OPENING JANUARY 27, 2027

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BUY A LEGACY BRICK

FUTURE HOME OF

GRAND OPENING

JANUARY 27, 2027

Tenoroc High School Campus Lakeland, Florida

VIP Partner Reception & Preview 4:30 p.m.
Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting 5:30 p.m

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WHERE POLK COUNTY’S FUTURE TAKES SHAPE

The Junior Achievement Barnett Family Discovery Center

Picture a 10 year old signing her first paycheck. A middle schooler choosing between a new car and a savings account he knows he’ll need. A classroom that becomes a city, a career, a life. That future is coming to Polk County.

In March 2026, Junior Achievement of Polk County broke ground on the Junior Achievement Barnett Family Discovery Center alongside Polk County Public Schools and local business and community leaders. This center is a promise to every student who walks through its doors that their education is a launchpad to a fulfilling life and a thriving career.

Our Purpose

For generations, Junior Achievement has helped young people build skills that matter. Now, we’re taking those competencies further, uniting them through one powerful purpose: accelerating economic mobility through education.

The Discovery Center is built on that purpose. We’re addressing the root issues that hold students back from educational attainment and workforce access, and we’re replacing them with relevant, immersive learning that shows every student what’s possible. When young people can see their future, they start building toward it.

At Muma BizTown, students don’t just learn about the working world. They run it. Elementary students step into a fully realized town where they hold real jobs, earn paychecks, run businesses, serve as citizens, and see how their choices shape a community. They discover that their ideas have value and their contributions matter. Many leave seeing themselves, for the first time, as leaders, entrepreneurs, and builders of the places they live.

At JA Finance Park, middle school students live a day in their own future. Each student receives a life scenario with a career, an income, and a family, then makes the same decisions adults face every day. Where will I live? How will I get to work? What happens when an unexpected bill arrives? Students leave with more than a balanced budget. They leave with the confidence to make choices that create stability, security, and opportunity for years to come.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

August 2026

July 2026

Buy a JA Legacy Brick

Become a permanent part of the JA Barnett Family Discovery Center when you purchase an engraved brick! The 4×8 bricks will be installed between the two front entrance doors of the building. The Discovery Center is expected to be complete by Spring 2027.

There is a limited amount of bricks available. Purchase yours today!

Click Here to Purchase a Brick

Cost: $500 per brick. 4” x 8” antique red finished brick. There is a limited amount of bricks available.
Bricks will be installed between the two front entrance doors.
Up to three lines of 18 characters each, including space and punctuation, all letters will be capitalized, and all lines will be automatically centered.
Junior Achievement reserves the right to review and approve any inscription before engraving.
This donation is tax-deductible. It is understood that this gift is for the normal life of the brick.