September 2022

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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Miami Beach Celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month

Miami Beach will observe National Hispanic Heritage Month September 15 through October 15, 2022. During this celebratory time, we pay tribute to Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our community, including recognizing the achievements and contributions of Sandy Sanchez, co-owner of the beloved Silverlake Bistro, located in North Beach.

Click here to read more.

BUSINESS & WORKFORCE TRAINING

Miami Beach Business Academy

Upcoming Seminars

Online Business & E-Commerce

September 13 & 20, 2022

Being able to sell your product or service online has never been more important. During the pandemic, many established businesses had to re-invent themselves and find ways to deliver their services online. Join us today and we’ll explore topics on how to begin an online business or add online services to your existing businesses.

Miami-Dade Business Navigator Small Business Tax Considerations Webinar

Do You Dread Tax Preparation Time Every Year?

Whether you are filing your own taxes or rely on a CPA or accountant, it is important for small business owners to understand tax planning. Key decisions made during the year could make a big difference for your business come tax time. In addition, understanding the process could improve your consistency from year to year and help you maximize your time.

This webinar will take the fear out of your next tax preparation and give you guidance on this annual process.

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AVAILABLE

Looking for retail space? Consider this South Beach location at 1560 Lenox Ave or this corner space in the heart of Mid Beach at 3801 Collins Ave. If North Beach is on your list consider this location at 715 71st St.

To view other available properties, click here.

RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES

EndeavorLAB for Female Founders

Endeavor is excited to announce its EndeavorLAB for Female Founders presented by Mastercard!

Over a two-month period, selected founders will receive 1:1 mentorships to find solutions to their challenges, access to an alumni community of 100+ entrepreneurs, and achieve greater clarity and confidence in their growth plan.

If you'd like to join the cohort, please by Sunday, September 11th, 2022 here.

Small Business, Big Dreams Presented by BankUnited

To celebrate women business owners, BankUnited, a national bank headquartered in Miami Lakes, is giving them an opportunity to pitch their business for a chance to win $15,000 through the second annual BankUnited “Small Business, Big Dreams” Women in Business Challenge.

To enter, eligible business owners must complete an application and submit an original “elevator pitch” video of up to three minutes. Businesses must be based in Florida or New York, and must be at least 51 percent woman-owned.

The Women in Business Challenge culminates in a live pitch event and business summit during National Women’s Small Business Month in October. Ten semi-finalists will be selected to compete at the Small Business, Big Dreams Women in Business Summit in Ft. Lauderdale on October 20, where there will be two rounds of judging.

The quick pitch round before a panel of BankUnited senior executives will determine the three finalists who will advance to the final judging round before a live audience. BankUnited will award $15,000 to the top-performing finalist; $5,000 for second-place and $2,500 for third-place.

The deadline to apply is September 16th.

More information, including official contest rules and entry forms can be found here.

Elevate D5: How to Find Customers Online Workshop

September 7 - October 17, 2022

“How to Find Customers Online” is an introductory course in digital marketing for small businesses so they can find, attract and retain customers online. Participating business owners will work with expert instructors and peer business owners to learn the BizHack Lead Building System™ methodology, create a Business Directory Listing, and develop a personalized Growth Roadmap that provides a clear plan of action with next steps for finding customers online.

To read program requirements and to apply please visit here.

LOCAL EVENTS

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.

Industrious Grand Opening

September 9, 2022

The City of Miami Beach is thrilled to welcome Industrious to 350 Lincoln Road. The leading workplace provider, for companies of all sizes and stages, has a network spanning 65+ national and international cities, and some of the highest member satisfaction score in the industry. Industrious is uniquely suited to support our business community needs today, tomorrow, and in the years to come.

Lummus Artisanal Market

September 10 - 11, 2022

The City of Miami Beach in partnership with Florida Fresh Markets welcomes a new shopping tradition to South Beach on the weekend of Sept. 10 with the grand opening of the Lummus Artisanal Market steps away from iconic Ocean Drive. In addition to specialty items, the market will sell fresh fruit, refreshing smoothies, baked goods, florals, plants and more.

Miami Beach Convention Center

Americas Food & Beverage Show

September 12 - 13, 2022

The show is sponsored by the National Association of State Department of Agriculture (NASDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) works to promote the export of U.S. agricultural products and reports on agricultural production and market development in all areas of the world. USDA/FAS works in conjunction with NASDA to help promote the USA Pavilion at the Americas Food and Beverage Show and Conference.

The show is ONLY open to food and beverage industry professionals/buyers, food service companies, exporters/importers, wholesalers or distributors. To be admitted, buyers must provide documentation reflecting a direct and professional affiliation in the industry.

To register click here.

Smart City Expo USA 2022

September 14 - 15, 2022

Smart City Expo USA is the leading event for building smart, equitable, and sustainable 21^st century cities in the United States. This is the chance to engage with leading officials and innovators who are applying federal funding toward next-gen infrastructure, blockchain, web3, cybersecurity, broadband, AI, digital twins, the metaverse, and more. We are building smart, equitable, and sustainable cities of tomorrow, today.

To register click here.

JIS: Jeweler's International Showcase

September 30 - October 3, 2022

Exhibitors from popular domestic and international jewelry producing regions, including Italy, Hong Kong and Brazil, display their latest sample lines, present large inventories of finished merchandise, offer some of their best pricing specials of the year and build relationships with new and repeat customers.

Buyers can choose to take immediate delivery of merchandise from the show or write orders for later shipment.

Find exactly what you’re looking for at the show with personalized exhibitor recommendations and an impressive array of international and specialty pavilions.

To purchase tickets click here.

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Miami Beach Emergency Small Business Expense Reimbursement Grant — Funding Still Available

Small businesses in Miami Beach are encouraged to apply for a $20,000 emergency grant to cover rent, mortgage, utilities, payroll and operating expenses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The grants are awarded on a first-come, first-qualified basis. Interested businesses may apply here.

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 Film & Production Incentive Program

Making movies and other film projects in Miami Beach has never been easier! A new incentive program brings new guidelines, and fewer restrictions.

To review program guidelines and apply, click here.

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

PlasticFreeMB showcases businesses that have taken action to reduce plastics from their establishment and to help organizations learn and implement best practices in the area of environmental stewardship.

It takes more than 100 years for plastic to disintegrate. Learn why and how we're combating single-use plastic here.

Interested businesses can register here.

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.

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 city.

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 five 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.

Make A Bold Move

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.

COVID-19 TESTING & VACCINATIONS

COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Site Near City Hall

Nomi Health continues to operate the testing and vaccination site located on the first floor of the Pennsylvania Garage (G9) at 17 Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. The site operates seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with no appointment necessary. Vaccines are administered until 5 p.m., while testing continues until 6 p.m.

The site is also administering the COVID-19 vaccine for ages 6 months+ and offering single booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to those eligible to receive them.

Nomi Health has opened an additional walk-up testing site at 8400 Collins Ave for ages 5 and up. This location also operates seven days a week from 8 a.m.to 6 p.m. with no appointment necessary. It offers both rapid and PCR tests.

Click here for more information.

Help The City of Miami Beach Stop the Spread of Monkeypox

The safety and health of our residents, visitors, and businesses is our main priority. The City of Miami Beach continues to monitor monkeypox, a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus.

Please click here to review the resources provided, as well as the link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, for additional information on how to help mitigate the spread of the virus and create a safe environment for yourself and all of those who live, work, and play in our city.

Hurricane Preparedness for Small Businesses

A Business Emergency Response Team (BERT) training program can support and enhance your capabilities in an emergency situation. BERT volunteers can participate in efforts to increase the preparedness and resilience of the workplace and community. A BERT program equips employees with skills that enable them to perform basic disaster response operations in an emergency. Having trained volunteers on staff helps protect the health, safety, and lives of people at your workplace. Volunteers are trained using the FEMA Community Emergency Response Team basic Training curriculum.

Ready.gov provides excellent resources for developing preparedness plans. You can find these resources listed under “Ready Business."

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.