*Para español, desplácese hacia abajo | | |
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Dear business owners, residents, and friends:
We're more than halfway through the year and I am so proud of all we have accomplished together! We've had so many graduations from our Elevate District 5 programs. We hosted a business development breakfast for women. Our second annual Elevate District 5 Small Business Week was a great success. And we awarded over 130 Mom and Pop grants! I'm so grateful for the hard work and dedication of our team and the small business owners who have chosen to invest their most valuable resource --time, into our programs. Thank you for being a part of this journey.
In the fall, we're launching Elevate District 5's New Heights Microloan Fund that will provide much-needed financial assistance to entrepreneurs (more information below). We're also planning a series of workshops and trainings with our community partners on topics such as artificial intelligence, marketing, and financial literacy.
As you know, we're always looking for ways to support our small businesses in District 5. We'd love to hear your thoughts and get feedback on new programs. Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey so we can better help you - our small businesses - succeed.
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Best,
Eileen Higgins
Miami-Dade County Commissioner - District 5
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ELEVATE DISTRICT 5 UPDATES | |
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Congratulations to our most recent Tech Academy cohort!
Commissioner Higgins teamed up with Prospera USA to organize the Tech Academy for small businesses in Miami Beach.
The Tech Academy, a free two-week program presented in Spanish, aims to equip small businesses with indispensable tools and strategies to effortlessly integrate technology into their day-to-day operations. If you reside or own a small business in District 5 and are interested in participating in future cohorts, whether conducted in English or Spanish, please complete this form!
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Commissioner Higgins, in collaboration with Partners for Self-Employment, is preparing to launch the New Heights Microloan Fund for District 5 businesses, recognizing the crucial need to empower small enterprises financially. This exciting initiative provides assistance to small businesses in the form of microloans. The first phase of the loan program is set to launch in late September for businesses that have successfully completed at least one Elevate D5 program.
If you are interested in applying for the microloan or have any inquiries regarding your eligibility, please don't hesitate to reach out to Ana Montes at ana.montes@miamidade.gov and Alexina Prather at alexina@axishelps.org. Together, let's uplift and empower the small business community in District 5!
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What is the origin story of your business?
Pega Grill was established in 2011 in Downtown Miami by its Greek founder Mr. Barlos. In 2019, Mr. Barlos listed his restaurant for sale. Meanwhile, my husband Sergio and I had been running our Spanish Restaurant in Miracle Mile, Coral Gables since 2013. Coincidently, the servers of Pega Grill were also servers at Bellmónt Spanish Restaurant during weekend nights. We were not looking to buy another restaurant, but my servers introduced Mr. Barlos to us and persuaded us to purchase Pega Grill. We saw its potential and we acquired Pega Grill in May 2019. I have 90% of the shares while my husband owns the other 10%. Sergio manages the daily operations of Bellmont while I manage the daily operations of Pega Grill.
What is your best piece of advice for fellow business owners?
Get trained, get help, use the incredible amount of resources that are out there for you to make better decisions and thrive.
What Elevate D5 programs have you completed and how have they helped you?
I have signed up for most of the programs that Commissioner Higgins and her amazing team offers to small business owners in D5.
- How to Find Customers Online (Bizhack Academy)
- Financial Works Master Class (Prospera USA)
- Mom and Pop grants
- Scale Up D5 at The Idea Center by Miami-Dade College
- New Heights Microloan Fund
These programs have enriched my knowledge on how to better run my business. But also, I have created a network of fellow small business owners that support each other. These programs have also introduced me to community organizations, leaders, and other programs that I didn’t know existed and they are full of resources to grow your business.
What is a major business challenge that you overcame?
It was definitely the COVID-19 pandemic. I purchased Pega 10 months prior to the pandemic. So when COVID-19 hit, we were forced to shut down operations for 60 days. My revenue decreased by 75%, I had to furlough employees. The following 2 years were challenging. I am surrounded by government offices, courthouses, law firm offices and all of them were working remotely. As of today, my dine-in revenue stream has not yet reached pre-pandemic numbers; nonetheless, my take-out, delivery, and catering services have been increasing since.
I am currently in the middle of another challenge: street closure due to the Flagler Street Beautification Project. However, that doesn’t prevent me from keeping finding ways to attract new customers and deliver my delicious Greek flavors to the Miami community. Pega Grill has been operating for 12 years and counting!
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RISE Miami-Dade Fund 2.0
Don't miss out on your chance to submit your application for the second phase of the RISE Fund! This remarkable endeavor, brought to fruition by Commissioner Higgins' legislative efforts and skillfully overseen by Dade County Federal Credit Union, has already distributed over $20 million to provide crucial aid to local businesses.
Businesses must:
- Operate in Miami-Dade County
- Be in operation for at least two years
- Have gross sales of less than $5,000,000
- Have 50 or fewer employees/independent contractors
Click here to apply!
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DDA Permitting Clinic
Looking to establish a business in the vibrant heart of Downtown Miami? Look no further than the Downtown Permit Clinic!
Join the Miami Downtown Development Authority and the Miami Dade Bar as they combine efforts to enlighten the public about the essential process of obtaining the necessary permits to operate within Downtown Miami. Through this collaboration, entrepreneurs will gain access to comprehensive, step-by-step guidance, ensuring a smooth and successful journey right from the start.
More information:
- Thursdays, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
- Flagler Street Construction Office, 166 E. Flagler Street, Miami, FL
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Goldman Sachs 10K SB
The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program is tailored to accommodate business owners with a strong potential for growth. Their focus is on identifying applicants who possess a genuine passion for expanding their businesses, generating employment opportunities within their communities, and meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Own and operate a business in South Florida.
- Have been in business for at least two years.
- Have a revenue of $75,000 or more.
- Have at least 2 employees (including the owner).
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The next cohort starts September 12, 2023. Apply here!
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Building Sales Confidence
Have you encountered challenges when it comes to completing a deal?
Mastering the art of closing a sale can be an arduous task within the sales process. The Miami Dade Business Navigator is here to help! This webinar is designed to equip business owners with valuable insights and techniques to bolster their confidence in selling products and services. Don't miss the opportunity to register today and discover the secrets to crafting a winning closing strategy, ultimately enhancing sales for your business.
During this engaging session, participants will gain knowledge in the following areas:
- Implementing effective closing techniques
- Overcoming rejection with resilience
- Exploring various strategies for successful closures
Wednesday, July 26 at 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Register here!
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Content Strategy
Maintaining a consistent social media presence can wield significant influence in expanding your business and fostering meaningful connections with your audience.
The Miami Dade Business Navigator will host a webinar on Thursday, August 10 at 10:00am to help businesses establish a well-defined structure and develop a strategic posting schedule to propel your business growth.
Register here!
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Estimados empresarios, residentes y amigos:
¡Estamos a más de la mitad del año y estoy muy orgulloso de todo lo que hemos logrado juntos! Hemos tenido tantas graduaciones de nuestros programas Elevate Distrito 5. Organizamos un desayuno de desarrollo empresarial para mujeres. Nuestra segunda Semana de la Pequeña Empresa Elevate del Distrito 5 fue un gran éxito. Y hemos concedido más de 130 subvenciones a empresas familiares. Estoy muy agradecido por el duro trabajo y la dedicación de nuestro equipo y los propietarios de pequeñas empresas que han optado por invertir su recurso más valioso - el tiempo, en nuestros programas. Gracias por formar parte de este viaje.
En otoño pondremos en marcha el fondo de microcréditos New Heights de Elevate District 5, que proporcionará a los empresarios la asistencia financiera que tanto necesitan (más información a continuación). También estamos planeando una serie de talleres y cursos de formación con nuestros socios de la comunidad sobre temas como la inteligencia artificial, el marketing y la educación financiera.
Como saben, siempre estamos buscando maneras de apoyar a nuestras pequeñas empresas en el Distrito 5. Nos encantaría conocer su opinión y recibir comentarios sobre nuevos programas. Por favor, tómese unos minutos para rellenar esta encuesta para que podamos ayudarle mejor - nuestras pequeñas empresas - a tener éxito.
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Saludos,
Eileen Higgins
Comisionada del Condado de Miami-Dade - Distrito 5
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Actualización de Elevate D5 | |
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¡Felicitaciones a nuestro grupo más reciente de la Academia de Tecnología!
La Comisionada Higgins se asoció con Prospera USA para organizar la Academia de Tecnología para pequeñas empresas en Miami Beach.
La Academia de Tecnología, un programa gratuito de dos semanas presentado en español, tiene como objetivo dotar a las pequeñas empresas con herramientas y estrategias indispensables para integrar sin esfuerzo la tecnología en sus operaciones diarias.
Si usted reside o es propietario de una pequeña empresa en el Distrito 5 y está interesado en participar en futuras cohortes, ya sea en inglés o en español, por favor complete este formulario.
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La Comisionada Higgins, en colaboración con Partners for Self-Employment, está preparando el lanzamiento del Fondo de Micropréstamos New Heights para empresas del Distrito 5, reconociendo la necesidad crucial de capacitar financieramente a las pequeñas empresas. Esta interesante iniciativa proporciona ayuda a las pequeñas empresas en forma de micropréstamos. La primera fase del programa de préstamos se pondrá en marcha a finales de septiembre para las empresas que hayan completado con éxito al menos un programa Elevate D5.
Si usted está interesado en solicitar el microcrédito o tiene alguna pregunta acerca de su elegibilidad, por favor no dude en ponerse en contacto con Ana Montes en ana.montes@miamidade.gov y Alexina Prather en alexina@axishelps.org. ¡Juntos, vamos a elevar y potenciar la comunidad de pequeñas empresas en el Distrito 5!
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Pequeño Negocio Destacado | |
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What is the origin story of your business?
Pega Grill was established in 2011 in Downtown Miami by its Greek founder Mr. Barlos. In 2019, Mr. Barlos listed his restaurant for sale. Meanwhile, my husband Sergio and I had been running our Spanish Restaurant in Miracle Mile, Coral Gables since 2013. Coincidently, the servers of Pega Grill were also servers at Bellmónt Spanish Restaurant during weekend nights. We were not looking to buy another restaurant, but my servers introduced Mr. Barlos to us and persuaded us to purchase Pega Grill. We saw its potential and we acquired Pega Grill in May 2019. I have 90% of the shares while my husband owns the other 10%. Sergio manages the daily operations of Bellmont while I manage the daily operations of Pega Grill.
What is your best piece of advice for fellow business owners?
Get trained, get help, use the incredible amount of resources that are out there for you to make better decisions and thrive.
What Elevate D5 programs have you completed and how have they helped you?
I have signed up for most of the programs that Commissioner Higgins and her amazing team offers to small business owners in D5.
- How to Find Customers Online (Bizhack Academy)
- Financial Works Master Class (Prospera USA)
- Mom and Pop grants
- Scale Up D5 at The Idea Center by Miami-Dade College
- New Heights Microloan Fund
These programs have enriched my knowledge on how to better run my business. But also, I have created a network of fellow small business owners that support each other. These programs have also introduced me to community organizations, leaders, and other programs that I didn’t know existed and they are full of resources to grow your business.
What is a major business challenge that you overcame?
It was definitely the COVID-19 pandemic. I purchased Pega 10 months prior to the pandemic. So when COVID-19 hit, we were forced to shut down operations for 60 days. My revenue decreased by 75%, I had to furlough employees. The following 2 years were challenging. I am surrounded by government offices, courthouses, law firm offices and all of them were working remotely. As of today, my dine-in revenue stream has not yet reached pre-pandemic numbers; nonetheless, my take-out, delivery, and catering services have been increasing since.
I am currently in the middle of another challenge: street closure due to the Flagler Street Beautification Project. However, that doesn’t prevent me from keeping finding ways to attract new customers and deliver my delicious Greek flavors to the Miami community. Pega Grill has been operating for 12 years and counting!
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Próximos Programas y Eventos | |
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Fondo RISE Miami-Dade 2.0
No pierda la oportunidad de presentar su solicitud para la segunda fase del Fondo RISE. Este notable esfuerzo, llevado a buen término por los esfuerzos legislativos de la Comisionada Higgins y hábilmente supervisado por Dade County Federal Credit Union, ya ha distribuido más de $ 20 millones para proporcionar ayuda crucial a las empresas locales.
Las empresas deben:
- Operar en el condado de Miami-Dade
- Llevar funcionando al menos dos años
- Tener unas ventas brutas inferiores a $5,000
- Tener 50 o menos empleados/contratistas independientes
Haga clic aquí para presentar su solicitud
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Clínica de Permisos DDA
¿Busca establecer un negocio en el vibrante corazón de Downtown Miami? ¡No busque más allá de la Clínica de Permisos de Downtown!
Únase a la Autoridad de Desarrollo del Centro de Miami y al Colegio de Abogados de Miami-Dade, que aúnan esfuerzos para informar al público sobre el proceso esencial de obtención de los permisos necesarios para operar en el centro de Miami. A través de esta colaboración, los empresarios tendrán acceso a una guía completa, paso a paso, asegurando un viaje suave y exitoso desde el principio.
Más información:
- Jueves, de 9:00 a 14:00 horas
- Oficina de Construcción de Flagler Street, 166 E. Flagler Street, Miami, FL
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Goldman Sachs 10K SB
El programa 10.000 Pequeñas Empresas de Goldman Sachs está diseñado para dar cabida a empresarios con un gran potencial de crecimiento. Su objetivo es identificar a los solicitantes que posean una pasión genuina por expandir sus negocios, generar oportunidades de empleo dentro de sus comunidades, y que cumplan los siguientes criterios de elegibilidad:
- Poseer y gestionar un negocio en el sur de Florida.
- Llevar al menos dos años en funcionamiento.
- Tener unos ingresos de $75,000 dólares o más.
- Tener al menos 2 empleados (incluido el propietario).
Las solicitudes se aceptan de forma continua. La próxima cohorte comienza el 12 de septiembre de 2023. Presente su solicitud aquí.
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Creando Confianza en las Ventas
¿Se ha encontrado con dificultades a la hora de cerrar un trato?
Dominar el arte de cerrar una venta puede ser una tarea ardua dentro del proceso de ventas. El Miami-Dade Business Navigator está aquí para ayudarle. Este seminario web está diseñado para equipar a los propietarios de negocios con valiosos conocimientos y técnicas para reforzar su confianza en la venta de productos y servicios. No pierda la oportunidad de inscribirse hoy mismo y descubrir los secretos para elaborar una estrategia de cierre ganadora y, en última instancia, aumentar las ventas de su negocio.
Durante esta atractiva sesión, los participantes adquirirán conocimientos en las siguientes áreas:
- Aplicación de técnicas de cierre eficaces
- Superar el rechazo con resiliencia
- Explorar diversas estrategias para cerrar con éxito
Miércoles, 26 de julio de 10:00 am a 11:00 am
Inscríbase aquí
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Estrategia de Contenido
Mantener una presencia consistente en los medios sociales puede ejercer una influencia significativa en la expansión de su negocio y el fomento de conexiones significativas con su audiencia.
El Miami-Dade Business Navigator organizará un seminario web el jueves 10 de agosto a las 10:00 de la mañana para ayudar a las empresas a establecer una estructura bien definida y desarrollar un calendario estratégico de publicación para impulsar el crecimiento de su negocio.
Inscríbase aquí
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Como siempre, comuníquese con mi oficina al 305-375-5924 o district5@miamidade.gov con cualquier pregunta o preocupación que pueda tener.
También puede conectarse con nosotros en Instagram en @CommishEileen, así como nuestros otros canales de medios sociales a continuación.
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