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Celebrating a record-breaking year with 50 new and expanding companies, 2,000 new direct jobs and $402.7M in new capital investments
(Miami, FL) November 15, 2018 – The Miami-Dade Beacon Council, the County’s official public-private economic development partnership, is pleased to announce this year’s achievements during its 2018 Annual Meeting & Key Ceremony. This year’s signature event theme “Miami SynchroniCity”, celebrates not only how many advantages Miami offers from a business perspective—diverse talent pipeline, location, global connectivity, technology, infrastructure and more—but how these converge in a way that is meaningful to the success of both companies and individuals. This convergence of people, passions, strengths, and spirit are part of what sets this community apart, serving as the foundation for Miami-Dade County’s economic development success story.
Slated for this upcoming Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, at the InterContinental Downtown Miami Hotel, The Beacon Council’s Annual Meeting will feature the organization’s official change in leadership as this year’s Chair Nelson Lazo, Chief Executive Officer of Doctors Hospital and Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute, passes the gavel on to Incoming Chair, Penny Shaffer, Ph.D., South Florida Market President for Florida Blue.
This event celebrates the Miami-Dade business community’s many achievements over the past year, from being selected as a top 20 finalist in the bid for Amazon HQ2 to a record-breaking 50 companies working with The Beacon Council to expand or relocate to Miami-Dade County. These 50 companies alone drove $402.6 million in new capital investments and almost 2,000 direct new jobs. With unemployment at 3.6 percent, its lowest since 2008, and consistent growth in Miami-Dade’s target industries, 2017-2018’s successes speak to the impact of The Beacon Council’s economic development efforts and the One Community One Goal strategic plan.
Miami-Dade County Mayor, The Honorable Carlos A. Gimenez, will be honoring all 50 companies with a Key to Miami-Dade County. Representing a diverse portfolio of industries and countries, these businesses will be recognized by Mayor Gimenez as well as the County Commissioners, City Officials and other dignitaries who represent the communities they are moving into and the diverse countries they call home.
“We want to honor all those companies that have added to Miami-Dade County’s economy,” said Mayor Gimenez. “In just six years, job growth has surged 15 percent across all industries, creating more than 160,000 new jobs… Along with our partners at The Miami-Dade Beacon Council, we are making sure not only our businesses, but also our residents have the necessary tools to grow and achieve their full potential.”
Approximately 400 people are expected to attend to this year’s event and participate in the highly anticipated “Miami SynchroniCity” Showcase, featuring more than 30 of the new and expanding businesses that are contributing to Miami-Dade County’s growing economy. Attendees have the opportunity to network one-on-one with other businesses, innovators and community leaders shaping the new Miami.
“It has been a full year since I first arrived in this community, and what a year it has been,” said Michael Finney, President and CEO of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council. “From being selected as a top 20 finalist for Amazon’s HQ2, to welcoming companies like Genius Plaza, Bombardier and Atlantic Sapphire to Miami-Dade County, we already see that, globally, people’s understanding of Miami as a business destination is changing. More and more people want to do business and be in Miami.”
“I am grateful that I had the opportunity to be part of The Miami-Dade Beacon Council this past year. The ability to be a true champion of the community where I am not only a business professional, but also a resident couldn’t make me prouder,” said Miami-Dade Beacon Council Former Chair, Nelson Lazo, Chief Executive Officer of Doctors Hospital and Miami Orthopedics & Sports Institute. “The Annual Meeting & Key Ceremony gives us an opportunity to not only acknowledge the companies who we have assisted, but also to reflect on the year’s efforts and how as a community, we will continue to be successful.”
“Miami continues to elevate our regional profile on a global scale, and I can’t think of a better time than now to be part of The Miami-Dade Beacon Council and to support our business community. We have achieved great success in the past year, not only by welcoming new companies but also by creating more jobs — all thanks to our One Community One Goal strategic plan,” said Miami-Dade Beacon Council Incoming Chair, Penny Shaffer, Ph.D., South Florida Market President for Florida Blue. “Our momentum is in full force and we need to take advantage of this excitement and energy.”
This annual event is made possible with the support of sponsors including TD Bank, Baptist Health South Florida, Doctors Hospital, Florida Power & Light, SunTrust and others. Ongoing support provided by Sustaining Investors American Airlines, Avison Young and The Miami Herald.
“TD Bank is proud to once again be the title sponsor of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council’s Annual Meeting and Key Ceremony, which showcases the various businesses and industries that shape Miami-Dade County. TD Bank supports initiatives that drive business and economic growth in our local communities, and The Beacon Council and Miami-Dade County both do an incredible job retaining businesses and attracting new and expanded businesses to be part of our community,” stated Pablo Pino, South Florida Market President – Commercial, TD Bank.
