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For decades, small business owners in Miami-Dade County have found themselves stuck in a bureaucratic maze — bounced back and forth between municipal building departments and the county as they tried to navigate a complex permitting and regulatory environment.
What should have been a straightforward process to open a business often turned into weeks — or even months — of delays, frustration, and confusion. Rather than working in sync, agencies operated in silos, creating a burden for entrepreneurs who simply wanted to contribute to their communities and build their livelihoods.
That frustrating process now is being reimagined, thanks to a high-impact initiative spearheaded by Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. As part of her ongoing commitment to economic development and small business support, the mayor has made it a priority to streamline processes and foster better collaboration between the county and its 34 municipalities.
This vision is becoming a reality through the joint efforts of a dynamic team from across government. Jennifer Baez and Maria Del Mar from the Office of Innovation and Economic Development (OIED); Lourdes Gomez, Arianne Oliva and Alfredo Alvarez Jr. from the Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources (RER), and Vince Seijas, building official from the City of Miami Beach — our first pilot municipality — have come together to bring a new solution forward.
The centerpiece of this pilot program is a virtual Miami-Dade kiosk, placed directly within municipal building departments. Instead of being told to visit multiple offices across jurisdictions, small business owners will now have the ability to complete essential county-level regulatory tasks right from their own city’s building department. This streamlined, one-stop-shop approach is designed to dramatically reduce the time, travel, and uncertainty involved in opening or expanding a business.
The pilot is launching in the City of Miami Beach, a long-standing partner in innovation. Once the system is tested and refined there, the plan is to roll it out gradually across the rest of the county — eventually reaching all 34 municipalities. The goal is a fully integrated permitting experience that puts the entrepreneur at the center, not the bureaucracy.
This is more than just a new piece of technology — it’s a cultural shift in how local government serves its residents. By removing barriers and improving access to information and services, the county is paving the way for a more vibrant and inclusive business ecosystem.
Even more exciting is the potential for additional innovations to emerge from this collaborative effort. What once seemed impossible is now within reach. For years, small businesses have asked for better coordination, faster service, and clearer communication. With this pilot, those requests are being answered in a tangible way.
There’s light at the end of the tunnel for our entrepreneurs. And as this pilot expands and evolves, we expect even more impactful solutions to follow.
Stay tuned — this is just the beginning.
For more information on Strive305 you can visit Strive305hub.com or email Manny Cid at Strive305@MiamiDade.gov.
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