 The Task Force on Urban Economic Revitalization has held its first semi-annual Urban Summit. For four days Miami-Dade County residents, business owners, opinion leaders and elected officials held workshops discussing key issues.
Industrial Development
In order to begin developing industrially, an area must first be able to attract businesses or be “business ready”. To attract business owners, the city of Miami-Dade has to market TUAs.
Making Miami-Dade County marketable will involve beautification, zoning, water and sewer connections.
Workforce Development
Communities in Miami-Dade County have an unemployment rate of 15% and in some areas as high as 20%. The major reason for the high rate of unemployment is lack of training and poor “soft skills” (telephone etiquette, proper business attire and poor language).
As a way to prepare “unskilled workers”, the South Florida Workforce offers several job training programs that not only train workers, but help them to secure jobs in the private sector.
Ecotourism
Two national parks coupled with miles of beaches and oceanfront creates a wonderful opportunity for Miami-Dade County to become ecotourism’s premier destination.
Because of the popularity of ecotourism, it is important to take steps to market Miami-Dade County as the “gateway” to the Everglades National Park.
Likewise, the discovery of the South Florida connection to the Underground Railroad as well as culturally rich neighborhoods like Little Haiti creates an opportunity for Miami-Dade to become an educational tourist attraction.
Commercial Revitalization
To rebuild our communities, grow minority businesses and stimulate commercial revitalization, residents, businesses and the public sector must re-circulate their income.
Because so many residents spend their money outside of their community, it is also important that these businesses cater to the residents living in the community. This will increase the recirculation of money within the community.
Community Development Workshop
This workshop touched on the issues of poverty, gentrification as a result of revitalization. The proposed solution to the problem is people –based development, which focuses on improving the quality of life of residents through creating access to jobs and independence among the disadvantaged.
Intergovernmental Approach to Economic Development
Monitor legislative changes, ensuring that all decisions made by state and local governments have the best interest of the community in mind.
The Task Force can facilitate this process by meeting with residents in TUAs to help them prioritize the changes they would like to see made in their communities. |
