Mission Statement
To expand and further diversify the local economy and employment opportunities, by promoting, coordinating, and implementing economic revitalization activities that reduce socio-economic disparity and improve the quality of life of all residents.
New Jobs
Miami-Dade County’s jobless rate remained low despite increases in both the state and national unemployment rates. For most of 2007, South Florida led the state in job growth with the creation of 11,500 new jobs. Miami-Dade’s resilience was credited, in part, to its international business and tourism industries.
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Employment Opportunities
Employment services offered by South Florida Workforce (SFW) placed more than 37,000 residents in jobs in 2007. Many of these people were previously unemployed or underemployed. Nearly 7,000 employers tapped into SFW’s employment and training services. Every dollar invested in SFW provides an average return of $12.14 back to the community.
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New Recruitment Tools
In 2007, Miami-Dade County unveiled a new online recruitment management system at www.miamidade.gov/jobs. Prospective employees can now search and apply for jobs, and find out the status of their application online.
The Human Resources Department also cut the recruitment period (days from position announcement to position filled) in half, from 90 days to 45.
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Tourism
Travel and tourism, Miami-Dade County’s #1 industry, flourished in 2007 with an estimated 12 million overnight visitors, up 3.4% from 2006. Visitors generated more than $100 million in tourism-related taxes. The leisure and hospitality industry in Miami-Dade County employs an estimated 102,000 people.
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Airport
Miami International Airport’s (MIA) economic impact grew to $25 billion in 2007, thanks in part to the opening of the new South Terminal. MIA welcomed two new passenger carries and three new cargo carriers. Passenger numbers increased 3.7%, and cargo shipments were up by 5%.
MIA’s and related aviation industries contribute 272,000 jobs directly and indirectly to the South Florida economy. That equates to about one out of every four jobs in the County.
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Seaport
The Dante B. Fascell Port of Miami-Dade is the County’s second largest economic engine, with an estimated impact of $16 billion and generating more than 110,000 jobs. To increase capacity and boost international trade, the Seaport’s harbor is being deepened. Phase III of the dredging project is underway. The project will enable the port to handle some of the world’s largest container vessels.
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Business Expansion
Twenty-six companies located or expanded operations in Miami-Dade County in 2007 with the help of The Beacon Council, the official economic development partnership with Miami-Dade County. New and expanding businesses currently occupy over 600,000 new square feet of commercial space, and have infused over $67 million in new capital investment in the community.
Companies new to Miami-Dade include Inline Sales from the United Kingdom, Dragados from Spain and Donald J. Pliner from New York. Expanding companies included Caterpillar, Florida East Coast Industries and Brightstar Corporation.
In May 2007, Mayor Carlos Alvarez joined the County Manager and the President and CEO of The Beacon Council for a business development trip to New York City. The group met with representatives from major corporations that are considering relocating to Miami-Dade.
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Efficient Development
To expedite building projects throughout the County, Mayor Carlos Alvarez appointed a blue ribbon panel to streamline the approval process. In the Building Department, good, quality architectural plans requiring only minor corrections are now “Approved as Noted” allowing residents and businesses to move forward with construction plans. Likewise, a graduated penalty system is now in place for plans which are repeatedly submitted without necessary corrections, reducing delays for all.
Overall in 2007, the Building Department issued 70,681 permits, performed 405,106 inspections, and processed 197,543 plans.
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International Trade
The Jay Malina International Trade Consortium (ITC) promoted Miami-Dade as a global gateway for trade and commerce during missions to South Africa, the Bahamas and India. To further its economic outreach efforts, ITC also created a tri-lingual DVD about Miami-Dade County which was distributed and viewed worldwide.
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General Obligation Bond Program
The Building Better Communities General Obligation Bond (GOB) Program, managed by the Office of Capital Improvements and new director, Johnny Martinez, marked its third anniversary in 2007. The bond program, which voters approved in November 2004, will invest $2.9 billion in this community’s infrastructure over the next 15-18 years. Currently, work is ongoing at more than 600 GOB sites. These include small neighborhood improvements to parks, sidewalks, and drainage systems, as well as more complex projects such as restoration of the Lyric Theatre and the creation of Museum Park in downtown Miami.
Work has already been completed at 298 project sites with nearly half of the projects (49%) completed ahead of schedule.
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Public-Private Partnerships
GOB projects will pump billions of dollars into the local economy through direct allocations and by leveraging federal/state funding for projects like the Port Tunnel. Two important projects on the drawing board are a baseball stadium and Port Tunnel.
- With the demolition of the Orange Bowl in early 2008, the GOB Citizens Advisory Committee and the Board of County Commissioners voted to redirect $50 million in funds originally allocated for the renovation of the Orange Bowl to the construction of a new baseball stadium for the Florida Marlins. Additional financing would come from the City of Miami and the Florida Marlins.
- The proposed Port Tunnel has been allocated $100 million in GOB funds. The Florida Department of Transportation is leading the project, with additional assistance from the City of Miami.
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Bonds Administration
The Finance Department issued bonds totaling $2.07 billion to continue to enhance the public infrastructure, such as the continuation of the Capital Improvement Program of the Aviation Department, and other departments. The Division of Bond Administration took advantage of market conditions and refunded two series of previously issued bonds to generate a savings to the County of $32 million over the remaining life of the bonds.
Miami-Dade County also enjoyed improved bond ratings in 2007 – a strong indicator of economic vitality. Both Aviation Revenue Bonds and Water and Sewer Systems Revenue Refunding bonds were upgraded to “stable”.
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Small Business Assistance
The Department of Small Business Development (DBD) continued to assist and ensure participation of small businesses in County government in the fields of construction, architecture and engineering, and goods and services. During Fiscal Year 2006-2007, an estimated $236 million was awarded to certified small businesses. That amounts to 16% of all County contracts.
Additionally, more than 13 workshops for those seeking to do business with Miami-Dade County were hosted by the DBD, which welcomed new director, Penelope Towsley in 2007.
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Mayor’s Community and Economic Development Initiative
The Mayor’s Community and Economic Development Initiative launched in 2007. To date, representatives from 150 Community Based Organizations have participated in workshops or events enabling them to provide more effective, efficient services to the community. In 2008, the workshops will extend to small businesses, giving them the tools to grow and thrive.
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Film and Entertainment
Miami-Dade County continued to be a hot spot for film and entertainment generating $148 million to the local economy. Nearly 1,900 productions were filmed throughout Miami-Dade County, including movies, television shows, commercials, music videos and still photography shoots. Television shows such as CSI Miami, Burn Notice and Cane continued to keep the Miami brand in front of millions of viewers worldwide, and Miami-Dade’s appeal to the Spanish-language production sector grew in 2007 with seven telenovelas produced locally, including Dame Chocolate, Pecados Ajenos, La Viuda de Blanco and Las Dos Caras de Ana.
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Super Bowl
Super Bowl XLI generated an estimated $350 million for the South Florida economy. The Miami-Dade County Police and Fire Departments worked with the NFL and local Host Committee to ensure that all security and public safety issues relevant to all festivities were safe and free from incident. Thousands of visitors enjoyed our beaches, venues and participated in related concerts, sporting events and parties. The Community Image Advisory Board, Public Works, Team Metro, Solid Waste, Transit, Consumer Services and Aviation Departments also collaborated to make sure that Miami-Dade County served as an ideal host.
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New Parks and Open Spaces Vision
Research shows that parks and open spaces are critical to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of a community. Miami-Dade County is working to become a model destination with the completion of its Open Space Master Plan. The plan, two years in the making, offers a framework and vision for park development and stewardship for the next 50-100 years. The Master Plan calls for park system connected countywide by parks, public spaces, recreational facilities, greenways, blueways and conservation lands.
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