Welcome Back to the EDC Newsletter
The EDC's Latest News & Updates newsletter is back. It has been a while since our last communications, but during that time your EDC has been busy on initiatives, projects, and collaborations with Miami-Dade County Regulatory and Economic Resources Planning Division, SBA Community Navigator Pilot Program, Small Business Development Center, and many more partners. Read on to learn about all the work your EDC is doing.
NEW WEBSITE IS COMING! The EDC will be launching a new website in the coming weeks. The new site will feature an updated, sleek logo and cleaner, easier to access design, business resources and links intended to help you navigate the local economy, find the perfect location for your company, discover current tax and monetary incentives, and gain the knowledge to grow your business.
Coming Soon
www.edcsouthmiamidade.com
The EDC has a new email.
Please direct all your communications to info@edcsouthmiamidade.com
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EDC to Reach Out to Entrepreneurs
Small Minority-Owned Businesses
The EDC is thrilled to announce that we have been awarded the SBA's Community Navigator Pilot Program. With our partner the Florida Small Business Development Center. This is a two year grant project awarded to organizations who act as leading regulatory bodies or centers in the community wide network of the local economy. The EDC's role will be to coordinate community outreach activities with ambassador organizations that directly engage the local community through outreach initiatives. This includes loan, grant, and relief assistance application preparation for businesses, as well as providing technical assistance to small businesses in areas including financial literacy, credit counseling, financial assistance, accessing government contracts and exporting.
The SBA Community Navigator Pilot Program seeks to help all those entrepreneurs affected by Covid-19, as well as entrepreneurs from the veteran and military community, women, minorities, the LGBTQ+ community, and rural communities.
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This month’s newsletters will be all about the food industry – not just eating, but the business side of food too, as well as information about the agricultural communities that grow and raise the products on your store shelves.
With events like Miami Spice and the Food and Wine Festival, we all know Miami has a huge foodie culture that brings visitors in from all over. But really it's the farming community of South Florida working year round to ensure that supply chains are maintained. So whether you’re a foodie or an entrepreneur – this newsletter is about to put a lot of knowledge on your plate.
Santander Bank Looks Towards Miami To Take Part
In Their Cultivate Small Business Program
A new grant opportunity coming to Miami-Dade county by Santander Bank could provide you with all the ingredients you need to help elevate your business to the next-level.
Come March 2022, Santander will be recruiting thirty Miami entrepreneurs who work in the food and food service industry to take part in their Cultivate Small Business Program (CSB). This capital grant and learning program can help sustain and run your small businesses by providing you with the funding, mentorship, and education needed to be successful in the food industry.
After an especially rough year for businesses, Santander recognizes that not all entrepreneurs may have the resources or skills required to successfully run their small business in a sustainable fashion. That is why the CSB seeks to assist individuals from underserviced, low and moderate-income communities – particularly those entrepreneurs who are women, minorities, and immigrants. Entrepreneurs play a critical role in creating jobs and strengthening the communities where they do business, so it’s not only about growing your business but the community at large.
During the CSB's last run, out of 90 small business owners from Massachusetts and New Jersey, 73% of those businesses were female-owned, 65% were owned by people of color, and 85% came from low to moderate-income or area-median income.
This is the first year CSB will take place in Miami. It is an exciting, first time chance for early-stage entrepreneurs to take advantage of assistance being provided by this growth accelerating experience. As part of the program, not only capital funding be provided to aid the running of your business, but you will enrolled in a learning program as well. Here you will learn food-service related business management skills, be provided with technical assistance, and connect with a local network of established food-industry experts with demonstrated success in running and managing their food related business.
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Redland Farming Season is in Full Swing
While the Redlands are known for an abundance of family owned farms, nurseries, and other agriculture related attractions and activities, there is one farm that draws in visitors from all over Florida, the US, and even the globe.
But if you're local, you probably already know who that is. And for those of you not in the know – October 27th marked the first day that the Homestead staple and South Miami-Dade institution Knaus Berry Farm opened up for its 65th season of operation. Since 1956, this famous family farm and bakeshop has been selling strawberries, veggies, ice cream and shakes, various baked goods, and of course - world famous cinnamon rolls. These warm. sticky, gooey cinnamon rolls are a sensation, making people from all over Florida take the trek southbound to stand in 4-hour long lines inhabited by other cinnamon crazed enthusiasts.
The legendary status of these cinnamon rolls probably has something to do with their limited availability, since the farm is only open between October through mid April. And last year, in an effort to reduce the spread of Covid-19, they had to close 3 weeks earlier than usual (just another thing 2020 gave us to lament about). This year Knaus Berry Farm opens up with new regulations intended to keep the public safe during this lasting pandemic, with strict social distancing rules, mask requirements, and a streamlined process to get customers in and out of their open air market.
Again, the line is long and products sell out fast, so make sure to get there early. Or better yet, call ahead and place an order for pick up. And by the way – cash only!
Knaus Berry Farm is open Monday - Saturday, 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
15980 SW 248 Street, Homestead, FL 33031
(305) 247-0668
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A Day of Old Fashioned Farm Fun For the Family
For a day of old fashioned fun, head over to the Berry Farm. They have invited families to pass by for a day of old fashioned fun during their Harvest Festival. Known for year round sunflowers, the Berry Farm’s harvest festival features a pumpkin patch, corn field and corn maze to get lost in. Visitors can ride tractors, bounce on their oversized jumping pillow, and play cornhole, old fashion tic-tac-toe, shuffleboard and more. There's also plenty of food and fresh juice so come hungry.
Berry Farm is open Monday - Thursday, 10:00 am - 6:30 pm
13720 SW 216 Street, Miami FL 33170
(786) 710-8100
Not far from Berry Farm, Pinto’s Farm gives families the chance to enter the countryside without leaving the city. For the Fall season, admission to the farm grants access to the pumpkin patch, the race track, pedal boat rides, tractor rides, pony rides, and of course – all the friendly animals waiting to make your acquaintance.
Pinto's Farm is open Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
14890 SW 216 Street, Miami FL 33170
(305) 878- 4662
Still more, the Little Farm's fall season is also hosting a slough of fall friendly events too: a pumpkin patch, pony rides, a play field and lots of photo opportunities (which make the perfect gift for the family come Christmas). They even let you milk the goats if that's your thing.
The Little Farm is open Saturday and Sunday, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
13401 SW 224 Street, Goulds FL 33170
(305) 258-3186
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Farm Fresh and Redland Raised
If you’re more interested in getting a taste of what local farms are producing, then there are plenty of farmers markets around to let you and the family share the freshest produce Redland farming has to offer.
For our local subscribers, you’re probably already aware of the "Disney World" of fruit stands – Robert is Here. This produce market specializes in carrying a variety of rare and exotic fruits, most of them grown right on their premises. Their milkshakes and smoothies alone are a perfect excuse to make the trek this deep down into the Homestead area. And they have a lot of space in back of the market with a petting zoo, aviary, old tractors, planes, and sheds for photo opportunities.
Robert Is Here is open Monday - Thursday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm and Friday - Sunday, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
19200 SW 344, Homestead FL 33034
(305) 246-1592
For more Redland raised, farm fresh produce you can check out Michael Borek Farms. They are third generation farm that grows heirloom tomatoes, produce, fresh herbs, and greens from November to May. Their open air farmers market has been open since October 1st, every Saturday from 10 am – 4 pm and they make it extremely easy to shop on their premises by giving you a variety of ways to shop. Order online and pick up curbside at the farm, or choose and pick up your produce from the comfort of your car in their drive thru open air market. If you can’t travel all the way to their farm, they have Michael Borek Farm can supply you with weekly produce boxes that can be picked up at locations near your home as part of Nana Greene’s CSA program.
Michael Borek Farms' Farmers Market is open Saturday, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm (They have different hours for ordering and pick up so check their website for more on that)
19101 SW 147 Ave, Miami FL 33187
(305) 216-5044
Finally, there’s also the Redland Community Farm and Market. This non-profit organization provides the South Florida community with local organic produce, while also providing training and jobs to veterans and underserved individuals. Their farmers market features a variety of baked goods, honeys and jams, plants, arts and crafts, olive oil, kombucha, and furniture. They regularly host pop-ups across Miami-Dade county, and you can find them in Downtown Miami at the Government Center the first Tuesday of every month. Redlands Community Farm and Market features online ordering, drive-thru, and curbside pick up to make shopping convenient for you.
Redland Community Farm and Market is open daily from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
12690 SW 280 Street, Homestead FL 33032,
(305) 257-2005
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Feeding South Florida
During the holidays we give thanks for all the blessings we might take for granted on a day-to-day basis – family, housing, work, and of course access to food. For many of us, getting food is as simple as going to the grocery store or opening up the fridge. But according to Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger relief organization, about 10% of Miami-Dade has limited or no consistent access to food. The ongoing pandemic hasn't made that any easier either, with many losing their jobs, children unable to go to school for breakfast and lunch, and easy access to social services or community outreach opportunities being difficult to access. But breakdowns lead to breakthroughs. It was because of Covid-19 that Kristin Guerin and local Miami artists created Buddy System, an initiative working towards solving the problem of hunger in Miami-Dade.
With the motto of "take what you need, leave what you can", Buddy System has installed ten free community fridges in under-represented communities throughout Miami-Dade. How does it work? Just open up the fridge and take what you need, no lines, no ID needed, and no needless red tape.
The initiative helps those who aren't able to access normal food-distribution sites, either due to work or lack of a car, and those who can't afford groceries. These fridges also help combat excess food waste because they stock food that would otherwise go bad. Buddy System makes sure to stock each fridge eight times a week with donations from individuals donors, Girl Scout troops, local churches, and others. But individuals are also able to stock the fridge to support their neighbors.
There are ten fridges installed throughout Miami-Dade, one being located in Homestead at 139 North Redland Road, Suite 11, Florida City, FL 33034. You can find the full list here.
Of course there are other initiatives working hard to feed those without access to food. Thanks to Farm Share and Feeding South Florida, two organizations committed to fighting hunger in Florida, weekly food distributions are held all over the state. In South Miami-Dade, food distribution events happen weekly at Homestead's Air Reserve Base and Loren Roberts Park in Florida City (to name a few). These events are all drive-thru in an effort to combat the spread of Covid; residents must wear masks, stay in their vehicles, and open their trunks when it's their turn in line.
For a full list of food distribution events check out Miami-Dade County's website, Farm Share's list of Food Pantries, and Feeding South Florida's Distribution Locator.
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More to Come
It has been an especially difficult time during this pandemic year, but as you can see things are steadily getting back to their normal pace. We here at the EDC would like to thank all of our community members for continuing to stay strong and, for continuing to follow regulations intended to keep you and your neighbors safe. It is because of the resiliency of our community that we are able to continue serving you all so diligently.
There's much more to come from us here at the EDC, so be on the lookout for our next newsletter, with more news, and more growth opportunities for small businesses in the local South Miami-Dade economy.
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See What's Going On In South Miami-Dade
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Chamber South
Chamber South is working hard to keep members and local business informed. Please visit the Chamber South website to get the most current news and updates. LEARN MORE
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Town of Cutler Bay
Stay informed with the latest news and events taking place in Cutler Bay. LEARN MORE
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District 7
Stay informed with the latest news of legislation, news and events of South Miami, Coral Gables, Pinecrest, parts of West Kendall, and Key Biscayne. LEARN MORE
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District 8
Stay informed with the latest news of legislation, news and events of Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay, Homestead, and unincorporated areas of South Dade including Redland, Falls, Princeton, parts of Naranja, Leisure City and parts of West Kendall. LEARN MORE
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District 9
Stay informed with the latest updates on legislation, news and events of the largest geographic district in Miami-Dade County, District 9, which includes portions as far south as the Monroe County line. LEARN MORE
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District 11
Stay informed with the latest updates on legislation, news and events of the largest geographic district in Miami-Dade County, District 9, which includes portions as far south as the Monroe County line. LEARN MORE
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City of Florida City
Stay informed with the latest news and events taking place in Florida City. LEARN MORE
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Florida Farm Bureau
Florida Farm Bureau is the Voice of Florida Agriculture with a mission to to increase the net income of farmers and ranchers, and to improve the quality of rural life. LEARN MORE
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City of Homestead
Stay informed with the latest news and events taking place in Homestead. LEARN MORE
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Village of Palmetto Bay
Stay informed with the latest news and events taking place in Palmetto Bay. LEARN MORE
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Village of Pinecrest
Stay informed with the latest news and events taking place in Pinecrest. LEARN MORE
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South Dade Chamber of Commerce
The South Dade Chamber of Commerce is here to assist its local businesses with resources. Visit the Chamber’s website for additional information. LEARN MORE
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