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Building Better Communities: A County Success Story!
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Mayor Pushes for Seaport Tunnel
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 In his State of the County Address last month, Mayor Carlos Alvarez urged the State of Florida to move forward with the proposed Seaport Tunnel that would link the Port of Miami with the Interstate System. The Building Better Communities Bond Program would fund $100 million of the estimated $1 billion cost.
> View full story
> Read Mayor's State of the County Address
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Investing in Greenspace: Improved Park & Recreation Facilities
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 The Building Better Communities Program represents a major investment in Miami-Dade greenspace and recreational facilities. Since inception of the program, work has been completed or is underway at 80 parks, playgrounds, beaches, pools, marinas, sports fields and nature areas throughout the County. Projects range from new pools and soccer fields at neighborhood parks to infrastructure improvements at the County's large regional parks including Matheson Hammock, Tropical, Tamiami, Greynolds, Amelia Earheart and Fruit and Spice Parks. The public marinas at BlackPoint and Haulover have been upgraded and renourishment projects are underway at a number of area beaches.
> View Regional Park Upgrades
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New Zoo Exhibit
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One of the most ambitious Building Better Communities projects to date is the Miami Metrozoo's newest exhibit, Amazon and Beyond, which opened to rave reviews in late 2008. The 27-acre takes visitors on a journey through the tropical Americas where they can view more than 100 species of wildlife including exotic fish in a giant 40,000- gallon tank.
The Amazon exhibit is the first in a multi-phase program that will invest $50 million of bond monies in Metrozoo improvements over the next decade.
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Four New CAC Members
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The 21-member Building Better Communities Citizens' Advisory Committee (CAC) has four new members appointed by the Mayor, Board of County Commissioners and County Manager. The new appointees are: Former South Miami Mayor Mary Scott Russell, Dr. Jay Hess, Javier Salman, and Joseph Corradino.
The CAC serves in an advisory role to County officials on implementation of the bond program including the review of all significant modification of bond projects approved by voters in the 2004 referendum. The committee's bi-monthly meetings are open to the public and residents are encouraged to attend.
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News Room
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Direct Connection
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Now in its fifth year, the Building Better Communities Bond Program is moving into a new phase with the County expected to hold a series of bond sales this year to fund a new roster of 270 projects at more than 500 work sites throughout Miami-Dade.
Last summer, months before economic stimulus became an issue in Washington, Miami-Dade County created a local Economic Stimulus Program to address the national economic slowdown and its severe impact on South Florida's building industry. The County identified hundreds of capital projects to be accelerated over the next year. To date, approximately $300 million in projects, from roadway repairs to water and sewer improvements, have been accelerated helping to put workers in the building industries to work.
The Building Better Communities Program is contributing funds to support the expansion of facilities operated by the 
Miami-Dade has executed a lease agreement with Carrfour Supportive Housing for the development of a homeless housing complex. The project, funded in part by the Building Better Communities Bond Program, consists of 145 units of supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals and families, a farmers market, and organic produce nursery at the site of the former Homestead Air Force Base. The development will combine affordable housing with onsite case management services and provide an opportunity for homeless individuals to work in agriculture industry. The innovative project is scheduled for completion in 2011.
