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Miami-Dade County has received over $13.5 million in digital equity grant funding as part of the Florida Commerce Office of Broadband’s first round of subgrants to renovate and construct multi-purpose community buildings with the goal of enhancing access and resources for health monitoring, work and education in rural communities.
Miami-Dade County Information Technology Department’s (ITD) Local Technology Planning Team (LTPT) worked with The Miami Foundation and Miami Connected to receive this funding for six community partners to improve neighborhood facilities that provide residents with much needed digital literacy and internet services.
“Access to broadband connectivity is a priority to make our community future ready, and it must be available to all just like water and electricity,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “To achieve this, we are fostering community partnerships and paving the way towards a more connected and empowered Miami-Dade. I am committed to making sure that opportunity reaches every neighborhood and every resident in our county.”
Among the grantees, Miami Connected and the LTPT supported the following projects where the impact will be felt as early as fall 2024:
- Centro Campesino Community Center, granted $4 million;
- Miami Dade College (POWER), granted $4 million;
- SEEK Foundation (SMART TECH Health Hub), granted $4 million;
- CareerSource South Florida, in partnership with the Miami-Dade County Public Library System, granted $1,247,397;
- Bridge to Hope, granted $321,075, and
- Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, granted $177,835.
For the second round of subgrant funding from Florida Commerce, the LTPT is supporting eight applications that will impact areas in most need. The grants and programs supported by the LTPT will ensure that these communities receive services from CareerSource South Florida workforce support, computer devices and training, to reliable broadband and internet access.
“Technology connects us to the world, education, jobs, and most importantly, to each other,” said Margaret Brisbane, Information Technology Department director and chief information officer of Miami-Dade County. “When our community has the necessary resources to engage in the digital economy, we cultivate opportunity and growth.
“This synergy fosters new innovation and solutions, enriching our economy in a more inclusive and dynamic manner. Investments of this magnitude secure resources that ignite the path towards a more inclusive future,” Brisbane added.
These grants advance Miami-Dade County’s, launched last year in partnership with the Miami Foundation and Miami Connected as part of Mayor Levine Cava’s strategic commitment to bridging the digital divide to ensure county residents have fast, affordable and reliable internet access.
“As we continue to invest in broadband expansion, we recognize that access to high-speed internet is not just a convenience but an economic necessity,” emphasized Francesca de Quesada Covey, chief innovation and economic development officer.
“In today’s innovation-driven economy, entrepreneurship and innovation thrive where there is robust digital infrastructure. By ensuring every corner of Miami-Dade has access to broadband, we are laying the foundation for a strong economy that benefits all residents,” she added.
“Four years ago, we committed to connecting 60,000 families to broadband internet throughout Greater Miami. Today, that number is 189,185,” said Rebecca Fishman Lipsey, president and CEO of The Miami Foundation. “We are proud to stand with Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, non-profit partners and allies in our collective effort to achieve digital equity. Together, we forge ahead in our unwavering dedication to creating a more connected and inclusive community. We are not finished yet.”
For more information, visit the Broadband and Digital Equity website at www.miamidade.gov/global/initiatives/broadbandplan/home.page.
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