Subject:
Title
Support for grant opportunity for strategic economic planning in North Brevard.
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Fiscal Impact:
None
Dept/Office:
District 1
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the board of commissioners approve a letter of support for a North Brevard Community Planning Grant to support economic resilience in north Brevard.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
From 2011 until earlier this year, local economic development activities and projects in the northern part of Brevard County - home to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station - were largely managed and coordinated by a special dependent district known as the North Brevard Economic Development Zone. Using tax increment funding, the Zone helped local businesses expand, redeveloped existing commercial and industrial buildings, attracted new firms, and assisted entrepreneurs with business startups. Borne out of a need to overcome several structural barriers (such as a large amount of federally owned land present in the north end of the county), the Zone used targeted financial assistance to induce job creation and capital investment in the county.
Citing the need to address other financial concerns in the county, the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) dissolved the Zone in May 2025, and reallocated its funding to other county departments. The dissolution of the Zone also meant an end to its economic development strategic plan for north Brevard, which was developed by the Zone and approved by the BOCC in 2012.
In the absence of a plan to continue economic development activities in the north end of the county, District 1 requests commissioner support to undertake a formal strategic planning process to determine the best path forward, post-Zone. This grant opportunity will provide up to $75K in funding and does not require a match.
In addition to incorporating the key components of strategic planning, the proposed plan will examine the economic and environmental vulnerabilities of the northern end of the county, and identify steps to lessen possible adverse impacts, all with the aim of making the area more economically resilient. Grant due date is August 1, 2025.
Clerk to the Board Instructions: