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Ad Valorem Tax Abatement Program

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1. What is the purpose of the Ad Valorem Tax (AVT) Abatement program?

The program is designed to spur the location and/or expansion of eligible businesses in the City of Cocoa through the exemption of certain, but not all, local taxes. Please call 321-433-8684 for more information.

2. Who is eligible for AVT abatement?

Generally, to be eligible a business must agree to create a minimum of 10 new jobs, and invest in new capital, such as new construction and/or tangible property. Please call 321-433-8684 for more information.

3. Who grants AVT abatements?

The Cocoa City Council has sole discretion to grant the AVT abatements city wide. Please call 321-433-8684 for more information.

4. Do AVT abatements involve cash transactions?

No. As the name implies, AVT abatement involves an annual reduction of certain property taxes for a period of time not to exceed 10 years. The abatement is not applied until at least 1 year after it is granted, and only after the company has submitted the required annual report to the City of Cocoa certifying it has met required milestones. Please call 321-433-8684 for more information.

5. Do AVT abatements involve all taxes levied by the City of Cocoa?

No. The abatement does not apply to taxes levied by a school district, or water management district, or to taxes levied for the payment of bonds or taxes authorized by a vote of the electors. Please call 321-433-8684 for more information.

6. Once abatement is granted, does it remain in place no matter what?

No. The ability for a business to receive abatement for the period granted is conditioned upon the applicant's ability to achieve hiring, wage and capital investment requirements agreed to at the time the abatement is approved. Failure to achieve those obligations will lead to the abatement being rescinded. Please call 321-433-8684 for more information.

7. How does the City monitor whether a business is achieving the goals under the AVT abatement program?

The applicant is required to submit an annual report, along with supporting documents, to the City of Cocoa showing it has satisfied job creation, wage, and capital investment milestones. Please call 321-433-8684 for more information.

8. Why is the City supportive of the AVT abatement program?

Many cities offer incentives to new and existing businesses to encourage job creation and business expansion. The AVT abatement program better positions the City of Cocoa to remain competitive with other communities in securing new employment opportunities for its residents.

The AVT abatement program can be used to match State incentives, many of which require up to 20% in local match. Without the AVT abatement program, the City may not be able to reinforce a business's eligibility for State incentives, and would require the City to consider matching State incentives using general funds.

While it may seem like an easy decision for a business to locate to the City of Cocoa, incentives can sometimes be the deciding factor for whether a business remains in, or relocates to our community, and is often times the catalyst for success for a business during a period of growth.

Please call 321-433-8684 for more information.

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Annexation

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1. What is annexation?

Annexation is the act of adding real property to the boundaries of an incorporated municipality, i.e. City of Cocoa. See Florida Statute 171.011 thru 171.094.

Please call 321-433-8684 for more information about initiating the annexation process, and contact the City's Planning Department at 321-433-8501 for P&Z related inquiries.

2. Does my property qualify for annexation?

Per the Florida Statute, a governmental entity can only annex properties that abut property located within that city’s boundaries. The statute also strictly prohibits enclaves or pockets of unincorporated areas.

Please call 321-433-8684 for more information about initiating the annexation process, and contact the City's Planning Department at 321-433-8501 for P&Z related inquiries.

3. Why does the City want to annex our land?

A municipality may wish to annex land to ensure sound urban development and accommodation to growth as well as ensure that municipal services can be provided to those areas. A municipality can only annex land that is contiguous with a part of the boundary of the municipality. A city might wish to annex land to clean up irregular boundaries and eliminate enclaves. A municipality will also annex land at the request of the property owner. 

Please call 321-433-8684 for more information about initiating the annexation process, and contact the City's Planning Department at 321-433-8501 for P&Z related inquiries.

4. How is property annexed?

Annexations can occur in several ways:

• Property owners contiguous to the City may initiate voluntary annexation proceedings. A petition signed by all property owners in the area being considered for annexation must be submitted to the City of Cocoa. The Property is annexed upon adoption of an annexation ordinance by Cocoa City Council.
• The City can initiate annexation proceedings through an annexation referendum of all registered electors residing in the area being considered for annexation. The annexation passes with a simple majority of registered voters voting for annexation.
• The City can also initiate annexation proceedings in non-residential areas. The City may annex an area when the owners of more than 50% of the acreage and more than 50% of property owner’s consent in the area are consenting to the annexation.

Please call 321-433-8684 for more information about initiating the annexation process, and contact the City's Planning Department at 321-433-8501 for P&Z related inquiries.

5. What are the benefits of being annexed into the City of Cocoa?

All residents and business owners within Cocoa city limits receive a 10% reduction on the water utility bill as well as a 25% reduction on sewer and reclaimed water. Additional intangible benefits of annexing into Cocoa include responsive police and fire services, proactive business environment and code enforcement, streamlined and competitive permit fees, additional representation from local district council member, and available local economic development and community redevelopment grant and incentive programs as well as marketing and promotion of available commercial and industrial property located within Cocoa City Limits.

Please call 321-433-8684 for more information about initiating the annexation process, and contact the City's Planning Department at 321-433-8501 for P&Z related inquiries.

6. How will annexation impact the zoning on my property?

Zoning will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Please call the City's Planning Department at 321-433-8501 for P&Z related inquiries.

7. What about City garbage collection services and rates?

Properties within Cocoa City Limits receive trash pick-up twice per week, with days varying depending on the location. Yard waste is serviced on Wednesdays and yard waste piles serviced on Thursdays. All services are performed by Waste Management, as contracted by the City of Cocoa. These rates are listed on the webpage detailing the most recent contract.

8. Will the City require me to connect to the sewer system?

Connecting to the Cocoa sewer is not required; however all properties have the ability to connect at the owner’s discretion. There is an impact fee and sewer connection charge.

More information can be obtained by contacting Cocoa Utilities Department at 321-433-8700.

9. Will my water utility costs increase if I’m annexed into Cocoa City Limits?

Water utility bills will not increase if annexed into Cocoa City Limits. In fact, Cocoa residents and businesses will receive a 10% reduction in the water utility bill for annexing into Cocoa City Limits. Please call 321-433-8400 for more information.

10. When will I see the change in my taxes reflected?

Properties must be assessed by the Brevard County Property Appraiser by January 1. All properties annexed prior to June 1 will reflect the new millage rate on the final property tax bill mailed on November 1.

11. How much is the City of Cocoa’s mileage rate?

Effective October 1, 2020, the City of Cocoa’s mileage rate is currently 5.979% of the assessed value of the property.

12. What are the costs associated with annexing into the City of Cocoa?

While there is no cost to the property owner for processing an annexation request, tax rates and certain fees and charges do differ between Brevard County and the City of Cocoa.

Please call 321-433-8684 for more information about initiating the annexation process, and contact the City's Planning Department at 321-433-8501 for P&Z related inquiries.

13. Will my property taxes change upon annexation?

The 2015 Brevard County MSTU (Municipal Services/County MSTU) millage rate, to include Fire Control, Law Enforcement, and Road and Bridge, is 2.2999 combined. Once annexed into Cocoa city limits, those tax rates will be replaced with one flat tax rate labeled City of Cocoa using a millage rate of 5.9790, or $5.979 for every $1,000 of taxable value. All other imposed taxes on your property tax bill will remain the same.

Example: A property with a taxable value of $200,000 located in unincorporated Brevard County will have a total property tax of $3,106. That same property located within Cocoa city limits would have a total property tax of $3,841. 

Please call 321-433-8684 for more information about initiating the annexation process, and contact the City's Planning Department at 321-433-8501 for P&Z related inquiries.

14. What will my Fire Assessment Fee be?

Both the City of Cocoa and Brevard County impose an annual fire assessment fee. Fees vary based on property type. Examples:

• Residential: A single-family residence of 1,500 square feet located within unincorporated Brevard County has an annual fire assessment of $177.87. Within Cocoa City limits, the same single-family residence has a fire assessment fee of $187.93 annually.
• Commercial: A commercial parcel with a 9,000 square foot building on a 1 acre parcel with a retail use valued at $670,000 and located within unincorporated Brevard County has an annual fire assessment fee of $982.60. Within Cocoa City limits, the same parcel has a fire assessment fee of $1,114.88 annually.

Please call 321-433-8500 for more information on fire assessments.

15. Will annexation affect school district boundaries?

Annexation into Cocoa City Limits does not affect school boundaries, which are established by the Brevard County Public School Board.

16. How will annexation affect law and fire protection services?

Law enforcement and fire protection services will not be affected. The City of Cocoa and Brevard County entered into a mutual aid agreement for shared fire services to ensure that all residents in the unincorporated areas are receiving services, whether from the County or the City. You may already receive services provided by Cocoa Fire Department. The unit responding to your requests is dependent upon the drive time to the nearest fire station, and availability of service. Once annexed into Cocoa City Limits, the responding unit for law enforcement will be the Cocoa Police Department. The Cocoa Police Department has 3.7 offers per 1,000 persons versus Brevard County with 1.67 sheriff officers per 1,000 persons within the unincorporated area.

17. How will annexation affect my home-based business?

The City of Cocoa has a home-based business ordinance, which regulates home-based business activities. See Appendix A, Article XIII, Section 17 of the Cocoa City Code. 

18. I have livestock. Can I keep them?

Livestock is permitted in the Residential Agricultural (RA) zoning designation only.

Please call the City's Planning Department at 321-433-8501 more information.

19. Will I have to go through the City’s permit process if I’ve already received a permit from the County?

No; if you are currently in the Brevard County permitting process, you are not required to enter into the City of Cocoa’s permitting process.

Please call 321-433-8500 for more information about the permitting process.

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U.S. 1 Widening & Beautification Project

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1. What does the project entail?

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has initiated a road-widening project on U.S. 1 from Pine Street north to Cidco Road in Cocoa. The project involves widening U.S. 1 from 4 lanes to 6 lanes, curb and gutter improvements, traffic signals, lighting, sidewalks, and installation of storm water pipes to improve drainage along the roadway. For more information, please call 321-433-8510 or visit the

FDOT Project Page.

2. What is the project timeline?

The project began in June 2013. It is expected to be completed in spring 2016. For more information, please call 321-433-8510 or visit the

FDOT Project Page.

3. What is the City’s contribution to this project?

The U.S. 1 Corridor Community Redevelopment Area (CRA), in partnership with the City of Cocoa, entered into a local planning agreement with FDOT, in which the CRA committed $1.5 million for landscape, hardscape, and lighting upgrades to the roadway. Additionally, the Cocoa Utilities Department has made a monetary contribution to the project to replace aging water mains and wastewater pipes. For more information, please call 321-433-8510.

FDOT Project Page.

4. What is the current status of the project?

The widening of the southbound lanes has been completed; construction on the northbound lanes has begun. Landscaping and stamped concrete medians are upcoming for both south and northbound lanes. For more information, please call 321-433-8510 or visit the

FDOT Project Page.

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UpStart Cocoa Small Business Program

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1. What is UpStart Cocoa?

UpStart Cocoa is a small business development program designed to empower entrepreneurs to succeed in Cocoa, attract Minority-Owned Businesses to the City, contribute to the City's economic vitality by promoting small business, and to cultivate vibrant neighborhoods through diverse businesses in Cocoa. The Program is designed as a forgivable loan program, which may be awarded after successful completion of business coaching and educational training for entrepreneurs offered through the weVENTURE Program. Loans are available up to $10,000 which includes $2,500 towards the weVENTURE program and $7,500 for eligible refundable expenses.  

2. Am I eligible to apply for an UpStart Cocoa Forgivable Loan?

The following are the eligibility requirements for the UpStart Cocoa program:

	Minority-Owned Business means any small business which is organized to engage in commercial transactions and which is at least 51% owned by minority persons. Persons of minority include African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and American women.
	New minority-owned start-up businesses (3 years or less) and any minority-owned business looking to relocate into the City of Cocoa with 10 employees or less.
	All applicants must be willing to participate in and complete the 24-week business education and mentorship program offered through weVENTURE.
	Any eating and drinking establishments may be eligible for funding as long as the business derives at least 51% of its gross revenue from the sale of food and/or non-alcoholic drink for consumption on the premises, whether or not the food is cooked on the premises. This may include restaurants, mobile vending, and refreshment stands selling prepared foods for immediate consumption. All applicants who will utilize a mobile vending model will need to commit to required hours/percentage of sales/other in the City of Cocoa area.
	The types of businesses that are not eligible for funding under this Program include: social service providers, non-profit agencies, gun shops, agricultural services, liquor stores, medical marijuana and CBD shops, shops that sell drug paraphernalia, pawn shops, bail bond services, tattoo/body piercing parlors, check cashing facilities, adult entertainment facilities, thrift shops, nightclubs and bars, and any business or service deemed illegal.
	The applicant shall not be eligible for the Upstart Cocoa Program if he/she has received Upstart Cocoa Funding, or other business assistance funding from the CRA or the City of Cocoa within the last three (3) years from the date of the current submittal, except for façade improvement programs.
	For start-up businesses, the minority entrepreneur is required to invest at least 10% of startup costs from non-UpStart Cocoa Program related funding sources.

3. What is the community enrichment requirement of the program?

All applicants who are awarded a forgivable loan through the UpStart Cocoa program are required to give back to the Cocoa community through the donation of volunteer hours, goods or services. Donations shall be made to a public entity (schools, non-profit organizations, etc.) or a 501(c)(3) providing services to the Cocoa community. This must be completed within the three year term of the loan agreement.

4. How will the funds be provided to the chosen business?

Eligible funds will be reimbursed to the chosen applicants based on the recommendations of the weVENTURE program and the refined business plan. 

5. What is the purpose of the weVENTURE portion of the program?

The 24-week weVENTURE business coaching and mentorship program will help applicants gain further education regarding topics such as business management, finance and budgeting, marketing, product/service development, and human resources. In addition, the selected applicants will work with weVENTURE to refine a business plan appropriate for a start-up business or existing business expansion. 

6. Who is on the UpStart Cocoa and UpStart Diamond Square review committees?

The UpStart Cocoa and UpStart Diamond Square review committees will be comprised of one member of the City's Finance Department, a member of a local banking institution, a member of the weVENTURE team, and a member of the Diamond Square CRA board.

7. How will applications be reviewed?

All applications submitted by the posted deadline will be reviewed for completeness, and compliance with the program criteria and then forwarded for review to the review committees. Businesses that do not comply with the program criteria and conditions will not be eligible for funding. 

8. What factors will the review committee use for funding recommendations?

The following factors will be considered for the eligible reimbursable expenses as part of the UpStart Cocoa forgivable loan:

• The estimated cost of proposed eligible expenses
• Strength of the business plan
• Evaluations of applicant performance in the weVENTURE program
• Potential economic and fiscal impact of the proposed business on the City of Cocoa
• Location of the proposed business and whether it will be home-based
• External funding available to the applicant

9. What are the conditions of the loan agreement once funding recommendations have been made to City Council?

Conditions included in the UpStart Cocoa agreement may include, but are not limited to:

• Grantee shall remain open for business at a City of Cocoa location for a period of at least three years. Funding shall be expended and reimbursed within one (1) year of the effective date of the Agreement.
• Grantees not yet open for business must be open for business and begin to provide services or products to the general public within six (6) months of the effective date of the Agreement.
• Business must submit annual reports to the Office of Economic Development. 
• Grantee shall provide and complete a Community Enrichment Element prior to the end of the third year.
• Grantee shall display the Upstart Cocoa logo, as provided by the City, on the front main entrance door of the business.
• Businesses that relocate outside of the City prior to loan forgiveness will be required to repay the loan in full.
• Existing business owners must possess a current City of Cocoa Business Tax Receipt. New business owners must obtain a City of Cocoa Business Tax Receipt within 90 days of agreement execution.
• Grantees will also be required to invest in the project for which funding is requested in an amount of at least 10 percent (10%) of the cost of the items approved for funding.
• All grantees must be in compliance with applicable City codes, policies and ordinances and current on federal, state and local taxes.  
• Grantees who are approved for financial assistance for lease costs (rent abatement) must secure a minimum of a three-year lease in the City of Cocoa unless otherwise approved by the review board.
• All grantees who will utilize a mobile vending model will need to commit to required hours/percentage of sales/other in the City of Cocoa area.
• Once a grantee received funding under the Program, he or she may not apply for other business assistance programs from the CRA/City of Cocoa, except for façade improvement programs, for a period of three years.  
• The Program Manager will remain actively involved with the grantees via site visits or yearly meetings.

10. How do I get reimbursed for eligible expenses?

To be reimbursed, the Grantee must provide to the Office of Economic Development paid receipts from laborers, suppliers, materialmen, contractors, and subcontractors.  The receipts must include the following information:

• Name, address, and telephone number of laborer, supplier, materialmen, contractor, and subcontractor performing work or supplying material or of landlord receiving rent payments;
• Date of work or material provided;
• Itemized description of work provided (e.g., who performed the work, how many hours involved, charge for work, type of work performed) or material supplied (e.g., number of gallons of paint, quantity and measurements for each new dome style awning, feet of fence installed, description of LED wall pack) or identification of property and premises for which rent has been paid;
• Itemized cost of work performed or material supplied;
• Statement signed by landlord, laborer, supplier, materialmen, contractor or subcontractor that the amount billed has been paid by the Grantee

Payment is made to the grantee on a reimbursement basis.  The grantee must submit invoices with original receipts to the Program Manager for items and services purchased in accordance with the terms of the Forgivable Loan Agreement and this Policy.  The expenses will only be reimbursed for items and services purchased after the effective date of the Forgivable Loan Agreement, unless the Board approves otherwise.  If rent abatement has been awarded, payments will be made to the grantee upon proof of payment to the landlord for each month that is specified in the Forgivable Loan Agreement.  All payments will be made to the grantee approximately thirty (30) days from the date of receipt of the requisite documentation. The Program Manager will establish the necessary administrative procedures for processing payment.  

11. What happens if I do not comply with the terms of the loan agreement?

If the grantee fails to comply with one of the conditions to receiving funds under the Upstart Cocoa Agreement, the Program Manager will contact the grantee in an effort to determine the reason for the noncompliance.  Without compromising the integrity of the program, the Program Manager shall attempt to accommodate legitimate and substantiated problems being faced by the grantee.

If a suspected default or breach occurs, as defined in the Forgivable Loan Agreements, the Program Manager will first contact the grantee in an effort to verify the occurrence of a default and determine the reason for the default.  If the Program Manager is not successful in contacting the grantee, he/she will inform the City’s Attorney of the suspected default.   Once the City’s Attorney confirms the default, the Manager will cease further payments to the grantee and instruct the City Attorney to send a letter, notifying the grantee of the default and demanding either the grantee cure the default or reimburse the City of Cocoa.   The letter will also instruct the grantee to contact the Program Manager to further discuss the matter.  If the grantee fails to respond to the demand letter, fails to cure the default or reimburse the CRA/City the stated amount, or proposes a settlement, the Program Manager will coordinate a meeting of the Upstart Cocoa Review Committee.  The Program Manager will send a letter to the grantee notifying him/her of the date and time of the meeting.  

The Upstart Cocoa Review Committee will meet on an as-needed basis and will make recommendations to the City Council regarding the appropriate action to take with regard to seeking reimbursement of funds already paid to the grantee, including, but not limited to: (1) recommending that the City Attorney’s Office initiate litigation in the event the grantee fails to respond to the demand letter or refuses to reimburse the City of Cocoa; (2) recommending mediation or other alternative dispute resolution actions; (3) recommending terms of a mutually agreeable settlement in the event the grantee proposes a payment schedule; or (4) recommending no further collection action and termination of the Agreement.  The Committee’s decision will be reported to the City Council for final approval.