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Florida Governor Meets with Brazilian Company to Promote Manufacturing
Florida Gov. Rick Scott met with executives of Bauducco Foods at their new facility in Miami-Dade County to celebrate the company’s decision to expand. Bauducco is an international food company and leading manufacturer of baked goods in Brazil and the largest manufacturer of Panettone in the world. The company established operations in Miami in 2005 and is currently expanding their existing distribution operations and beginning manufacturing operations by bringing several of the company’s manufacturing lines to the local business.
Gov. Scott was joined by The Beacon Council who assisted the company with the expansion. Massimo Bauducco, Director Superintendent of Pandurata Alimentos (Parent Company of Bauducco), flew in from Brazil to participate in the special occasion. The company plans to create 100 new full-time jobs in the next three years and invest $12 million in the local community. The company is currently in the final stages of building a new 69,000 facility in addition to the more than 22,000 square feet they already occupy.
The Beacon Council assisted the company with labor sourcing and training grants; manufacturing incentives, Foreign Trade Zone 281 benefits and zoning/regulatory support. The Beacon Council has a long-standing relationship with Bauducco that spans multiple visits to the company’s headquarters in Brazil during State-led and County-led economic development missions as well as regular interaction with the local division.
Gov. Scott is proposing $1 billion in tax cuts to grow the manufacturing industry and Florida’s small businesses to further diversify the economy and guard Florida against another economic downturn.
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Investor Spotlight: Brad Houser, Attorney at Akerman
 The Beacon Council newsletter will periodically showcase an Investor by interviewing him/her about living and doing business in Miami.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am an attorney at Akerman LLP, where I specialize in corporate, securities and mergers & acquisitions matters. My wife, Susana, and I moved to South Florida from New York in 1995. Many people may not know that I was born and raised in a small farming community in Iowa and that I am a non-practicing C.P.A. in addition to being an attorney.
How did you first get involved with The Beacon Council?
I first became familiar with The Beacon Council through several law partners of mine, including Burt Landy and Neisen Kasdin, who have been quite active with The Beacon Council in the past. I have seen how The Beacon Council has been a very positive force in attracting business to Miami-Dade County and when the opportunity to represent Akerman on The Beacon Council presented itself, I jumped at the chance.
What are Miami’s top business assets?
In addition to the weather and our natural resources, Miami-Dade County’s biggest business asset is that it has grown into a truly world class environment where people from around the world want to be. The diversity of our city is one of the key reasons that my family and I choose to live here.
What are Miami’s biggest challenges?
The biggest challenge Miami-Dade County faces is dealing with rapid growth. We need to encourage rather than restrict growth, but ensure that our infrastructure is equipped to accommodate this growth in a manner that allows commerce to move freely and for people to enjoy their lives in a cost-effective manner.
What’s next for your business/industry?
The business of law is becoming more competitive and the key to the legal industry’s future success is innovation. There is a need for law firms to be more nimble and responsive to the rapid pace of change and disruption in the market. What do you like best about living in Miami?
Miami is where my family is and my family is here because of the quality of life.
Brad Houser is a member of The Beacon Council Board of Directors
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Florida Gov. Scott announces “Million Miles for a Million Jobs” Bus Tour
Florida Gov. Rick Scott is coming to South Florida on Jan. 13 during his “Millions Miles for a Million Jobs” Bus Tour highlighting that more than 1 million private sector jobs have been created since he was elected. Stops also include:
Jacksonville, Melbourne Naples, Orlando, Sarasota Tampa, The Villages and West Palm Beach.
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Who’s Here Multinational Directory Advertising Opportunity
Who’s Here: a Multinational Directory, the definitive source for the 1,450+ multinationals in South Florida, is launching soon.
The annual publication salutes the multinational community with data on top execs, locations, country of origin and more.
Full page advertising available.
Contact WorldCity: Sari Govantes (305) 441-2244, Deadline is Jan. 15
Free Download here.
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What’s Next for Miami’s Entrepreneurship & Tech Ecosystem
Miami is developing a entrepreneurship and tech ecosystem with new startup and co-working spaces, local educational offerings and talent development programs. The next phase for Miami must include further talent development. That topic will be explored at the Jan. 22 Beacon Council Access Breakfast sponsored by Bank of America and moderated by Matt Haggman, Miami Program Director at the Knight Foundation. The panel discussion “Building the Talent that Fuels Our Innovation Ecosystem” will address both Miami’s ssets and challenges ahead.
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Tech & Innovation Ecosystem Survey Launched
Harvard University, in partnership with The Beacon Council, is leading a cutting-edge analysis to assess the state of our region’s Innovation Ecosystem – the array of contributing participants and resources that are vital to robust innovation in a modern economy.
As an integral part of our business community, your participation is a critical component of this study and will assist us in developing the most comprehensive assessment. Our objective is to work towards building the best ecosystem, to catalyze maximum innovation and long-term sustainability. Please complete the ten-minute survey by Jan. 20. Responses answers are confidential and only used in aggregate form. |
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Opportunity for Financial Tech Entrepreneurs to Receive Assistance
Application Deadline is Jan.12
Citi Community Development, Village Capital and Florida International University are bridging the opportunity gap for FinTech entrepreneurs in South Florida with FinTech Forum, a one-day forum held on Feb. 4 that includes training, meetings with business experts and a pitch session. Selected participants may win $20,000 in seed funding. Women and minority entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply.
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Application Deadline for Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program extended until Feb. 17
Miami Dade College is still accepting applications for the 10,000 Small Businesses Program, specifically Cohort 8 scheduled to begin May 26, 2016, at the Wolfson Campus. Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) is a classroom-based practical business education program that gives entrepreneurs several benefits including valuable skills for growing their businesses, the opportunity to access financial capital and powerful networking opportunities at no cost to participants. RSVP for informational webinars running until Feb. 10.
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GIS Website Features Available Properties
The Beacon Council and Miami-Dade County websitewww.miamidadesites.com features available vacant industrial and commercial properties. It is based on user-defined criteria for Miami-Dade County utilizing geographically based demographic and business information.
It also enables commercial real estate brokers to register and highlight available parcels. Listings are provided at no cost and reach a targeted audience including Site Selectors/Consultants, Real Estate Developers, and businesses pursuing new opportunities in Miami-Dade County. Listings are featured regularly in this newsletter.
For more information, contact Jennifer R. Hernandez, Director of Economic Development at The Beacon Council.
Featured listing of the week:
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Publication Date:
Monday, January 11, 2016
Publication Date Long:
January 11-17, 2016 NEWSLETTER
Left Side:
| Did you know?
Three South Florida entrepreneurs (two from Miami and one from Boca Raton) made Forbes fifth annual list of “30 Under 30”. The list features innovators and leaders who are transforming business, tech, finance, media, culture and more… Read the Miami Heraldarticle. |
| UPCOMING EVENTS |
| “Marketing a Growing Aviation Sector – ” What’s next for Miami ? “ Wednesday, Jan. 13
Find out what’s next for the aviation sector during the Greater Miami Aviation Association’s luncheon featuring guest speaker The Beacon Council President & CEO Larry K. Williams. The event is sponsored by HEICO and is being held at the Miami Springs Country Club. |
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Save the Date
Access Breakfast
Friday, Jan. 22
@The Beacon Council
Bank of America and The Beacon Council invite you to a panel discussion on: |
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Save the Date
The State of Pharma and its Future in South Florida
Wednesday, Feb. 3
@Hotel MIA Conference Center
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INVESTORS
EXCLUSIVE Economic Roundtable Preview 2016
Wednesday, Feb.17
@ The Beacon Council
Learn more about what key economic indicators mean for your business.
Contact Vice President of Investor Relations Erin Dowd
for more information.
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World Trade Center of Miami’s International Women’s Day Lunch -March 8
The event honors women who have made significant contributions in advancing international trade and business in Florida.
This year’s honorees include:
Marilyn J. DeVoe
Vice President-Miami American Airlines Pamela Fuertes-Berti Debra Owens Hilda Torres Sally Yearwood Caribbean Central American Action
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Save the Date
Key Ceremony
Wednesday, March 9 @ Conrad Hotel Miami
Join Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez, County Commissioners, local elected officials and The Beacon Council as we honor companies that have located or expanded in Miami-Dade over the last year as well as those from past years.
1395 Brickell Ave. Third Floor
6:00 p.m.
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Bottom Side:
Our Mission:
As Miami-Dade County’s official economic development partnership, The Beacon Council is charged with bringing new, job-generating investments to the community, while assisting existing businesses in their efforts to expand. By doing this, The Beacon Council facilitates the creation of quality jobs for each and every resident of Miami-Dade County. The Beacon Council is an accredited economic development organization.
Will you join us? Call Member-Investors at (305) 579-1326
(305) 579-1326
(305) 579-1326
Source: Old Beacon Site
