GlobeSt.com research shows the 150-acre undertaking would be the largest industrial real estate project of its kind ever attempted in cattle-raising and citrus-growing Osceola County and the second largest distribution center in Central Florida, next to the 20-year-old, 1.5-million-sf Kmart center in Ocala, FL.

When completed at the end of 2004, the Lowe's project is expected to create jobs for 600 Central Floridians and service 120 of the North Carolina company's stores throughout Florida and Southern Georgia. The development site is on Ham Brown Road, just south of U.S. 17-92 in Poinciana, FL.

The center will cover the equivalent of 28 football fields under one roof and will be equipped with five miles of conveyor to transport 25,000 different items through the facility each year. Lowe's operates nine regional distribution centers throughout the United States.Osceola County chairman Paul Owen credits Avatar Development Co. of Coral Gables, FL, the developer of Poinciana Industrial Park; Progress Energy Inc.; Enterprise Florida, the city of Kissimmee, FL and Gov. Jeb Bush's office with bringing the Lowe's project to Central Florida.