Cheers to Hispanic heritage and immigrant success 🇻🇪🇨🇴🇨🇺🇳🇮🇩🇴

Here to serve in troubled times

Dear Friends of District 8,

Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off this week, a celebration of the multitude of cultures that shape our country and make our own community so beautifully diverse.

It's also Citizenship Week, hosted by the Office of New Americans which I was proud to help found in 2015. You can join a workshop, panel, or even virtual brunch and cooking demonstration to celebrate the many contributions of immigrants to our community. Check out the schedule.

I'm excited to share that new relief programs are available to help support landlords and veterans impacted by COVID-19. $10 million in CARES Act funding is dedicated for 'mom and pop' landlords to cover their costs while sustaining households behind on rent. And $15 million is dedicated to housing and basic needs relief for our veterans and active duty military households – supporting those who have sacrificed for us.

Yours in community,

Daniella

September is Hunger Action Month, and even the downpour this weekend couldn't stop #Team8 from helping feed our community at events with the Joshua's Heart Foundation and Jewish Community Services.

Make Your Voice Heard

Final public budget hearing

Your engagement is vital to our democracy and to the conversation about how our county spends taxpayer dollars. Join the final budget hearing today, Thursday, September 17 at 5 pm. Register in advance to participate.

Major Traffic Safety Improvement

All way stop signs installed

I'm proud to share that following my advocacy, the Department of Transportation and Public Works completed placing “All Way” stop signs at Franjo Road and Cutler Ridge Drive – the site of multiple vehicular accidents – as an important safety measure until the intersection is redesigned as a roundabout through the Franjo Roadway Improvement Project.

Save the Date: Save Our Bay

Virtual town hall next week

Join me along with WPLG's Louis Aguirre and advocates and experts from the Biscayne Bay Taskforce, Miami Waterkeeper, and other groups Tuesday, September 22 at 12 pm, for a virtual town hall on the critical next steps we must take now to save Biscayne Bay. Register here.

Prevent the Spread at Work

Public health resources

Businesses and employers can prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace by following public health guidelines.

Download these helpful resources for your business:

CDC Resuming Business Toolkit

Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19

COVID-19 Community Relief

LANDLORDS AND RENT RELIEF

NEW: Miami-Dade County has dedicated $10 million in CARES Act funding for 'mom and pop' landlords to cover their costs while helping to support low- and middle-income households behind on rent. Learn more and apply.

VETERANS

Two different programs are now available to provide rent relief and basic needs assistance to veterans and active duty military households in Miami-Dade experiencing financial hardship related to COVID-19, to help support those who have sacrificed for us. Learn more and apply.

NONPROFITS AND ARTS & CULTURE

Miami-Dade County is partnering with the Miami Foundation to provide $10 million in COVID-19 relief to local nonprofits through the Nonprofit Supports Grant Program. Learn more and apply by September 30.

Round two of the Miami-Dade Arts Support (MÁS!) Grants Program supports artists and arts and cultural organizations. Individual artists should apply here; organizations can apply here and must also complete one of six grant workshops prior to applying.

HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

The SOBEWFF® & FIU Chaplin School Hospitality Industry Relief Fund provides support to employees of impacted independently owned and operated restaurants, hotel restaurants, bars, and caterers. Learn more and apply.

Hotel employees who have been furloughed or lost their jobs can apply for the Hotel Worker Relief Grant Program, a partnership of the County, Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association, and Miami Dade College. The program will award stipends of up to $1,000 to impacted hotel workers who complete a training workshop. Apply here.

SMALL BUSINESS

Funds are available to support small businesses via RISE Miami-Dade Small Business Loans, Miami-Dade County Small Business Assistance Forgivable Loans, the CareerSource South Florida COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Fund, and the $30M Hospitality Industry Grant program.

Key Links & Resources

Miami-Dade County Coronavirus Hub

Miami-Dade Public Schools Coronavirus Hub

Florida Health Coronavirus Site

Complete the 2020 Census

Past Coronavirus Newsletters