At today's Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners Special Meeting on COVID-19, legislation sponsored by Commissioner Eileen Higgins was approved, creating the Hotel Worker Relief Grant Program to provide financial relief and professional support to employees who have been furloughed or lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The $3 million allocation of funds for the program comes from federal CARES Act dollars received by Miami-Dade County.
“Not only have these employees lost income, health care coverage, and all sense of financial stability, but their professional growth has completely come to a standstill.” said Commissioner Higgins. “Working with the Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association and Miami Dade College, we came up with a program that helps our hotel workers catch up on their bills or pay for health insurance while also exposing them to a range of opportunities, both inside and outside of the hospitality industry, and a brighter future.”
Commissioner Higgins worked with Miami Dade College, who will administer the grant and training program, as well as the Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association (GMBHA) in the development of the program.
The Hotel Worker Relief Grant Program will provide financial compensation of $1,000 to up to 2,500 eligible employees who successfully complete a hotel training workshop. The training workshop will include a curriculum for the professional development of hotel workers, including employment skills training, opportunities for advancement in the hotel industry, and exposure to other career paths.
The hotel industry is one of the leading employment sectors and a vital contributor to the County’s economy, with employment in the travel and hospitality sector reaching 147,000 jobs in 2019 and creating an estimated $17 billion in economic impact, according to the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau. This innovative program will tap into the relationships and expertise of the GMBHA, and can connect with a wide range of employees impacted by the pandemic.
Applications and information for all portions of the program will be available shortly.
