News from The Beacon Council of Miami-Dade

Nov. 25 - Dec. 1, 2013 NEWSLETTER

Key Ceremony & Holiday Reception to be held Dec. 11

Join Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez, County Commissioners, local elected officials and The Beacon Council as we honor companies that have located or expanded here in the past year.

Registration at 6 p.m. Dec. 11 at Vizcaya Museum & Gardens,

3251 South Miami Avenue,

Miami.

RSVP here.

Nominate a deserving company for a Beacon Award

The Beacon Council is proud to host the 12th Annual Beacon Awards in April 2014.

This premier event honors local businesses and organizations for significant contributions to the Miami-Dade County economy in the areas of job creation, business expansion, corporate citizenship, and leadership.

Read more.

The Beacon Council in the News

Seven companies to bring 401 jobs to Miami-Dade - South Florida Business Journal

Beacon Council launches site - South Florida Business Journal

New site lets businesses drill down into data - Miami Herald

Beacon Council chief on small business needs - Miami Herald

Payroll jobs show growth in Miami-Dade County

Miami-Dade County increased 8,900 in payroll jobs since last month and the unemployment rate increased 0.2 percent in October, according to statistics released Friday.

"We need to remain focused on our target industries including those that have shown improvements such as financial activities and professional and business services," said Larry K. Williams, President and CEO of The Beacon Council. "And we need to continue to work hard assisting local companies and positioning Miami-Dade County as a global business destination."

PortMiami's Deep Dredge project enters a new phase

PortMiami's Deep Dredge project has entered a new phase with commencement this week of the actual dredging that will deepen the Port's main harbor channel to a depth of -50 feet.

14th Annual Multi-Chamber Holiday

This year's multi-chamber holiday event is slated to be held Dec. 4, 2013.

Dec. 4, 2013

6:30 p.m.- 8 p.m.

Brio Tuscan Grille at The Falls

Cost: one unwrapped toy per person

Presented by: The Falls, Chamber South, Homestead

Florida City Chamber and Mercedes Benz of Cutler Bay

For more information, click here.

Small Business Saturday on

Nov. 30

Reminder to holiday shoppers and small businesses: Small Business Saturday is Nov. 30. American Express began the national program in 2010 to support small businesses by providing additional exposure during the holiday season.

For more information, click here.

On Nov. 24, the Coral Gables Chamber, the Village of Merrick Park and Books & Books will host a day of activities and events to celebrate Small Business Saturday. Read more.

The Beacon Council partners with Spain-Florida 500 Years Conference

Larry K. Williams, President and CEO of The Beacon Council, H.R.H. The Prince of Asturias and Pamela Fuertes, VP of International Economic Development at The Beacon Council

Organized by the Spanish Trade Commission in Miami - ICEX, The Beacon Council was pleased to be a partner of the Spain-Florida 500 Years Conference held on Nov. 19. The Keynote Speaker of the Conference was His Royal Highness The Prince of Asturias. Spain is a top foreign direct investment market for Miami-Dade County. The Beacon Council continues to actively recruit and attract companies from Spain in establishing operations in our community. In partnership with the office of Enterprise Florida in Madrid, the Spanish Trade Commission in Miami, the Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other regional trade offices, foreign direct investment efforts are carried out throughout the year.

The Beacon Council President and CEO Larry K. Williams participates in panel discussion at Downtown Bay Forum

Panelists at the Downtown Bay Forum discuss how to promote Miami on Nov. 20.

Larry K. Williams, President and CEO of The Beacon Council, participated in a panel discussion with Josh Gelfman, Deputy Director Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources, and Dr. Kenneth Lipner, Economist at The Downtown Bay Forum on Nov. 20. The topic " Economic Development in Miami: What is Government Doing to Promote Miami?" provided the opportunity for the panelists to discuss strategies for growth in Miami-Dade County and allowed for an open dialogue with the luncheon attendees. The event was held at the Wolfson Auditorium at Temple Israel in Miami.

The Beacon Council attends Southeast U.S./Japan joint meeting to promote trade

SEUS (Japan and Japan-U.S. Southeast) representatives at the opening ceremony of the 36^th Joint Meeting held in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Executive Director SEUS-Japan, Dave Woodward; Secretary of Commerce & President/CEO Enterprise Florida Gray Swoope; Miami-Dade Beacon Council Senior Vice President Mario Sacasa; and Deputy Consul General of Japan in Miami, Masahiro Ogino at the 36^th SEUS-Japan Joint Meeting.

The 36^th Joint Meeting of the Southeast U.S.-Japan & Japan-U.S. Southeast Associations took place in Biloxi, Mississippi on Nov. 17-19. Created in 1976, the Associations promote trade, investment and friendship between Japan and seven U.S. member states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Meetings are held annually on a rotational basis in Japan and Southeastern U.S.

The theme of the 36^th Joint Meeting in Biloxi this year was: "Success through Harmony, Tradition and Innovation". Co-Chairs of the Joint Meeting were William G. Yates, Chairman of Yates Construction Company/ Chairman of Southeast U.S.-Japan Association and Atsutoshi Nishida, Chairman of Toshiba Corporation/ Chairman of Japan-U.S. Southeast Association.

The Florida Delegation consisted of 39 business leaders and government officials led by Florida Gov. Rick Scott and by Secretary of Commerce and President & CEO/Enterprise Florida, Gray Swoope. The Consulate General of Japan in Miami was represented by Deputy Consul General Masahiro Ogino.

The Beacon Council announces the addition of 401 jobs and

$26.12 million in new capital investment

Seven companies -- ranging from an online travel-search company to a manufacturer of mobile storage containers to a cancer treatment center -- were assisted by The Beacon Council and will add 401 jobs and $26.12 million in new capital investment in Miami-Dade County within three years.

"Today's announcement is more evidence that companies are responding to our strategic investments made toward improving and expanding the economic climate of Miami-Dade County," Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez said. "We welcome this news and continue seeking ways to ensure that businesses will take advantage of our unparalleled access to markets in this hemisphere and our world class quality of life."

Said Larry K. Williams, President and CEO of The Beacon Council:

"This is a great start to our fiscal year. We will continue to help current companies grow and expand while working to attract new businesses to our county. These companies are creating jobs for Miami-Dade County residents."

South Dade Community Health and Job Fair provides access to employers

Kemely Castro, Manager of International Economic Development, at The Beacon Council, provided information to attendees.

On Nov. 16, The Beacon Council participated in the South Dade Community Health and Job Fair that took place at the Miami-Dade College Kendall Campus. The Fair, which was hosted by Chairwoman Lynda Bell and State Representative Frank Artiles, provided residents and students with access to major Miami-Dade County employers. More than 700 residents attended the event with 30 companies participating, and more than 1,100 positions available. Some included Macy's, AT&T, and Prudential. In addition Miami-Dade College provided a Health Fair providing dental checkups, blood pressure checkups, and massages.

Miami-Dade County and The Beacon Council launch Geospatial Website to attract jobs and investments

www.miamidadesites.com

features vacant industrial and commercial properties, demographics and business information

Miami-Dade County, in conjunction with The Beacon Council, is launching the www.miamidadesites.com website, which depicts available vacant industrial and commercial properties. The website is based on user-defined criteria for Miami-Dade County utilizing geographically based demographic and business information, and also enables broker registration to highlight available parcels.

"This new website will allow businesses wishing to locate or expand in Miami-Dade County a literal 'bird's eye' view on available properties, and provide The Beacon Council with yet another tool to assist those businesses with their location strategies," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. "We should thank Commissioner Bell for her leadership on this matter, and continue working together to use technology as a means to further economic development for all of Miami-Dade County."

See "Featured listing of Week" below:

Featured listing of Week:

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Our Mission:

As Miami-Dade County's official economic development partnership, The Beacon Council is charged with bringing new, job-generating investments to the community, while assisting existing businesses in their efforts to expand. By doing this, The Beacon Council facilitates the creation of quality jobs for each and every resident of Miami-Dade County.

Will you join us? Call Member-Investors at (305) 579-1326