The City of Miami Beach Economic Development Department is pleased to provide you with this monthly business newsletter that includes the latest information and resources available for our business community.



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Vida & Estilo Restaurant Group Spotlight

Vida & Estilo Restaurant Group | V&E Hospitality Group (V&E), which translates to Life and Style in Spanish, is a culinary industry pioneer behind some of the most recognizable and finest restaurant concepts.

The brand exudes lifestyle concepts that blend gastronomy, mixology, entertainment and unique vibes into their locations. The July 2023 Economic Development Business Newsletter spotlights Jamil Dib, co-founder and owner of V&E Restaurant Group.

Click here to read more.

This Month in Miami Beach History

On July 16, 1987, the Miami Beach Theater of Performing Arts was renamed the Jackie Gleason Theater, in honor of the television star who boldly proclaimed at the end of all his shows that “Miami Beach audiences are the greatest in the world!”

Built in 1950 and initially known as The Miami Beach Municipal Auditorium, the auditorium was substantially renovated in the 1970s by renowned architect Morris Lapidus and renamed the Miami Beach Theater of Performing Arts. The venue played host to Jackie Gleason’s American Scene Magazine show (renamed The Jackie Gleason Show in 1966) after it moved to Miami Beach from New York in 1964. Gleason’s love of Miami Beach led to his viewers flocking to Miami Beach to experience what Gleason called the “sun and fun capital of world”.

From the theater’s inception in 1950 to the present, it has hosted historic and memorable song and dance performances, comedy, boxing matches, pageants and iconic entertainment including, but not limited to, The Ed Sullivan Show, dazzling musical performances from stars like Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra to classical musicians like Yitzhak Perlman and Vladimir Horowitz, bringing 73 years of audiences, tourists and visitors to the Miami Beach business community.

Clean Beaches Week

July 1 - 7, 2023

With the weather heating up and the Fourth of July fast approaching, thousands of Florida residents and visitors will be heading to our world-class beaches this month. People aren't the only ones that love coming to our beaches every summer. July is also peak nesting season for both sea turtles and shorebirds, and many other creatures both large and small inhabit sandy shores. In honor of Clean Beaches Week, celebrated July 1 through 7, here are tips to help keep our beaches healthy and beautiful.

• Pick up trash
• Be mindful of shorebirds and sea turtles
• Steer clear of dunes
• Fill holes in the sand

BUSINESS RESOURCES

U.S. Chamber of Commerce America's Top Small Business Award

Small-business owners can apply for a $25,000 grant offered by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Top Small Business Awards. Eligible businesses will have fewer than 250 employees or less than $20 million in revenue for both 2021 and 2022.

Businesses will go through several rounds of judging to select an eventual winner. About 70 finalists will receive a yearlong membership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and seven top finalists will get recognition during an award ceremony. 

The deadline to apply is July 7, 2023. Click here to apply.

Prepare for Hurricane Season

Do you have a plan for when the Sunshine State isn't as sunny? Join our webinar to learn about the resources and tools available to best prepare your business ahead of hurricane season. You'll hear how VISIT FLORIDA, Expedia, the Florida Department of Commerce, and the Florida Division of Emergency Management work together before, during, and after a storm to support Florida residents and businesses.

Click here to register.

State of Florida Small Business Credit Initiative

Earlier this year, the State of Florida secured nearly half a billion dollars in loan funding specifically targeted for Florida small businesses and entrepreneurs. Approximately $142 million dollars of the total $488 million is currently available to fuel small business growth.

The Florida State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) is administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity with the goal of promoting small business lending, supporting small business growth within Florida, and creating jobs that support families and build strong economies. SSBCI can help businesses in any industry access credit for any business purpose even if they don’t have much collateral, are in a rural area, are very small, or new. There are several loan options available to meet the needs of the individual businesses, including:

Collateral Support Program: Enables financing that otherwise might be unavailable due to collateral shortfall.

Loan Participation Program: Supports a private loan by either acting as a companion loan or purchasing a portion of a loan already made by the private lender.

Loan Guarantee Program: Guarantees a loan or line-of-credit for eligible small businesses. 

For more information, please click here.

Hello Alice Small Business Growth Fund

The Miami-Dade Business Navigator (MDBN) program is an exciting local initiative funded (in part) through a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). It is led by the Florida Small Business Development Center (FSBDC) at Florida International University’s College of Business (FIU Business) in partnership with six experienced community organizations: Ascendus, Branches, the EDC of South Miami-Dade, the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce, Prospera, and StartUP FIU Procurement.

Through the program, the group of community partners will connect with underserved local entrepreneurs in Miami-Dade County to launch, grow and revitalize their businesses. The MDBN program focuses on small businesses—including microbusinesses with fewer than 10 employees—owned by women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

Webinars will begin in July, click here to view the full listing of events and to register.

Hello Alice Small Business Growth Fund

The Small Business Growth Fund is back! In partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) and with funding from Etsy and Progressive, the Small Business Growth Fund provides small business owners the capital they need to make their next move. Recipients will receive $5,000 - $25,000 grants to accelerate their growth and achieve their goals in 2023.

Applications are due by July 21, 2023. To apply click here.

Miami Bayside Foundation Small Business Training

 Applications are now open for the next cohort of the Miami Bayside Foundation Small Business Training. This 5-week virtual program consisting of 15 sessions will equip you with the necessary tools and expertise to enhance your business and assist you in developing a comprehensive business plan.

Click here to apply.

Incfile Fresh Start Business Grant

Are you an aspiring entrepreneur looking to start or grow your business? This grant is for you! Whether you’re starting over or starting from scratch, Incfile wants to be there to help your business succeed. One adult entrepreneur will receive $2,500 to put toward business startup costs and will also receive free formation services from Incfile.

Click here to apply.

Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority Forbes Travel Guide Online Hospitality Training Program

July 31, 2023

This free virtual hospitality training session will focus on Developing a Service Culture; Onboarding Seasonal Teams and Developing Plans of Action. The session is 90 minutes in duration, followed by a 15-minute Q&A with your Forbes Travel Guide Executive Trainer.

To register for this training click here.

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AVAILABLE

Looking for retail space? Consider this North Beach location at 325 71st St or this corner space in the heart of Mid-Beach at 761 W 41st St. If South Beach is on your list consider 826 Collins Ave.

To view other available properties, click here.

BUSINESS NEWSFLASH

Tacombi Miami Beach Resident Discount

Miami Beach neighbors: enjoy 15% off your meal at Tacombi located at 1688 Meridan Ave. Ask for the neighborhood discount!

LOCAL EVENTS

Fire on the Fourth Festival

July 4, 2023

Drones and fireworks will fill the skies over Miami Beach on July 4 as part of the city’s annual Fire on the Fourth celebration powered by Cox Media Group in honor of the nation’s 247^th birthday.

Fire on the Fourth kicks off at 3 p.m. in North Beach on Tuesday, July 4, 2023 at 73 Street and Collins Avenue with activities, food trucks and events in and around the Miami Beach Bandshell. This year’s event includes a family zone from 3-7:30 p.m. with a climbing wall, mega obstacle course, giant soccer dart game and even an imagination playground with Jenga, Connect 4 and cornhole. The event culminates with a drone show and fireworks display on the beachfront starting at 9 p.m.

Beach Skate Roller Disco

July 4, 2023

The Miami Beach Bandshell will also be transformed into an outdoor roller disco from 3-9 p.m. featuring music by the Bandshell Allstars. Guests may bring their own pair of roller skates, or borrow a pair on site courtesy of Faena Arts. A limited number of roller-skating reservations will be accepted at www.MiamiBeachBandshell.com. Walk-ins are welcome based on availability and capacity.

Music performances take the stage from 5-9 p.m. with DJs as well as The Miami Beats led by Jacin Paul and his nine-piece band. Paul is a guitarist for Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias.

Swim Show 2023

July 8 - July 10, 2023

With four decades of expertise, SwimShow is recognized as the leading industry platform in swimwear worldwide. As the industry’s most celebrated and established exhibition, SwimShow is the premier global tradeshow where the very best gather to network, exhibit and purchase next year’s trends.

Held every July, SwimShow attracts more than 7,500 buyers, manufacturers, designers, corporate personnel, press, bloggers, influencers, fashion consultants, stylists, VIP’s and other fashion industry leaders from over 60 countries across the globe to showcase brands and create business opportunities.

For more information and to purchase tickets click here.

Cabana Show

June 8 - July 10, 2023

Cabana is a highly curated marketplace that showcases the best of fashion, travel, and lifestyle brands. The premiere event at Miami Swim Week connects brands, retailers, and industry trendsetters who are inspired by a sense of discovery and escape.

For more information click here.

City of Miami Beach Weekly Meetings

Stay up to date on all of our upcoming meetings. From Commission meetings to committee meetings, please click here for a full list with links to participate.

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

City of Miami Beach Vacant Storefront Cover Program

The City of Miami Beach relaunched the Vacant Storefront Cover Program in a continued effort to improve the appearance of vacant, street-level commercial buildings and support the lease-up of retail spaces throughout the Miami Beach.



First unveiled in 2019, this initiative supports property owners, brokers, realtors and property managers by wrapping vacant storefront windows free of charge with one of ten (10) artistic designs preapproved by the City.

Click here to learn more about the program and how to get started. Interested brokers, realtors, property owners and managers should apply here and email the completed application to Mbbiz@miamibeachfl.gov.



Miami Beach Expedited Plan Review and Permitting Incentive Program

The City of Miami Beach is committed to diversifying the local economy by attracting and retaining companies in targeted industries like, financial services and technology. As part of this effort, the City is also offering an Expedited Plan Review and Permitting Program to incentivize targeted relocations, including expansions and associated development for companies. Click here to review full program guidelines.

Miami Beach Job Creation Incentive Program

The City of Miami Beach is offering the Job Creation Incentive Program (JCIP), a performance-based incentive adopted by the City Commission. The program aims to strategically attract new financial service companies and technology firms while helping existing businesses expand in Miami Beach to increase the number of high-wage jobs. Click here for more info and application details.

How to Apply for a Business Tax Receipt and a Certificate of Use

The choices you make affect your business operations, taxes, legal requirements, and revenue. View what you need to operate a business in Miami Beach here.

Plastic Free Miami Beach

Plastic comprises up to 97% of marine debris, and its dominance in the environment is explained by its abundance and nearly endless lifecycle. According to a United Nations, over eight million metric tons of plastic are found in our oceans every year, impacting our marine wildlife, fisheries, and tourism, and costing at least $8 billion in damage to marine ecosystems.

Plastic Free Miami Beach (#PlasticFreeMB) is a program that showcases businesses that have taken action to reduce single-use plastics from their establishment, and helps organizations learn about and implement best practices in the area of plastic waste reduction. The 3-tiered voluntary program allows participating businesses to choose the most suitable level which reflects their current plastic reduction practices. The more single-use plastic items that businesses transition away from, the higher the level they can reach.  

Register your business at Miami Beach - Rising Above (mbrisingabove.com)

List of Participating Plastic Free MB Businesses

Pop-Up Venue Permit

Pop-up venues are temporary retail spaces that can be used to promote and sell products of all types, ranging from food and beverages, clothing or unique gifts. The concept has the potential for low overhead, low risk and is a great way to introduce yourself to the market, generate buzz, increase sales and extend the reach and exposure of your business. To apply for a City of Miami Beach Pop-Up Venue permit click here.

PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Looking for Bid Opportunities?

If you would like to be notified of available competitive solicitations released by the City of Miami Beach, you must register your company through Periscope S2G, Supplier-to-Government by clicking here. Registration is easy and will take only a few minutes. Refer to the guide for instructions on how to register and submit an electronic bid here.

Become A Registered City of Miami Beach Vendor 

To read more and to register click here.

CONTACT US

Visit MBBIZ.com or contact the Economic Development team here for more information on resources, finding the perfect location(s) for your business expansion or sharing  ideas for future topics. 

NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

Missed a prior edition? Check out previous newsletters and business spotlight stories here.