IV. Miami-Dade’s Economic Development Delivery System

In his opening statement in the 1989 report “Tools for Change: The Planned Process to Stimulate Black Economic Development in Miami-Dade,” Steering Committee Chairman Garth Reeves remarked that the report “reflects the reality that in spite of the efforts of dozens of organizations throughout [Miami-] Dade County, black economic conditions in many arenas are worse than they were in 1980.” This sentiment was echoed in the 1998 Urban Economic Revitalization Plan for Designated Targeted Urban Areas and most recently by Mayor Penelas’ Mosaic 2000 Partnership Initiative.

assets and liabilities, the direction they want to go and what steps must be taken to get there. According to the 1991 FIU study “Minority Business and Economic Development in Dade County, Florida: An Analysis,” the OEDP was voluntary, having no permanent staff assigned to carry out its activities. Its primary purpose was to “advise” the Board of County Commissioners on Economic development policies and strategies.

Miami-Dade County’s current economic development delivery system is the culmination of twenty years of economic development plans, studies and reports.

The reality is that Miami-Dade’s current economic development delivery system is the culmination of twenty years of economic development plans, studies and reports. Miami-Dade’s first attempt to formulate a countywide economic development policy was through the creation of an Overall Economic Development Program (OEDP) Committee in 1977. Economic development planning, as implemented through the OEDP was a prerequisite for receiving federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) public works project funding. More importantly, however, the OEDP process encouraged communities to begin to think strategically about their

A. Miami-Dade’s Economic Development Plans and Initiatives

The first comprehensive policy plan to address minority business and economic development was the result of another EDA funded initiative. The 1981 “Economic Adjustment Plan for the County” prepared by Janus Associates recommended alternative methods for assisting minority firms in participating in County projects. The Janus Report was a reaction to the civil disturbances of 1980.

Subsequent economic development plans and initiatives were also spawned by racial unrest and a general dissatisfaction with the lack of progress of these prior planning efforts.