Small Business Development

New amendments to Miami-Dade County's Small Business Programs

On May 3, 2011 the Board of County Commissioners adopted amendments to the Small Business Program Ordinances and Implementing Orders.  Amendments became effective on May 13, 2011.  Below you will find listing of each program’s changes, Amended Ordinances and Implementing Orders.

Amendments	Ordinances	Implementing Orders
CBE	CBE	CBE
CSBE	CSBE	CSBE
SBE	SBE	SBE

The new project review process

Effective May 13, 2011, the review process for the application of Small Business Program measures is now more streamlined and transparent to encourage public comment during the early stages of the review process.  For more information, go to Project Review and Analysis.

Attention

Are you looking for work in the area of construction (skilled or unskilled)? Utilize the County’s Job Clearinghouse to post your job application.

Small Business Saturday is a national movement that marks a day to support the local business that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country. First there was Black Friday, then Cyber Monday. Now, Small Business Saturday is an event that drives shoppers to local, independently-owned merchants.

Miami-Dade County Small Business Enterprises "SCORE" Partnership with Small Business Development and SCORE Miami-Dade.
Small Business Development and SCORE Miami-Dade have announced a resource partnership. SBD will collaborate with SCORE to provide in -house workshops, one-on-one counseling and outreach activities to certified small business enterprises under one roof, effective August 15, 2001, Monday thru Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Miami-Dade is the first county in the nation to adopt a countywide wage theft law

The Wage Theft Ordinance which is governed by Chapter 22 of the Code of Miami-Dade County and became effective on February 28, 2010, applies to private sector employees and employers. The Wage Theft Ordinance policy is to "eliminate and prevent wage theft.  Eliminating the underpayment or nonpayment of wages earned by persons working in the County serves the public purpose by promoting economic security and dignity for those working in the County; by promoting business and economic development through the elimination of unfair economic competition by unscrupulous businesses that do not pay or that underpay their employees"; and to relieve "the burden on the public that subsidize unscrupulous employers whose employees are forced to rely on public assistance because of unpaid or underpaid wages." An employer who is found to have violated the Wage Theft Ordinance by unlawfully failing to pay any portion of wages due will have to pay back-pay and liquidated damages to the employee in addition to administrative fees and hearing costs. 

For more information and assistance, contact us at 305-375-3146.  Aggrieved employees must complete a Wage Claim Intake Form to began the process.

Doing business with the County

The best place to start a search for a business owner that is interested in doing business with Miami-Dade County is the Vendor Assistance Unit. The Vendor Assistance Unit registers business owners that wish to participate in contracting opportunities with Miami-Dade County. This facility falls under the jurisdiction of  Procurement Management.

Calling all small business owners

If you are a small business owner and would like information about contracting opportunities with Miami-Dade County call us at 305-375-3111 and someone from Small Business Development’s Business Assistance Division will contact you.

• Certification Prospect Card 

Surety Bond and Financial Assistance Unit

The Surety Bond and Financial Assistance Unit  SBD’s authority to provide guarantees on working capital loans for CSBEs through partnering relationships with financial institutions has provided over $2 million in lines of credit assistance to certified small business enterprises. Since the 2006 implementation of the Small Business Contract Lending Program, Continental National Bank of Miami has provided over $2 million in lines of credit to certified small business enterprises.

CSBEs and SBEs with County contracts may be eligible to receive short term working capital loans against these contracts.  The intent of this program is to bridge the gap between submissions of requisition to receipt of payment. The loans are structured as revolving lines of credit where firms can be paid up to 85% of approved invoices within 48 hours.  Loan proceeds can only be used for contract related expenses.  The contract serves as collateral for the loan and is assigned to the lending institution.  Interest rates are competitive.  Eligible firms must be CSBE or SBE certified and in good standing with County Ordinances.