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And just like that, it was over. The 2024 State of South Dade came and went and did not disappoint. The County Mayor, five municipal mayors, two county commissioners, and two school board members, all made presentations to an enthusiastic audience at the Moss Center on Thursday, February 29th. The community leaders shared announcements and updates on new downtowns, infrastructure investments, school performance, new partnerships, investing in green space, and on and on. I searched for a word that could somehow define and represent all these exciting pronouncements and insights, and I landed on one – ENTICING. Enticing for the investor considering new markets; enticing for the young family looking for a place to call home; and enticing for the owner of a small business that is pushing to expand and grow.
The networking in the lobby of the fabulous Moss Cultural Center before the actual event was worthwhile all on its own. With so many business owners and organizations gathered in one place you never know who you will meet or what you will learn. And with the benefit of having the opportunity to meet with some of our community leaders, you have a chance of getting some feedback that may help your business grow. And in that respect, the South Dade Chamber of Commerce is fulfilling one of its biggest roles which is to create opportunities and environments that can help our members grow their business. You never know what you can do or learn when you are given the opportunity to visit with a collection of diverse people and business owners.
The night before the event, my wife made a comment that was extremely insightful. “Are there other parts of Miami-Dade County that have events similar to the State of South Dade?” And the short answer was…no. Consider – many municipalities have a State of the City event around the same time as our nation’s State of the Union address. And some cities attract more attention than others. This is the only place where a definitive part of the county does consider itself as “Regional” and sets aside a day to come together and celebrate it. As listed above, the county mayor, five municipal mayors and so on came together. It is an area with a population that would put it in the top ten of all COUNTIES in Florida. A region that, on its own, is one of the largest producing agricultural areas in the state. Florida is one of three states with three national parks. Two of those parks…are in South Dade. This is in part what the State of South Dade celebrates. It is in part what our residents know and feel. The diversity and breadth of this area sets it apart from the rest of the county. Rural and urban at the same time. Where a great percentage of the workforce lives and where businesses and production thrive as soon as business owners and investors “discover” the charm and potential and capacity of South Dade. The State of South Dade is in part our own collective family reunion where we celebrate successes, see how everyone has grown, and ultimately just enjoy each other’s company. But unlike a private family affair, this is one where everybody is invited to attend. Spread the word. State of South Dade 2025 is right around the corner, and you won’t want to miss it.
