The Barnett Family Junior Achievement of Polk Discovery Center is expected to open in fall 2026. It will house JA BizTown and JA Finance Park.
Inside JA Biztown, fifth graders will run banks, manage businesses and even serve as mayor. At JA Finance Park, older students will learn how to budget for housing, food and healthcare.
“It’s not just play,” said Shauna Dykes, president of Junior Achievement of Polk County. “Kids walk in as students and walk out seeing themselves as citizens, workers and even leaders.”
Why it matters
The United Way of Central Florida’s Community Needs Assessment identified education and workforce readiness as two of Polk County’s biggest gaps. Employers say too many applicants lack soft skills, teamwork and financial literacy…