Annual Economic Development Update - FY 2013

Cocoa
Florida
Working Together to Build a Brighter Future
2013
Annual Economic
Development Update
Cocoa
Florida
2013 at a glance
Population:
17, 443 (April 2013, BEBR);
5 miles: 53,668; 10 miles: 132,230; 20 miles: 255,940
Area:
14 square miles
County:
Brevard
Utilities:
Water and Sewer – regional supplier and City-owned
(The City of Cocoa is the 11th largest water supplier in the
state of Florida); Electric – Florida Power & Light; Telephone
– AT&T, various long-distance providers; Television –
BrightHouse Networks and various Satellite TV providers;
Internet providers – AT&T FastAccess DSL, BrightHouse
Networks and more.
Government:
Mayor and 4 elected Council Members
Incorporated on October 1, 1895
Business Environment:
Light manufacturing and industrial, retail and office businesses; 1,198 registered businesses; total 7,266 persons
employed; high school education or higher: 84%.
Location:
Centrally located, on the Space Coast, just east of Orlando
located along the Indian River Lagoon (North America’s
most diverse estuary).
Medical Services:
Two primary nearby hospitals, two assisted living facilities,
two nursing homes and one medical clinic. Cocoa is approximately forty minutes to Orlando’s Medical City.
Transportation:
Direct and convenient access to I-95, U.S. 1, State Roads
528 (Beachline), 524 and 520; Port Canaveral (passengers
and freight); Florida East Coast Rail; County bus service;
2 executive jet service airports and 30 minutes to Orlando
International Airport.
Housing:
Mixture of condominiums, single, multi-family as well as riverfront estate homes and senior apartment homes.
Economic Development:
Florida Enterprise Zone, Foreign Trade Zone, HUBZone,
Brownfield’s Redevelopment Program, Ad Valorem Tax
Abatement Program, Impact and Building/Permitting Fee
Waivers, Small Business Assistance, Commercial Façade
Improvement Programs and Economic Development Incentive Fund.
Climate:
Subtropical; average rainfall: 36 inches; average temperature: 73; winter mean temperature: 53; and summer mean
temperature: 80.
Public Safety:
City Police and Fire Departments
Median Household Income:
Cocoa: $35,321;
5 miles: $43,456; 10 miles: $49,064; 20 miles: $47,661
Brevard County: $46,429
Median Age:
Cocoa: 40, Brevard County: 46
2
Working
Together
Cocoa, Florida is an eclectic waterfront community located
where Highways 528, US1 and the intracoastal waterway
converge. It’s that very convergence that gives rise to the
collaborative and cooperative spirit you’ll find here. We’re a city
steeped in rich natural resources. A community with heritage
and authenticity that’s also blessed with something truly
unique: it’s people. And it’s our people – a unique and eclectic
assembly of every walk of life – that give us an advantage.
We’re a forward-thinking, diverse lot who believe it takes a
lot more to be successful than just statutes, ordinances and a
city charter. In Cocoa, we believe it does “take a community
to build a village.” It also takes vision and focus – not to
mention empathy. It requires hard work, dedication and drive.
It demands asking the right questions and being collaborative.
And it all starts with a belief in the power of listening – and
more importantly, the power of hearing.
Here in Cocoa you will find a harmonious blend of authenticity
wrapped up in a place where the community is inviting. You’ll
also find us to be a community that works together to find
unexpected solutions to the toughest problems, and then later
comes back together to celebrate the outcome. Because in
Cocoa, we not only work together, we do it with style.
And in Cocoa, it’s not just a philosophy that’s working.
It’s working together …
to Build a Brighter Future!
3
NEW PROJECTS & INITIATIVES
1st ANNUAL COCOA JOB FAIR
The City of Cocoa, in coordination with Brevard
Workforce, hosted its 1st Annual Cocoa Job Fair on
October 17, 2013 at Clearlake Education Center
(formerly Clearlake Middle School). The Job Fair
attracted 20 participating employers and over 400
job seekers from all over Brevard County. Survey
responses showed that 48% of applications and
resumes received were deemed “qualified” by the
participating employers. The 1st Annual Cocoa Job
Fair facilitated in the placement of 26 new employees.
is expected to serve approximately 80-100 children with
the help of 5-7 employees and approximately 50-75
volunteers. Programs and services provided by the Boys
& Girls Club in Cocoa will be modeled around the five
core focus areas: Character & Leadership Development;
Education & Career Development; Health & Life Skills;
The Arts; and Sports, Fitness, & Recreation. In addition,
the Cocoa branch is equipped with a new playground
funded by Disney Cruise Lines and made possible by
volunteers of the Cocoa community to include residents,
business owners, and organizations within Cocoa!
DIAMONDBACK
(AIRBOATS, FIREARMS, TOWERS, CNC)
In 2013, Diamondback brands made several expansions
to their facilities totaling 7,595 SF with a total capital
investment of $1,184,000 in equipment, molds,
building, and software. In addition, Diamondback
has created over 80 new jobs in 2013, doubling their
existing employee count. The average annual salary of
those new hires is approximately $30,000.
Coming soon, Diamondback Barrels is expected to be
operational in January 2014, leasing a 4,640 SF facility
in Cocoa. Diamondback Barrels is expecting to make
a capital investment of approximately $2 million and
create over 25 new jobs with an average annual salary
of approximately $40,000.
SINGLE STREAM RECYCLERS, LLC
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB in COCOA
In December 2013, Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida
completed renovations to an existing 11,747 SF facility
at 814 Dixon Boulevard in Cocoa. The new Cocoa branch
4
Single Stream Recyclers, LLC is expected to open
a 63,600 SF facility on 10.6 acres in Cocoa. This
processing facility converts the mixed residential
recyclables into individual commodities using state
of the art equipment to include screens, vacuum
systems, magnets, eddy currents, NIR optical scanners
and balers. Single Stream Recyclers, LLC is expected
to be operational in late May 2014, investing over
$10 million in the facility. It is anticipated that they will
hire 45-50 employees in the first year with an average
annual salary of approximately $37,000.
COCOA HYUNDAI RELOCATION
Cocoa Hyundai has relocated within Cocoa to a 9-acre
newly landscaped site at 825 West King Street (former
site of Quality Buick GMC). The newly remodeled
Cocoa Hyundai location boasts approximately 20,000
SF, five times the size of their former location “under
the billboard”! Cocoa Hyundai currently employs
approximately 90 people, to include the retention of a
few former employees of Quality Buick GMC. Cocoa
Hyundai has been in business in Cocoa for 13 years!
EMMA JEWEL CHARTER ACADEMY
Principal Thomas Cole founded Emma Jewel Charter
Academy located at 75 Blake Avenue in Cocoa at the
former Monroe High School. The Academy, which
opened its doors in August 2013, welcomed its
maximum number of students (200) in its first year,
serving students in grades 1 through 7, as well as a
special needs class. The Academy offers a Health &
Wellness curriculum provided by Dole Foods, and not
to mention they have a nutritionist on staff!
CLEARLAKE EDUCATION CENTER
Clearlake Education Center has made its home at the
former Clearlake Middle School. Housed here are
several Brevard County School Board programs such
as Central Area Adult Education, Head Start, Brevard
Virtual School, Brevard Schools Foundation Teacher
Store, Vision and Hearing offices, Technology Support
Services, and the Office of the Director of Adult and
Community Education to name a few. There are 87
employees staffed at Clearlake Education Center.
FED-EX
Fed-Ex has submitted a site plan for a proposed
expansion of 55,120 SF to their existing Cocoa
facility on Grissom Parkway, which currently employs
approximately 110 people. The proposed expansion
is slated for completion in the spring of 2014.
FAMILY DOLLAR
Slated for completion in the spring of 2014, Family
Dollar will open its doors, boasting an 8,320 SF store
located at 1049 West King Street in Cocoa. Formerly
this brownfield site was home to a restaurant and
auto parts store. Family Dollar has invested nearly
$1.6 million and is expected to hire 12 employees. In
2012, Family Dollar received $21,000 in brownfield
assessment funds from the City of Cocoa.
O’REILLY AUTO PARTS
O’Reilly Auto Parts has proposed a 7,385 SF store at
1111 King Street slated for completion in the summer
of 2014. O’Reilly Auto Parts is expected to hire
approximately 8-12 employees.
PERRONE PLAZA
In 2013, Cocoa Village LPS LLC completed renovations
on the building located at 226 King Street, subsequently
renamed Perrone Plaza. This Plaza is home to tenants
such as Sassafras Home Interiors, Lazy Bean Coffee
& Deli, Pirate Chest (Games, Toys, and Comics) and
“Once Was…” Alterations.
5
Economic Development
Programs & Incentives
The City of Cocoa is committed to creating 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 time and money. A variety of business assistance
and incentive programs coupled with a responsive and helpful staff
makes it possible for the City to partner with our new and existing
businesses to foster an entrepreneurial environment to help grow and
diversify the local economy.
Ad Valorem Tax Abatement
The City of Cocoa offers an ad valorem
tax abatement for new and expanding
businesses within the City. Eligibility
for and the scope of the exemption are
generally determined by the number of
new jobs created by the new or expanding
business, wages paid, benefits, and
the amount of capital investment
in improvement of property and/or
acquisition of business equipment.
Brownfields Redevelopment
Program
In 2003, the City of Cocoa was awarded
it first of three U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency Assessment Grants.
The purpose of the grants, as awarded
in 2003, 2005 and 2009, is to fund
Phase I and Phase II Environmental
Site Assessments on properties with
perceived or potential contamination. The
Cocoa Brownfields Area was designated
in January 2004 and encompasses the
City’s three Redevelopment Areas as
well as the Enterprise Zone. In addition,
in September 2011, the Cocoa City
Council designated the Cocoa Economic
Enhancement District (CEED) as Florida
Brownfields Area. Located north of
Highway 528, west of West Railroad
Avenue, south of the northern City limits
and east of Greensboro Road, the area
exceeds 1,000 acres and totals one
hundred seventy-seven (177) parcels.
Businesses that develop sites within the
City’s Brownfields area or CEED and
6
undertake and complete site clean-up
activities in cooperation with the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection
are eligible for a $2,500 Job Bonus
Refund for each new job created; sales
tax exemption on building materials; tax
credits for voluntary cleanup; and loan
guarantees on site rehabilitation and
development.
Commercial Façade
Program
The three Community Redevelopment
Agencies in the City of Cocoa sponsor a
Commercial Façade Program to benefit
property owners in the respective
redevelopment areas. Matching grants of
up to $10,000 (Amount varies with each
Community Redevelopment Agency)
are available to qualified owners to fund
exterior improvements such as painting,
lighting, landscaping, awnings, signage,
parking lots and more.
Enterprise Zone
The City of Cocoa has a designated
Florida Enterprise Zone (EZ 501). An
Enterprise Zone is a specific geographic
area targeted for economic revitalization.
State incentives include a Jobs Tax Credit
on either Sales or Corporate Income Tax;
a Building Materials Sales Tax Credit; and
a Business Equipment Sales Tax Credit.
City of Cocoa incentives include Priority
Permitting; Waiver of Local Business
Taxes; the Reduction of Building and
Permitting Fees and certain Impact Fees.
During the State’s last fiscal year, the City
of Cocoa facilitated in the relocation of
24 new businesses within the Enterprise
Zone, resulting in 58 new jobs created
within the Zone. In addition, state
incentives granted were as follows:
• Two (2) Building Materials Sales Tax
applications were received in the total
amount of $15, 963.13.
• One (1) Jobs Credit Sales Tax
application was received in the total
amount of $1,680.95.
Local incentives granted for those new
businesses locating within the Zone are
as follows:
• One (1) Ad Valorem Tax exemption
application was received in the total
amount of $1,675.41.
• Fifteen (15) Business Tax Receipt
Waivers were granted for a total
of $1,110.
Foreign Trade Zone
A Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) offers significant
benefits for many types of businesses that
import a considerable amount of goods.
The FTZ allows businesses to defer or
eliminate duty on imported goods prior
to actually entering the United States. The
FTZ program helps businesses to improve
cash flow significantly, cut costs and gain
a competitive advantage. Cocoa is home
to one of FTZ 136 general purpose sites
located at Tate Industrial Park. Additionally,
under the FTZ’s new framework, the City
of Cocoa in partnership with Canaveral
Port Authority, can achieve foreign trade
zone designation for any business located
within the city.
HUBZone Empowerment
Contracting Program
This program was created and has been
administrated by the U.S. Small Business
Administration since l997. The City of
Cocoa has special designated areas that
qualify under this program. The HUB
(Historically Underutilized Business) Zone
program helps small businesses in urban
and rural communities gain preferential
access to federal procurement opportunities. These preferences go to
small businesses that obtain HUBZone
certification in part by employing staff
who live in a HUBZone. The company
must also maintain a “principal office” in
one of these specially designated areas.
Small Business Assistance
The Small Business Assistance Program
will assist new and expanding businesses
with costs related to non-utility related
improvements in the public right-of-way as
well as offer credits toward city levied impact
fees. The Program is designed to help
small businesses with the costs associated
with small-scale infrastructure projects and
related development fees. In addition, the
Program will enable small businesses to
obtain assistance toward industry specific
certification as well as participation in state
and federal workforce training.
Workforce Training
and Education
The City of Cocoa is home to Eastern
Florida State College, the Brevard
Campus of the University of Central
Florida, and the Florida Solar Energy
Center. Programs are available through
the Masters Level as well as a variety of
technical and professional development
courses. In addition, the City of Cocoa
hosts a variety of workshops and
seminars that provide skills and training
that small businesses need in order to
grow and become successful.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
INCENTIVE FUND
On October 1, 2013, $500,000 in
performance-based incentives was
approved by City Council for the
Economic Development Incentive Fund.
The Fund is shared proportionately by two
concentrations: 1) business development
and the creation of new jobs, and 2) utilityrelated activities, both of which ultimately
expand the tax base of the City.
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
PROPERTY SEARCH
For new and expanding businesses,
the Office of Economic Development
maintains a list of commercial and industrial
(including vacant) properties available for
sale or lease within the City of Cocoa. If
you’re seeking to open or expand your
business in Cocoa, city staff is ready and
able to assist you in finding the space that
meets your business’s needs.
7
Streamlined Permitting
To further streamline the permitting process and ensuring it competitive advantage, in 2013,
the City undertook a comprehensive assessment of its building permit and business tax
receipt fee schedules. The assessment resulted in a simplification of both fee schedules; a
significant reduction in building permit fees; and the elimination of several additional fees
associated with the business tax receipt. Building permit fees based on project valuation
realized a reduction between 50% and 78% for commercial and between 73% and 86% for
residential. Fixed fee permits were reduced, on average, between 25% and 70% depending
on the type of permit. The City of Cocoa’s dedication and commitment to an efficient and
streamlined development and permitting process is evidenced by the following designations.
The Economic Development Commission of
Florida’s Space Coast (EDC) initially awarded the
City of Cocoa the S.N.A.P. designation on May 18,
2011, for demonstrated excellence in streamlining
the building and site permitting process. On
August 7, 2013, the Economic Development
Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, through
its Development Council, recertified the City of
Cocoa as a S.N.A.P. community in recognition of
outstanding efforts in streamling the building and
site permitting process.
S.N.A.P., a program of the EDC, is an acronym
for Simplified, Nimble, Accelerated Permitting
and recognizes municipalities that have adopted
permitting best practices as determined by the
EDC Development Council and participating
municipalities. Over a series of months, the
Council developed a best practices model for
both building and site permitting and refined it
further from input and feedback from Brevard
County municipalities. Efficient, streamlined
permitting can enhance a region’s ability to attract
new business and investment. It also provides a
valuable tool to retain existing businesses and
encourage expansion in a given region.
8
On December 14, 2012, the Central
Florida
Partnership’s
myregion.
org certified the City of Cocoa as a
community that is “Open for Business”.
This initiative was designed to identify
the economic and regulatory barriers
to business growth and expansion in
Central Florida. With that in mind,
it is the goal of certified “Open for
Business” governments to streamline
building and permitting 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
Diamond Square
Redevelopment Agency
The Diamond Square Community Redevelopment
Agency is in the final stages of updating its plan!
Community Meetings were held throughout 2013
and the Plan is in its final draft. At the conclusion of
the process, the updated redevelopment plan will
be presented to the Diamond Square Community
Redevelopment Agency, the Cocoa City Council and
Brevard County’s Board of County Commissioners for
adoption. The Diamond Square CRA owns several
properties for which they intend to seek development
as Workforce Housing. Diamond Square Community
Redevelopment Agency recently completed, in
conjunction with the City’s Housing and Neighborhood
Services Division and Brevard County, a nearly $1
million storm water pond and drainage improvement
project along Bernard and Whaley Streets.
the Florida East Coast Railway. The rail service would
utilize the existing 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. Stations
are currently planned for downtowns of Miami, Fort
Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach and the future
Intermodal Station at Orlando International 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 operation
by December 2015. The City has held preliminary
discussions with All Aboard Florida and is encouraged
by the possibility of having a future stop located
in Cocoa as part of a phase 2 of the passenger rail
service.
US 1 Widening
AMTRAK/FEC PROJECT
The US 1 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)
has partnered with the City of Cocoa for design and
construction of landscaping, hardscaping and lighting
improvements along US1 from Pine Street to Cidco
Road. This project is in conjunction with the road
widening to be undertaken by Florida Department of
Transportation, which began in 2013. It is anticipated
that construction will conclude in 2016.
Intercity passenger rail is coming back to the east
coast along the FEC rail corridor. In preparation, the
Cocoa CRA, working with the City of Rockledge,
will begin to develop plans to redesign the CocoaRockledge station in the upcoming year. The City,
in coordination with the Florida Department of
Transportation (FDOT) and Amtrak, identified the
former train station on the Cocoa-Rockledge border,
which served the communities until 1960s, as one
of the eight “station cities”. This location provides
easy access to Historic Cocoa Village and will provide
access to cruise passengers at Port Canaveral.
All aboard florida
All Aboard Florida is a proposed private passenger
high speed rail service which would operate along
9
Top 20
Business Name#
# EMP
Business Name#
# EMP
Wal-Mart Supercenter
335
Cocoa Hyundai
90
Beyel Brothers Inc
185
Labor Ready Southeast Inc
80
Sam’s Club
160
Paradise Ford
70
Sun & Skin Care Research LLC (Ocean Potion)
155
Precision Fabricating & Cleaning Inc
65
Coastal Steel Inc
140
Gem Industries
65
Brevard Robotics Inc
130
Guardian Manufacturing
55
Winn Dixie
110
Cocoa Hyundai
55
Diamondback Brands
(Firearms, CNC, Towers, Airboats)
110
VA Paving, Inc.
45
Really Innovations, LLC
45
Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc
100
Brewer Paving & Development, Inc.
45
Cocoa Auto Dealers Exchange Inc
100
Kel-Tec CNC Industries, Inc.
40
TOTAL
10
private Employers
in Cocoa
2,180
Choose Cocoa
We have all the right incentives for your business and family!
• 1,000-plus Acres
Industrial & Commercial
Land Available for
Development
• Expedited Building & Site
Permitting Process
• Impact Fee Assistance
• Ad Valorem Tax
Abatement Program
• Sales & Use Tax
Exemptions
• Quadramodal Foreign
Trade Zone
• Rail Service
(200-car railhead)
• Full Service Cargo
Facilities (Port Canaveral)
• Cocoa HUBZone
• Florida Enterprise Zone
• Small Business
Assistance Program
• Quality Workforce
• Targeted Training
• A-Rated Schools
• College Campuses &
Research Institutes
– Eastern Florida
State College
– University of
Central Florida
– Florida Solar
Energy Center
• Historic Cocoa Village
Playhouse
• Historic Cocoa Village –
Unique Shopping
& Dining
• Florida High Tech Corridor
• Florida Historical
Society Library
• Brownfields
Redevelopment Program
• Brevard Museum of
History & Natural Science
• Community
Redevelopment Programs
• Year-round Special
Events & Celebrations
City of Cocoa
Office of Economic Development
65 Stone Street, Cocoa, Florida 32922
[email protected] • 321-433-8525
www.cocoafl.org
“Working Together to Build a Brighter Future”
11
Thank you
to our Primary Sponsors
city COUNCIL:
City staff:
Mayor Henry U. Parrish, III
John A. Titkanich, Jr., AICP, City Manager
Deputy Mayor Clarence Whipple, Jr., District 1
Steven P. Belden, AICP, Community
Services Director
Brenda Warner, District 2
Nancy A. Dresser, Deputy Community
Services Director
Don Boisvert, District 3
Tyler Furbish, District 4
Joan A. Junkala, Economic Development
Specialist
T. Scott Davis, Building Official
Susan McGrady, CRA Manager
Dodie Selig, Senior Planner
65 Stone Street, Cocoa, Florida 32922
www.cocoafl.org | (321) 433-8525 | [email protected]
12