is strengthening the regional economy in critical and even surprising ways—like requesting a rate decrease for residential customers beginning in 2025. Duke’s strategic economic development efforts are also bringing investment to the region through programs such as site development at North Highland Industrial Park, Lake Place Business Park and Avon Park Executive Park.

The road system through or near the region provides convenient access to Florida and to North America via:

  • 3 Interstate Highways
  • 1 Toll Road
  • 4 U.S. Highways
  • 12 State Roads
  • Miles of Maintained County Roads

Railways move cargo and people thru the region.

  • Cargo Track Ownership
    • CSX Transportation
    • South Central Florida Express (US Sugar)
  • Amtrak Stations
    • Sebring
    • Okeechobee

The region is close to 14 deepwater seaports.

Florida's Heartland region has one route managed by the Office of Florida Greenways and Trails. As a segment of the nationally recognized Florida National Scenic Trail, the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (L.O.S.T.) is 110 miles around the lake on the USACE service road atop the 35-foot tall Herbert Hoover Dike. The United States Army Corps of Engineers maintains the dike and service road, and several primitive camping sites and covered shelters along the trail for bikers and hikers.