{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Felevatepolk.com%2Fepisodes%2Fstate-of-the-city-lakeland-cEU6EOIU","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":"S3 E8 #74 \"The State of the City of Lakeland, FL\"","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/d15c135b-90c2-4589-a85f-baac7c19c8d3/9497b28e-3ba7-4eb0-b86e-11ab9b35a7a4/elevate_polk_podcast_rebooting_the_podcast_about_the_podcast_1.jpg","thumbnail_height":300,"provider_url":"https://simplecast.com","provider_name":"Simplecast","html":"<iframe src=\"https://player.simplecast.com/3b92fb46-2ea4-4c33-aab5-588e7d9f0bd2\" height=\"200\" width=\"100%\" title=\"S3 E8 #74 &quot;The State of the City of Lakeland, FL&quot;\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"></iframe>","height":200,"description":"Lakeland is growing, and the decisions being made today will shape what it looks like to live, work, build, and do business here for years to come.\n\nIn this episode of Elevate Polk, Chrissanne Long and Dan Thumberg sit down with Shawn Sherrouse, City Manager for the City of Lakeland, to unpack the 2026 State of the City and explore what Lakeland’s growth means through the lens of infrastructure, public safety, city services, quality of life, small business, and economic development.\n\nThe conversation covers the role of a city manager, major infrastructure needs, community survey feedback, public safety investments, road projects, permitting, city purchasing, redevelopment, and Lakeland’s cost-of-doing-business advantages.\n\nMore than a city update, this episode connects the dots between local government decisions and the future of entrepreneurship, business growth, and economic opportunity in Polk County."}