City of Mulberry

What City of Mulberry does

The City of Mulberry, Florida is a municipal government incorporated in 1901, operating under a commission-manager form of government with a Mayor and five district commissioners serving an at-large mayoral position. The city delivers the full portfolio of municipal services to approximately 3,952 residents across 5.5 square miles in Polk County, including water and wastewater utilities (with 24/7 emergency availability), weekly garbage and bi-weekly recycling collection ($28.72/month residential), building permits and inspections, code enforcement, planning and zoning, business licensing (annual business tax receipts through Accela), and municipal elections. Public safety is delivered through partner agencies: Polk County Fire Rescue for fire/EMS and the Polk County Sheriff's Office, which maintains a substation in Mulberry. The city operates an extensive community facilities network including the Mulberry Public Library (Polk County Library Cooperative member), GEM Theater (a restored performing arts venue funded by the CRA), Mulberry Cultural Center, Phosphate Museum (interpreting local phosphate industry heritage), Studio 37 community center, ten public parks, and rentable facilities (Civic Center, Pavilion, conference rooms). Revenue is derived from property taxes, utility fees, business tax receipts, permit/inspection fees, and facility rentals.

The city runs on a conventional municipal SaaS technology stack: the CivicPlus platform hosts the official city website (cityofmulberryfl.org), the Accela Citizen Portal handles permits and business tax receipts, and Point and Pay processes online utility bill payments. Security is provided by Cloudflare and reCAPTCHA. The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), established in November 2014 as a partnership with Polk County under Florida Statutes Chapter 163 Part III and Chapter 189, funds redevelopment including the GEM Theater. The city markets and communicates with residents through Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, email newsletters, text alerts, the city website, recurring community events (Mulberry Jams, Founders Day, Chili Cook-Off, Hispanic Heritage Festival, Harvest Festival, Christmas Tree Lighting), and civic education programs including the new Mini Citizens Academy launched during Florida City Week in October 2025. There are no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, no external funding rounds, and no subsidiary acquisitions beyond the in-house CRA.

Name

City of Mulberry

Legal name

City of Mulberry, Florida

Website

https://cityofmulberryfl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1901

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The City of Mulberry, Florida is a municipal government incorporated in 1901 that delivers utilities, public safety coordination, permitting, code enforcement, cultural programming, and library services to approximately 3,952 residents across 5.5 square miles in Polk County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Administration of Economic Programs (9261), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251)

SIC

Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

City Clerk/Records, Elections & Civic Engagement (BPAIACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Planning, Zoning, Permitting & Code Enforcement (BPAIACAE), Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF), Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO), Municipal Tax & Revenue Administration (Local) (BPAIACAD)

Keywords

• Municipal government services
• Water and wastewater utilities
• Garbage and recycling collection
• Building permits and inspections
• Community redevelopment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Mulberry

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Property Taxes: Property tax revenue collected from Mulberry residents and businesses to fund municipal operations and services.
2. Utility Services: Water, wastewater, and garbage collection fees charged to residents and businesses for municipal utility services.
3. Business Tax Receipts: Annual business licensing fees collected from businesses operating within city limits, expiring September 30th each year.
4. Permits and Inspections: Fees collected for building permits, inspections, and development-related approvals processed through the Building Department.
5. Facility Rentals: Rental fees for Civic Center, Cultural Center Back Room, Museum Conference Room, and Pavilion to residents and visitors.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The City of Mulberry is a municipal government providing core public administration and civic services to its residents and businesses, including water and wastewater utilities, garbage and recycling collection, building permits and inspections, business licensing, code enforcement, planning and zoning, and elections administration. In parallel, it operates community and cultural amenities (public library, parks, GEM Theater, Mulberry Cultural Center, Phosphate Museum, Studio 37 community center) and contracts with Polk County for fire/EMS and sheriff policing services. Funding is derived from property taxes, monthly utility fees, annual business tax receipts, one-time permit/inspection fees, and facility rentals.

Product overview

City of Mulberry is a municipal government offering a comprehensive portfolio of public services organized into core municipal functions, community facilities, and cultural amenities. Core services include building permits and inspections, utilities (water/wastewater), garbage/recycling collection, code enforcement, planning and zoning, municipal elections, and business licensing. Community facilities encompass the Public Library, Cultural Center, GEM Theater (performing arts venue), Phosphate Museum, Studio 37 community center, City Parks network, and rental facilities (Civic Center, Cultural Center Back Room, Pavilion). The city also operates website accessibility services ensuring WCAG 2.0 compliance. These services are delivered through various departments including Building, Finance, Human Resources, Public Works, and Utilities, with support from the Board of City Commissioners, City Clerk, and City Manager.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Garbage and Recycling Collection Weekly residential garbage and bi-weekly recycling pickup managed through Republic Services; commercial can service also offered. Billed at $28.72 per home weekly and $70.52 per commercial can monthly.
• Water and Wastewater Utility Services Water distribution, wastewater collection, and meter reading services for residents and businesses, including 24/7 emergency repair availability and water quality management.
• Building Permits and Inspections Building Department services providing permits, inspections, contractor registration, and private provider oversight for construction and renovation projects within city limits, processed through the Accela Citizen Portal.
• Business Licensing (Business Tax Receipts) Annual business tax receipts and licenses required for businesses operating within City of Mulberry limits, expiring September 30 each year and processed via the Accela Citizen Portal.
• Planning and Zoning Services Comprehensive planning, land development code enforcement, and mapping services for residential and commercial development within the city.
• Code Enforcement Services Economic development and code enforcement services addressing municipal code violations and neighborhood development, including Special Magistrate hearings.
• Mulberry Public Library Public library offering literacy, lifelong learning, and intergenerational programming; free library cards for Polk County residents and $50/year for non-residents (per family). Member of the Polk County Library Cooperative with reciprocal borrowing at Plant City Burton Memorial Library.
• Mulberry Cultural Center Arts and humanities gallery and classroom space at 103 Canal Street featuring rotating temporary exhibits and engaging programming, free to the public; open Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• GEM Theater Restored performing arts and film screening venue in Downtown Mulberry, funded through the Community Redevelopment Agency, enriching the community through cultural events.
• Mulberry Phosphate Museum Museum at 101 S.E. 1st Street interpreting the local history of Mulberry and the impact of the phosphate industry on the community through exhibits and educational programming; open Tuesday-Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Studio 37 Community Center Community center offering fitness classes (e.g., low-impact chair fitness at $5/drop-in), arts and crafts workshops (e.g., Diamond Club at $5/month), and programs for all ages.
• City Parks Network Multiple public parks available to residents including Butterfly Garden, Centennial Park, Eddie Woodard Park, Evelyn Bryant Park, Janie Eason Park, Lake Whidden Park, Community Pool, Skate Park, Ruth Stewart Park, and Spence Park.
• Facility Rentals (Civic Center, Cultural Center Back Room, Museum Conference Room, Pavilion) Rental of Civic Center, Cultural Center Back Room, Museum Conference Room, and Library Pavilion for community events and meetings. Civic Center 6-hour rental: $270 room fee + $18.90 sales tax + $200 refundable security deposit. Pavilion: $53.50 for Mulberry residents or $80.25 for non-residents.
• Utility Bill Online Payment Service Online utility bill payment processing via Point and Pay portal with credit card and autopay options; tiered processing fees apply ($3 minimum for under $100 up to larger fees for larger amounts, plus $1.50 per additional $50).
• Municipal Elections Administration City elections administered for Mayor and City Commissioners across Districts 1-5, overseen by the City Clerk with coordination from the Polk County Supervisor of Elections.
• Mini Citizens Academy First-ever half-day immersive civic education experience for approximately 30 participants during Florida City Week (October 20-26, 2025) exploring City operations including the Library, Cultural Center, City Hall, Studio 37, and Water & Wastewater Facilities.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Polk County Supervisor of ElectionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates with the City of Mulberry to conduct fair and transparent municipal elections. The County plays a crucial role in coordinating and administering all aspects of the electoral process including voter registration and polling.
• Florida League of CitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide organization that leads the Florida City Week initiative. The City of Mulberry participates in this annual tradition showcasing the vital role cities play in shaping communities through civic education, community engagement, collaboration, and volunteerism.
• Polk County Sheriff's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Polk County Sheriff's Office maintains a substation in Mulberry at 104 S. Church Avenue to oversee policing of the Mulberry area. Substation staffed Monday-Friday 9am-5pm with after-hours dispatch available.
• Polk County Fire RescuecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFire protection and EMS services provided to Mulberry residents through Polk County Fire Rescue, linked from the city's website as part of emergency services.
• Polk CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished the Community Redevelopment Agency in partnership with Polk County in November 2014. The CRA operates under Florida Statutes Chapter 163 Part III and Chapter 189 Special Districts to reverse blighted area conditions and leverage public assets.
• Polk County Library Cooperative (PCLC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Mulberry Public Library participates in the county-wide library cooperative, allowing free library cards for all Polk County residents and reciprocal borrowing with Plant City Burton Memorial Library.
• Willow Oak and Purcell Elementary SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchools visited by City Commissioners during Florida City Week for reading sessions to build connections between young learners and local leaders.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• City of Frostproof, Florida: Small Florida municipal government with a population and budget scale comparable to Mulberry, providing utilities, public works, permitting, and community programming — a close small-town Florida peer.
• City of Bartow, Florida: County seat of Polk County, also a small Florida municipal government providing utilities, permitting, parks, and cultural services. Most direct peer given shared county-level partnerships (Sheriff, Fire Rescue, Library Cooperative) and overlapping service portfolio.
• City of Fort Meade, Florida: Small adjacent Polk County municipality with a comparable population size, commission form of government, and a service portfolio centered on utilities, public works, and community programming — a near-twin comparator to Mulberry.
• City of Lake Wales, Florida: Polk County municipal government of similar scale offering utilities, planning/zoning, library, parks, and CRA-style redevelopment activity. Comparable on economic-development tools and small-city service mix.
• City of Auburndale, Florida: Mid-sized Polk County municipality running water/wastewater utilities, building permits, parks/recreation, and community programming. Comparable in service breadth and in reliance on county-level safety services.
• City of Haines City, Florida: Polk County municipal government operating utilities, planning, building, library, parks, and community events. Comparable as a peer on the same countywide service partnerships and small-city governance model.

Others

• CivicPlus: Vendor of the municipal website platform the city operates on. Not a peer in the governance sense, but the closest private-sector company whose product is co-extensive with the city's resident-facing digital service layer.
• Florida League of Cities: Statewide municipal association of which Mulberry is a member and through which it participates in Florida City Week. Comparable as a peer organization in the sense that it represents and advocates for the same class of small Florida municipal governments.

Broad incumbents

• Polk County Government: The county-level government that delivers fire/EMS, sheriff, elections administration, and library cooperative services to Mulberry. Not a competitor but the broader public-sector incumbent whose services the city relies on and coordinates with daily.

Regional players

• City of Plant City, Florida: Adjacent Hillsborough County municipal government with a comparable service mix (utilities, library cooperative, permits, CRA-style redevelopment, cultural facilities). Slightly larger scale but very comparable service portfolio just outside Polk County.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cityofmulberryfl4680
• Facebookfacebook.com/cityofmulberryfl
• Instagraminstagram.com/cityofmulberryfl
• Xx.com/mulberryfl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mulberry-city-of

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about City of Mulberry