TITLE
RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE MAYOR, OR HIS DESIGNEE, TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO CREATE A WEBSITE THAT USES GIS TECHNOLOGY TO ANALYZE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY AND TO ASSIST NEW AND EXISTING BUSINESSES FIND LOCATIONS IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

BODY
WHEREAS, the local economy would benefit by the development of an on-line Geographic Information System that provides the information that businesses need when deciding whether to move to a community, including the exact size and location of established, associated, and competing businesses; their suppliers, support companies, and service industries; and transportation, economic, demographic, and social information, including specialized infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, a Geographic Information System with these features will assist companies to make business decisions relating to opening new stores, increasing workforce, and establishing a presence in Miami-Dade County, and will make our community more competitive in the global marketplace; and
WHEREAS, such a Geographic Information System can also help government, academics, and economic development agencies recognize and develop strategic sectors of the economy such as industrial clusters, which consist of a network of interrelated firms that utilize the same suppliers, participate in the same markets, and rely upon similar specialized infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, similar programs to advance economic development have been established in Catawba County, North Carolina; Orangeburg County, South Carolina; San Jose, California; Waco, Texas; and Sioux City, Iowa, among other places,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that the Mayor, or his designee, is requested to provide administrative support for the creation of an internet-based Geographic Information System ("GIS") application for economic development. The Board suggests to the Mayor that the creation of this application will involve the following steps:
1. convene a working group of representatives of the Beacon Council, Hialeah Dade Development Inc., Metro-Miami Action plan, the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, the Hialeah Chamber of Commerce, Chamber South, and recognized experts in this area such as Dr. Antonio Villamil and Professor Edward Murray of Florida International University, and other professionals engaged in economic development in Miami-Dade County for the purpose of designing the features of this application;

2. amend the Miami-Dade County's Local Business Tax Ordinance to (a) adopt the business categories standardized by the North American Industrial Classification System to ensure Miami-Dade County data is classified and accessible in a manner compatible with other communities and national data; and (b) revise the registration form to gather the appropriate information;

3. assign technological staff and resources necessary to build and maintain the GIS application;

4. call upon this Board for any resources or assistance that this Board can provide; and
5. take such other steps as the Mayor may find will be useful to advance this project to a successful completion.