On Jan. 24, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava delivered her fourth State of the County address, highlighting various topics, including tech.
The county, which is the most populous in the state with 2.7 million residents, has an $11.7 billion budget, with an estimated IT budget of $233.9 million, according to Industry Navigator*.
The mayor mentioned innovation and technology several times throughout her speech.
“We laid the groundwork to get more people and better jobs, revitalize our small businesses, and unleash the power of innovation across the public and private sectors, creating greater pathways to opportunity for all,” she said.
Regarding actual tech, she mentioned establishing the county’s innovation council and being one of four counties to earn a “climate resilience tech hub” designation from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
“Last year, we launched the Miami-Dade Innovation Authority, and its first public challenge sought creative ideas for the reuse of seaweed,” she said. “Next up, they are seeking ways to improve the passenger experience at Miami International Airport.”
According to Cava, the authority was modeled after Israel’s innovation authority, which she witnessed during her first trade mission to the country.
As for being a tech hub, she said, “South Florida was recently named by the U.S. Department of Commerce as one of only 31 tech hubs in the country, and the only one focused on climate.”
In general, the tech hub initiative aims to “drive regional innovation and job creation by strengthening a region’s capacity to manufacture, commercialize and deploy technology that will advance American competitiveness,” according to a press release from the department.
As for how this will impact South Florida, the tech hub will build off the region’s resources, including coastal and marine infrastructure, clean cement and energy-efficient building industries, and academic institutions to jump-start SRI innovation through technologies focused on climate adaptation and mitigation.
The mayor’s full speech can be found online.
*Industry Navigator is a product of the Center for Digital Government, a sister organization to Industry Insider — Florida.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Highlights Innovation and Tech Hub in County Address
During the mayor’s fourth State of the County address, she mentioned use of technology through the establishment of an innovation authority and designation as a tech hub.
