ANNUAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE Working Together to Build a Brighter Future 65 Stone Street, Cocoa, Florida 32922 www.cocoafl.org I (321) 433-8525 I business@cocoafl.org
WORKING TOGETHER
AT A GLANCE AREA: 14 square miles COUNTY: Brevard LOCATION: Centrally located on the Space Coast, east of Orlando, and situated along the Indian River Lagoon (North America's most diverse estuary). ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Florida Enterprise Zone, Foreign Trade Zone, HUBZone, Brownfield's Redevelopment Program, Ad Valorem Tax Abatement Program, Impact and Building/Permi ng Fee Waivers, Small Business Assistance Program, Commercial Façade Improvement Programs and Economic Development Incen ve Fund. HOUSING: Mixture of single and mul -family housing, condominiums, apartment homes, as well as riverfront estate homes, and senior apartments. CLIMATE: Subtropical; average rainfall: 36 inches; average temperature: 73; winter mean temperature: 53; summer mean temperature: 80. PUBLIC SAFETY: City Police and Fire Departments; The City also has a mutual aid agreement with Brevard County for fire services. MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME: Cocoa: $34,824 5 miles: $46,031; 10 miles: $52,488; 20 miles: $50,905 Brevard County: $51,308 MEDIAN AGE: Cocoa: 41, Brevard County: 46
2nd ANNUAL COCOA JOB FAIR The Office of Economic Development held the 2nd Annual Cocoa Job Fair at Clearlake Educa on Center in Cocoa and hosted 15 employers from all over Brevard County. Addi onally, the job fair was a ended by over 160 job seekers from all over the County. Following the Job Fair, the Office surveyed the par cipa ng employers to learn that over 11 percent of job seekers who a ended were hired as a result of the Job Fair. SHOP LOCAL. SHOP COCOA. The City of Cocoa is excited to announce its own #SHOPCOCOA campaign to further encourage shopping local and within your community. It is no secret that spending your hard earned dollars in your own community helps to sustain and grow jobs for residents, i.e. your neighbors. Shopping local increases the tax base of our City, ul mately crea ng a thriving community and a be er quality of life for residents. With that in mind, the City of Cocoa is encouraging the local business community to shop locally. Get to know your local businesses by visi ng the online business directory at www.cocoafl.org/bizdirectory. DID YOU KNOW According to the U.S. Small Business Administra on, 75% of net new jobs in our economy are created by small business, which employ 50% of all private sector workers and make up more than 99.7% of all employers. STATE ROAD 520 SPOTLIGHT The State Road 520 corridor at the Fiske Boulevard intersec on in Cocoa is seeing an economic revitaliza on thanks to investment made by new and expanding businesses along the corridor! Last year we welcomed the new Family Dollar and O'Reilly Auto Parts. This year we are pleased to welcome expansion and renova ons by Sportbike Lites, as well as the newest addi ons, Tropical Garage Doors and Superb Kitchens & Baths. SINGLE STREAM RECYCLERS, LLC In October 2014, Single Stream Recyclers, LLC opened a 63,750 SF facility on 10.33 acres at 650 Townsend Road in Cocoa. This processing facility converts mixed residen al recyclables into individual commodi es using state of the art equipment to include screens, vacuum systems, magnets, eddy currents, NIR op cal scanners and balers. Single Stream Recyclers, LLC invested approximately $12 million in the facility. It is an cipated that they will hire a total of 45-50 employees in the first year with an average annual salary of approximately $37,000.
PARKSIDE PLACE (4 HARRISON STREET) An office building once owned by Head Start was acquired by Centennial Development Group, LLC in December 2013. The Group shares the vision of Cocoa Village as a popular des na on for residents and visitors alike and believes that this project will be a catalyst to a rac ng other unique development to the downtown. The Group is an cipated to make approximately $225,000 in improvements to the building by the me construc on is completed. The building now known as Parkside Place has been transformed into an a rac ve addi on to the already charming and unique Cocoa Village and boasts new and familiar store fronts including the Village Cycle Shoppe, Daddy Ultra Runs, Village Idiot Pub, Parkside General Store, Bobbie's at Parkside, and Ryan's Village Pizza, which will feature a newly constructed 2nd story open air bar and deck overlooking Cocoa Riverfront Park and the Indian River. SUN & SKIN CARE RESEARCH, LLC If you've bought sun-care products in the last 25 years, chances are you've heard of the products manufactured by Sun & Skin Care Research (SSCR). Ocean Po on was introduced with the founding of the company in 1989, while No-Ad was acquired in 2008 and BullFrog in 2013. With a mission to improve and protect skin health, as well as lead the industry in innova on and customer sa sfac on, SSCR has only just begun to make its mark on the skin care conscious, sun-kissed, and outdoor lovers of all ages across the globe. In 2000, SSCR relocated its headquarters to the City of Cocoa for reasons including proximity to other major ci es, great work environment, and good workforce. As their brands have grown so have their staff. By the start of 2015, SSCR will be hiring approximately 20 new employees as they begin manufacturing a new skin care line in an effort to meet the sun and skin care needs of their customers. Expansion of the BullFrog performance line is also in the works, as the Company con nues to diversify their products beyond sun care. Keep an eye out for these new products in Walmart stores as soon as February 2015. P.R.O. BUSINESS Providing Real Opportuni es for Business Growth While a rac ng a new business to the community fosters job crea on and revenue genera on, retaining and expanding our exis ng businesses and industries provides long-term success for the community in sustaining exis ng jobs and crea ng new jobs and opportuni es for our residents. In response to our growing business community and the need for con nued services to exis ng businesses and industries, the City of Cocoa has implemented P.R.O. Business. P.R.O. Business is a business reten on and expansion tool that serves as a catalyst to sustaining our local business community as well as fostering their growth. With the goal of assis ng businesses in mind, this program provides workshops, resources, technical assistance, business roundtables, site visita on, networking and more!
INITIATIVES & PROJECT ANNOUNCEMENTS (CONT.) BREVARD MUSEUM OF HISTORY & NATURAL SCIENCE In October 2014, the Florida Historical Society (FHS) acquired the Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science. Established in 1856, FHS is the oldest exis ng cultural organiza on in the state with a headquarters in Historic Cocoa Village. From the skeletons of prehistoric beasts, to pioneer ar facts, to the latest images from the Hubble Space Telescope, the Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science brings the past to life for the whole family with exci ng exhibits. GOODWILL VOCATIONAL & DROP OFF CENTER In fall 2014, Goodwill Industries began leasing a 7,310 SF facility located at 430 N. Cocoa Blvd. Once home to Cocoa Hyundai's service center, this newly renovated facility houses a drop-off center and storage of donated items. In addi on, the facility also provides voca onal programs and services for displaced workers and families to include career counseling and skills training, temporary work for people with disabili es, homeless services such as voca onal assessments, planning and counseling, at-risk services for students ages 14 through 18, youth mentorship programs, and money management. NAPA AUTO PARTS STORE In May 2014, Napa Auto Parts Store (also known as Space Coast Auto Supply, Inc) purchased an 8,000 SF facility located at 4 N. Cocoa Boulevard (formerly home to Brevard Ligh ng). This reloca on will more than double the size of their current loca on in Cocoa. The Cocoa CRA board recently approved a Commercial Façade Grant in the amount of $5,000 for renova ons to the exterior of the building currently underway and removal and replacement of the wooden façade, new signage, pain ng of the exterior of the building as well as installa on of a new double front door and a leading concrete ramp for easier access. Total cost of renova ons and improvements are es mated at $179,000. TRACTOR SUPPLY CO. A na onal retailer, Tractor Supply Co., has selected Cocoa as their next loca on! Opera ng over 1,300 retail stores in 49 states, the largest operator of rural lifestyle retail stores is currently in the process of making renova ons for approximately 38,000 SF at Byrd Plaza. Demoli on and fascia repair is currently underway. DURALLOY SCREWS, INC. In September 2014, Duralloy Screws, Inc. (DSI) purchased the former Morton Salt facility located at 440 W. Railroad Avenue and has invested more than $60,000 in renova ons. This nearly 20,000 SF facility more than doubles the size of their previous facility in Cocoa allowing for an increase in capacity and produc vity. Doing business on the Space Coast since 2001, DSI specializes in the manufacturing and rebuilding of feed screws and barrels for the plas c, rubber, and food industries. With the reloca on, DSI now has the ability to service more clients and an cipates hiring addi onal employees in the first quarter of 2015. PORT CANAVERAL PURCHASES 270 AC IN COCOA In December 2014, Canaveral Port Authority approved the purchase of approximately 270 acres (formerly known as Brevard Crossings) on State Road 524 near Interstate 95 in Cocoa for the purpose of developing a major logis cs and distribu on hub, which is expected to become a major job center in the City of Cocoa. Details for the development of the site are an cipated to begin in 2015. DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY ON FLORIDA AVENUE You might have no ced the demoli on taking place at the former Oak Park Mobile Home community located at the corner of Florida Avenue and Rosa L. Jones Drive. In spring 2014, this parcel was purchased by a private owner with the intent of a rac ng development opportuni es to the site and ul mately more investment in Cocoa Village. Development of this site, whether retail or residen al, is an cipated to extend the footprint of the Village and increase the walkability to the southern edge of the city limits.
Choose Cocoa We have all the right incen ves for your business and family! COLLEGE CAMPUSES & RESEARCH INSTITUTES Eastern Florida State College University of Central Florida Florida Solar Energy Center UNIQUE SHOPPING & DINING Historic Cocoa Village Award winning dining 1,000 PLUS ACRES INDUSTRIAL & COMMERCIAL LAND AVAILABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT QUADRAMODAL FOREIGN TRADE ZONE EXPEDITED BUILDING & SITE PERMITTING PROCESS City of Cocoa Office of Economic Development 65 Stone Street, Cocoa, Florida 32922 business@cocoafl.org (321) 433-8525 Stay connected with the City of Cocoa www.cocoafl.org WORKING TOGETHER TO BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS & INCENTIVES The City of Cocoa is commi ed to crea ng a climate to facilitate the growth and prosperity of our local businesses. Through lower development fees, a more responsive staff, and an open for business atmosphere, the City of Cocoa will allow you to maximize your investment, both in me and money. A variety of business assistance and incen ve programs coupled with a responsive and helpful staff makes it possible for the City to partner with our new and exis ng businesses to foster an entrepreneurial environment to help grow and diversify the local economy.
TOP EMPLOYERS IN COCOA C o m p a n y N a m e E m p lo y e e s E as tern Florida S tate C ollege 615 C ity of C oc oa 420 W al-mart As s oc iates Inc 330 B eyel B rothers Inc 210 S un & S kin C are R es earc h (O c ean P otion, B ull Frog, No-AD ) 175 S am 's C lub 150 K el-tec /B revard R obotic s Inc. 130 P ublix S uper Markets Inc 130 D iam ondbac k Am eric a 124 C oas tal S teel Inc 120 C oc oa Auto D ealers E xc hange Inc 100 C oc a-c ola E nterpris es (Mango B ottling) 90 Fed-E x Ground D is tributors 80 S pac e C oas t Honda 80 C oc oa Hyundai Inc 75 United S tates P os tal S ervic e 75 Labor R eady S outheas t Inc 70 C entral B revard Hum ane S oc iety 65 P aradis e Ford 65 W inn D ixie S tores Inc 55 2013 Professional, Scien fic, and Technical Retail Trade Food Services and Drinking Places Real Estate and Rental and Leasing Health Care and Social Assistance Specialty Trade Contractors Repair and Maintenance Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing Telecommunica ons Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries
STREAMLINED PERMITTING To further streamline the permi ng process and ensure it s compe ve advantage, in 2013, the City undertook a comprehensive assessment of its building permit and business tax receipt fee schedules. The assessment resulted in a simplifica on of both fee schedules; a significant reduc on in building permit fees; and the elimina on of several addi onal fees associated with the business tax receipt. Building permit fees based on project valua on realized a reduc on between 50% and 78% for commercial and between 73% and 86% for residen al. Fixed fee permits were reduced, on average, between 25% and 70% depending on the type of permit. The City of Cocoa s dedica on and commitment to an efficient and streamlined development and permi ng process is evidenced by the following designa ons. The Economic Development Commission of Florida s Space Coast (EDC) ini ally awarded the City of Cocoa the S.N.A.P. designa on on May 18, 2011, for demonstrated excellence in streamlining the building and site permi ng process. On August 7, 2013, the EDC of Florida s Space Coast, through its Development Council, recer fied the City of Cocoa as a S.N.A.P. community in recogni on of outstanding efforts in streamlining the building and site permi ng process. S.N.A.P., a program of the EDC, is an acronym for Simplified, Nimble, Accelerated Permi ng and recognizes municipali es that have adopted permi ng best prac ces as determined by the EDC Development Council and par cipa ng municipali es. Over a series of months, the Council developed a best prac ces model for both building and site permi ng and refined it further from input and feedback from Brevard County municipali es. Efficient, streamlined permi ng can enhance a region s ability to a ract new business and investment. It also provides a valuable tool to retain exis ng businesses and encourage expansion in a given region. On December 14, 2012, the Central Florida Partnership s myregion.org cer fied the City of Cocoa as a community that is Open for Business. This ini a ve was designed to iden fy the economic and regulatory barriers to business growth and expansion in Central Florida. With that in mind, it is the goal of cer fied Open for Business governments to streamline building and permi ng processes in order to foster a business climate that encourages development by being more predictable and consistent with the region, as a whole.
PROJECT UPDATES THE FACTORY White Challis Redevelopment Co., Inc., through a public/private partnership with the Cocoa Community Redevelopment Agency, will be developing the site that formerly housed the old Cocoa City Hall at 605 Brevard Avenue. Based on the newly revised Development Agreement, White Challis will be construc ng six (6) brownstones (Mixed-Use Lots) to be developed with the first floor as commercial and the subsequent floors as residen al. Each of the six (6) lots would have fee simple ownership and a detached two-car garage. In addi on to the six brownstones, a 3,500 square foot restaurant located at the north-east corner of the property will also be constructed. It is an cipated that the ground breaking for the project will be in August 2015. PEDESTRIAN & VEHICULAR WAYFINDING PROGRAM The Cocoa Community Redevelopment Agency has contracted with AECOM to design and engineer a vehicular and pedestrian wayfinding signage program for Historic Cocoa Village. Included in the program are vehicle signs along State Road 520 and US 1 direc ng drivers to points of interest within the Village. Also included in the design will be vehicular signage along Florida Avenue and Brevard Avenue as well as other local thoroughfares direc ng motorists to Village points of interest and municipal parking. The final phase of the program will be the design and engineering of pedestrian signage in the Village to provide guidance to points of interest. US 1 WIDENING & BEAUTIFICATION In conjunc on with the City of Cocoa, the US 1 Corridor Community Redevelopment Agency has funded $1.6 million in upgrades to the US 1 Widening project currently under construc on by the Florida Department of Transporta on from Pine Street to Cidco Road. These upgrades include decora ve street lights, texturized median treatments and landscaping to intersec on medians. The projected comple on date for the project is spring 2016. FLORIDA AVENUE COMPLETE STREETS The Cocoa Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has been awarded $913,000 from the Space Coast Transporta on Planning Organiza on to implement Complete Street design, engineering and construc on for Florida Avenue. As part of the Complete Street concept, Florida Avenue will be redesigned from State Road 520 south towards the intersec on with Rosa L. Jones Drive to include stamped concrete sidewalks, ornamental street lights, landscaping, parallel parking and bicycle-sharing lanes. Engineering plans will be completed in 2015 and construc on set to begin in October 2015. The total cost of the project is es mated to be $1.1 million for which the Cocoa CRA will provide the remainder of the funding. COCOA RIVERFRONT MOORING FIELD The City of Cocoa was a recipient of a $25,000 grant from the Florida Inland Naviga on District (FIND) for design and engineering of the Cocoa Riverfront Mooring Field. In partnership with the Cocoa Community Redevelopment
Agency, Frazier Engineering of Melbourne will begin the design and engineering process in January 2015 with a comple on date of September 30, 2015. LEE WENNER PARK ENHANCEMENTS PHASE 1 In 2013, the Cocoa Community Redevelopment Agency was awarded $75,000 from the Florida Inland Naviga on District (FIND) Waterway Improvement Program for design and engineering of 1) the Cocoa Connector, a pedestrian and bicycle walkway connec ng Lee Wenner Park with the north side of S.R. 520 under the Hubert H. Humphry Bridge; 2) the extension of the T-Dock to accommodate larger vessels as well as increase capacity; and 3) the reconstruc on of the old causeway bridge into a public fishing pier. Engineering and Design was completed by Frazier Engineering in September 2014 and construc on is slated to begin in 2016. DIAMOND SQUARE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY The Diamond Square Community Redevelopment Agency completed its Plan Update in March 2014. Community mee ngs were held throughout 2013 and provided community support for the development of six (6) transforma onal ini a ves. Plans will soon be underway for the design of Phase 1 for the Stone Street streetscaping project, which will extend from the FEC railroad to just west of the intersec on of Stone Street and Washington Avenue with Phase 2 extending from Washington Avenue to Fiske Boulevard. A series of public mee ngs will be held to seek input on the design. ALL ABOARD FLORIDA All Aboard Florida is a proposed private passenger high speed rail service which would operate along the Florida East Coast Railway. The rail service would u lize the exis ng Florida East Coast Railway between Miami and the Space Coast, with the development of new tracks along the Beachline Expressway (State Road 528), and into Central Florida. Sta ons are currently planned for downtowns of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach and the future Intermodal Sta on at Orlando Interna onal Airport where All Aboard Florida will connect with the new SunRail commuter rail system due to open in 2014. This project would be privately owned, operated, and maintained by Florida East Coast Industries, LLC. All Aboard Florida is expected to be in opera on by December 2015.
STRATEGIC PLAN 2014 has been a year rooted in se ng the founda on for a brighter future. Early in 2014 the City ini ated a broad-based strategic planning process involving City employees from all levels of the City, City Council and the community. In advance of a facilitated community visioning mee ng, City staff met over several months evalua ng the City's current Mission Statement, formula ng a set of organiza onal Core Values, and analyzing both our internal and external environments, through a series of SWOC (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportuni es, and Challenges) exercises and facilitated mee ngs. Based on the informa on and data researched and developed, and following community comment and City Council discussion at the community visioning mee ng, City Council determined the most important (strategic) issues in which the City must address over the next 5 years. In no par cular order of importance, with the underlying philosophy that public safety is job number one for the City, the following are the City's strategic issues and the specific ques ons that the City must answer to address the issue: Crime. How will the City con nue to reduce crimes against persons and property to provide an environment where every ci zen, business, and visitor feels safe? Community Development (Redevelopment of the City's Core). How will the City raise the quality of life for all its residents, especially those most vulnerable and disadvantaged? Economic Development. How will the City increase its economic posi on within the Space Coast region to be more compe ve in retaining and a rac ng private capital investment, businesses, and jobs? Public Safety. How will the City ensure that public safety resources are strategically allocated to provide the most effec ve and efficient delivery of public services? Image. How will the City improve its image, both physically and emo onally? Financial Sustainability. How will the City develop a financially sustainable revenue base and control expenses to support the delivery of high quality municipal services? Civic Engagement. How will the City foster civic engagement and involvement? Employees. How will the City work to retain a qualified workforce and prepare itself for the re rement of long-tenured employees, especially in organiza onally cri cal posi ons? City Council and staff met in late 2014 to establish issue specific commi ees and general topics for discussion that will lead to the development of goals, objec ves, strategies and ac on items to address each strategic issue. The commi ees will meet between January and August 2015. Addi onal mee ngs with City Council and the community will be facilitated and it is an cipated the City will adopt the 2015 2020 Strategic Plan in August 2015. If you would like to be a part of the City's Strategic Planning ini a ve, please contact Ma Fuhrer, at (321) 433-8686 or by email at mfuhrer@cocoafl.org. Your par cipa on is greatly appreciated, and Working Together We Can Build a Brighter Future!
Stay connected with the City of Cocoa www.cocoafl.org