CONSOLIDATED PLAN & STRATEGY 5-YEAR ... - City of Lakeland

2. Describe the basis for allocating investments geographically within the jurisdiction (or
within the EMSA for HOPWA) (91.215(a)(1)) and the basis for assigning the priority
(including the relative priority, where required) given to each category of priority needs
(91.215(a)(2)). Where appropriate, the jurisdiction should estimate the percentage of
funds the jurisdiction plans to dedicate to target areas.
3. Identify any obstacles to meeting underserved needs (91.215(a)(3)).
3-5 Year Strategic Plan General Questions response:
The City of Lakeland is located between the cities of Tampa and Orlando on the main
highway corridor of Interstate 4. Lakeland is the largest city in Polk County, which is
the eighth largest county in the state. Lakeland offers many amenities for an
exceptional quality of life such as its firm commitment to downtown redevelopment,
historic preservation, cultural amenities, and a business-friendly environment.
Lakeland is the home to Publix Supermarkets, which is its largest employer with over
9,000 employees. It has a growing sector of major health care providers in Lakeland
Regional Medical Center, Watson Clinic LLP and Clark & Daughtrey Medical Group.
Lakeland has four public/private colleges or universities, and is winter home to Major
League Baseball’s Detroit Tigers.
According to U.S. Census information, in 2000 the City’s population was 78,452. The
estimated current population is 95,999. The median age of the population is 37.7
years and 70.4% of the population is white. The largest minority is Black or African
American with a population of 19.4%, followed by Hispanic at 9.9%, those
categorized as other race at 6%, and Asian at 1.3%.
Population 1980 1990 2000 2010 2015 2020
Lakeland 47,406 70,576 78,452 95,999 110,818 117,758
Source: US Census Bureau/Shimberg Center
Geographic Distribution and Targeted Areas
The geographic areas of the City in which the CDBG funding will be invested consists
of the areas identified by Census Tract and Block Groups. According to the 2000
census, the Northwest section of Lakeland has the highest percentage of low income
residents. That is, the census tracts identified as Northwest contain the highest
concentration of low income families. The population in census tracts 112.01 and
112.02 is over 71% African-American. The population of the remaining low income
tracts is between 40 and 70 percent minority. The majority of the population in the
following census tracts is of low to moderate income:
Area of Low/Mod Concentration
Census Tract Block Group Low Mod Percent
101.00 1 73.9
102.00 1 80.8
102.00 2 75.1
103.00 3 63.2
104.00 1 52.7
104.00 3 65.4
107.01 2 54
108.00 1 59.1
3-5 Year Strategic Plan 7