• public safety
• neighborhood
• transportation
• recreation and culture
• health and human services
• economic development
• general government

While unemployment has been on the rise nationwide, some sectors are showing promise locally. Modest job growth in health care and some professional and technical trades along with nearly $500 million in public works projects have helped ease the local impact of the global economic downturn.

• Small businesses take a piece of the big projects. Miami-Dade County generated more than $283 million in commerce through contracts awarded to small businesses in 2008.
  
• Building the community one business at a time. Since 2004, the Mom & Pop Grant program has awarded more than $9 million to help build thousands of small businesses.
  
• Laying the groundwork for a better community. More than 400 County sites have benefited from the Building Better Communities General Obligation Bond Program, creating jobs through the funding of over $266 million dollars in capital improvement projects. Community enhancements include nearly 66 miles in new and repaired sidewalks, over 10 miles of new drainage and 42 miles of resurfaced roadways.
  
• The business end of arts and culture. More than 12 million people attended local cultural events in 2008 spending more than $922 million at performances, restaurants, hotels, retail and other businesses. Miami-Dade County supports hundreds of non-profit cultural and arts organizations.
  
• Economic growth spurt. Though performing slightly better than in 2005, Miami-Dade County earned low marks for the overall effectiveness of revitalization efforts in low-income areas -- 24 percent. But projects like the $526 million Metrorail extension linking the airport to downtown Miami and the construction of the $634 million Miami Marlins ballpark are expected create thousands of local jobs. Moreover, nearly $500 million in public works projects have helped to blunt the local impact of the global economic downturn.
  
• The economic engines that could. Over 34 million passengers traveled through Miami International Airport in 2008, a slight increase over the previous year. While the Port of Miami served over 4 million passengers in 2008.