lodging and restaurants Longer term hotels like Value Place Lodging are set up for the visitor who needs more than simply a room, but there is a variety of options from hotels like the Courtyard Marriott and Hampton Inn that extend the range of choices. Many of the hotels, like the Floridian, the Quality Inn, and Travelodge of course feature a tiki-hut and tropical landscaping. Visitors to the Upper Keys often find that staying in Florida City or Homestead can provide an easy alternative if rooms further south such as at the Hilton Key Largo Resort are difficult to book. The Best Western, Econo Lodge, Fairway Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Ramada Inn, are all located on Highway 1, South which takes you directly to Key Largo. The Hotel Redland, a slice of history that dates to the early 1900s, is part of Historic Homestead on Flagler Avenue and features dining at the Whistle Stop. RV owners have options as well with sites like the Florida City Camp Site and RV Park, the Goldcoaster Mobile Home and RV Park, and nestled in the Redland is the Miami Everglades Resort that also has rustic-themed cabins. Residents have been known to slip out there for a weekend get-away. Burger King kicks off the alphabet of fast food options, although the term takes a new twist with the Sonic Beach, the first one opened in the United States. It has the drive-up option of course, as well as sand laid down in the “beach” where you can order a cold beer or glass of wine to accompany food from the familiar Sonic menu. Panera Bread sits just behind them with their freshly baked items, soups, salads, and more. And speaking of freshly baked, keep watch for when the “Hot” sign at Krispy Kreme Donuts is lit up. If it’s a great sub sandwich that you’re looking for, Broadway Street Deli (locally called Broadway Subs) and Jimmy Johns will fix you up. Franchise restaurants like Chili’s, Longhorn, Olive Garden, and others are easy to locate and if you’re looking for the family touch, you don’t have to search far. Country cooking and BBQ that you find at Shiver’s and Sonny’s are the preferred fare and tucked away on East Mowry just off Krome Avenue.
in Historic Homestead is Chefs on the Run. Chefs, winner at the South Beach Food and Wine Festival, serves up innovative assorted cuisine every day of the week except Sunday. The favorite of Italian food can also be found at the Big Cheese, the Capri, Mama Mia’s, Portofino’s Coal-Fired Pizza, Son of A Pizza Pub, and in small pizza places that specialize in carryout or delivery. Authentic Mexican meals abound as does Cuban fare such as at Mario’s, and the islands of the Caribbean are represented with Haitian and Jamaican offerings. The Bistro Fusion Restaurant on South Dixie Highway in Naranja creates fusion with spice more than heat. We’ve got you covered for sushi and Thai, too, with three different local restaurants. If you need food and nightlife, then it’s downtown on Krome with the “Homestead Hot Spot”, four themed places that are side-by-side. Enjoy Stick and Stein Sports Bar for plenty of big screen televisions and tournament rated pool tables, the courtyard Fat Monkey Bar that leads into the elegantly furnished Flagler Station Martini Bar. That opens onto Dade Country Jail where you can kick up your heels or just have a cold beer and great wings. Homestead’s only waterfront restaurant, La Playa, can be found at Bayfront Park, and dozens of restaurants from Key Largo to Islamorada are waiting to be explored. Many of the local restaurants cater for those occasions, large or small, when you want to leave the cooking to someone else. Maybe you prefer something basic like popular submarine sandwiches from Broadway Subs or Jimmy Johns. Special events, whether casual or formal, can be arranged.
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Explore Homestead
Head outdoors for deep sea fishing, snorkeling on North America’s only living coral barrier reef, freshwater fishing, boating, canoeing, jet skiing, and windsurfing. Just 2 miles outside of the city you can explore the lush wonders of Biscayne National Park, the unique ecosystem of the Everglades national park, and curing the cooler months our national parks trolley will take you there free of charge.
Enjoy golfing, camping, sky diving, ballooning, & many other activities. For the spectator, the Homestead-Miami Speedway, a 60 acre, 65,000 seat facility is one of the newest and finest venues in the country for NASCAR, SCCA, Indy Car, motorcycle, Grand Prix, & Grand Am racing. Homestead offers shopping that caters to every taste and every budget, from national retail chains to charming boutique shops. Other outlet malls and large shopping malls can be found only minutes away. Homestead features restaurants that will tantalize every palate. Area eateries are well known for their authentic ethnic menus.
Please visit us @ www.cityofhomestead.com @cityofhomestead/305.224.4400 www.facebook.com/cityofhomestead
TOP 29 REASONS TO LIVE AND WORK IN HOMESTEAD Quality commercial and industrial real estate
Foreign trade zone incentives Business-friendly city Diverse & educated work force Affordable utilities Excellent public transportation First rate housing at great prices High quality schools and colleges Great quality of life Vast recreation opportunities
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florida city: past, present, & future Robert Jensen, Commander, USN Retired/ VP Community Relations, 1st National Bank of South Florida, co-author of Homestead, Florida: From Railroad Boom to Sonic Boom, has spent much of the past year capturing Florida City’s history as they prepare to celebrate their centennial. The following passages come as only a portion of the work that he has done to chronicle life over the last century. Florida City was envisioned by its owner-developer Miami Land and Development Co. at the turn of the 20th Century as an upscale retirement community with an agricultural theme. Northern retirees would purchase a small acreage on the East Glade and grow tropical fruit or vegetables – others would do the manual work – and the owners would live in the adjacent town of broad avenues and streets with their homes well landscaped. A wide canal provided passage from Biscayne Bay to Florida City. Two additional towns were envisioned – one on the Bay and one midway. Despite infusing large sums of money into the project and seemingly inventive marketing the company did not sell enough acreages and lots and it failed. The community and political leaders of this early version of Florida City were mainly highly educated professionals from Detroit Michigan. A visionary Scicilian – they did not call themselves Italian-Americans then – they identified with their home area or district in Italy first - James Sottile purchased the mortgages on the debt of the ML&D Co. on nearly 30,000 acres of land extending from what is now US1 to Biscayne Bay. His vision was to drain the land and lease it to primarily ItalianAmerican farmers using a system in use in Sicily. He invested heavily in digging drainage canals and is establishing roads to connect and delineate the land. Large pumps were used to move the water very effectively. He called his new company South Dade Farms. He marketed mainly to Italian-Americans already engaged in agriculture in the north. An article in the magazine Farm Journal reported: “South Dade Farms is the brainchild of James Sottile, an Italian immigrant who saw a chance to combine American production methods with the Italian farm tenant system. Sottile and his sons have built up holdings of over 5,000 acres of citrus and 10,000 head of cattle on 30,000 acres of pasture.” He ended up owning nine banks also. Not long after the arrival of James Sottile on the scene Florida City morphed into an Italian community with it political leadership moving from older retirees associated with ML&D Co. to Italian Americans. The new farmers were very industrious and sacrificing and later prospered greatly. Sottile was also very generous, donating land for the State Farmers’ Market, farm worker housing near the Base and the land for Homestead’s Bayfront Park. Names we are all familiar with dotted the landscape both politically and socially. One family would become the largest landowner in Miami-Dade County. Gradually they discontinued farming up north during the summer months and started farming in other parts of Florida and the Carolinas. Their sons and daughters went to college and brought that knowledge back home into family businesses. The African American population of Florida City also grew and prospered but at a lower level. They farmed, bought land and built homes in Florida City. They also used education as a spring board for success. For many years the black population of Florida City was great enough to influence the local elections but it was not until 1976 that University of Miami Law School student Otis T. Wallace – while working days full time and going to law school at night – organized a voter registration drive. Perhaps sensing this turn the mayor and commission appointed a black commissioner. Law student Otis T. Wallace was elected in 1976 with the largest number of votes for a commission seat. In 1984 Florida City elected its first majority black commission. In recent years Florida City has prospered with the arrival of some major retailers. This surge in economic development success is attributed to the welcoming policies of the Florida City government and to geography. In its early days Florida City residents feared that the City of Homestead would incorporate Florida City into Homestead against its will. However in the last decades the two cities have worked harmoniously on issues of common interest while still competing for new businesses. The Florida City of 100 years ago is a heritage we embrace as we continue to add new businesses and residents. As of September 2014, major retailers such as Lumber Liquidators have joined regional favorites such as Jimmy Johns Subs and Jersey Boardwalk Pizza. Our hotel rooms have expanded, too, with recent renovations at Best Western, Quality Inn, and Travelodge as well as the completion of Hilton’s Home2Suites. In all, 2013-2014 brought an increase of fifty-seven businesses or a total of 546 active businesses. Establishing a business in Florida City has never been easier with our policies of understanding of cash flow issues, economic development incentives and, in general, overall cooperation with business owners. Mark Ben-Asher has helped usher in many new companies from small to Fortune-500 & he can be contacted at his office (305) 242-8109 or by cell (305) 915- 0177.
pioneer museum Florida City’s Florida Pioneer Museum dates back to 1952 and the City of Homestead. The Florida East Coast Railway owned two bungalows like the building the Museum is housed in now and a Depot on Flagler Avenue (earlier Railroad Avenue) like the one behind the Museum now. A Florida Keys collector of Native American artifacts was looking for an organization to which he could donate his collection. A group of local leaders mainly from the Homestead’s library board organized what was to be the Florida Pioneer Museum with Irving Peskoe as its pro bono attorney. Donations were slim and so Irving actually paid most of the fees associated with incorporation. Founding president Louise Hamilton at times had an all-woman slate of officers with Bea Peskoe as her VP until she stepped down to executive vice president in 1970. Former South Dade News Leader publisher Ben Archer and agriculturalist Howard Bardsley provided much of the early Museum leadership and fundraising. In the year of our country’s bicentennial 1976 the FEC Railway and the City of Homestead got into a battle over lack of maintenance of the Depot and the Railway put out a contract to demolish it and their contractor accomplished 1/3 of his task before local leaders intervened. $25,000 was raised and the remaining 2/3rds of the Depot were moved from its original site in Homestead to a lot behind the Florida Pioneer Museum in Florida City donated by the Torcise brothers. The station agent’s bungalow had been moved years earlier to a lot donated by the Henry and Jackie Brooker family. Thus two of the three of Homestead’s earliest buildings and much of its heritage ended up in neighboring Florida City. The Museum is owned by the City of Florida City and operated by the Florida Pioneer Museum Association under an annual agreement with the City. It is open and free to the public from November through April and for organizations by appointment at other times. Historically, the Museum has been the recipient of the generosity of the Rotary Club of Homestead and the Woman’s Club of Homestead and the Junior Woman’s Club. Visitors to the Museum explore life as it was in South Florida in the early 1900s with rooms furnished as they would have been then with artifacts donated by local residents. Children find many items that they can touch and operate such as early telephones, cash registers and kitchen equipment. A tool room honors the men and women who made agriculture our primary economic driver when they plowed with a single mule and planted using the most basic of tools. In the very early days entire families worked the land and harvested the crops often processing and packing them in the backyards of their homes. Families’ field crates honor their contributions. Exhibits also recognize the FEC Railway, schools, churches, archeology, Native Americans, and a very strong and varied tourism industry. 826 North Krome Avenue Florida City, FL 33034; Tel: (305) 246-9531.
homestead air reserve base: our strong partner The history of the area is not complete without special attention to Homestead Air Reserve Base that has been through multiple transformations since the Homestead airfield was taken over in September 1942 by the Army Air Corps and named Homestead Army Air Field with its initial complement of four officers and eight enlisted that increased to 64 officers and 880 enlisted by November 1942. Bob Jensen, our local historian, has captured the history of the base in the co-authored book, Homestead, Florida: From Railroad Boom to Sonic Boom, due out later in 2013. His writings and presentations about the base are always informative and entertaining. Homestead Army Air Field trained Air Transport Command air crews, served as a jumping off point for the shuttling of aircraft to our European allies, and was a major US terminus for the transport of critical materiel to Europe, the Middle East, and China. Toward the end of the war, it was a training base for the Air Transport Command, the predecessor of Military Airlift Command. In August 1944, at its WWII peak, 340 officers and 2,617 enlisted men and women were stationed at the base, and HAAF was called the "West Point of Air Transport Command." The end of World War II followed by severe damage of the 1945 Hurricane saw the Airfield shuttered, left to deteriorate until June 1953 when Strategic Air Command (SAC) began restoration and officially reopened Homestead Air Force Base on June 22, 1956 amid crowds, dignitaries, and an array of aircraft. The population of the base grew to around 6,000 personnel with the massive bombers and other aircraft a daily sight until June 1, 1968 when the Tactical Air Command took control with the new mission of projecting tactical air power. As another interesting historical fact, HAAF had played a key role in the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, even garnering a visit from President John F. Kennedy to thank personnel for their vigilance during that tense time. The massive destruction of Hurricane Andrew in 1992 lead to the closure of the base and it was a concerted effort by many people that led to the re-designation as Homestead Air Reserve Base (HARB) March 31, 1994. Today, there is a revitalization underway as HARB is home to the 482nd Fighter Wing (FW) assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command Tenth Air Force. The 482nd FW is a fully combat-ready unit capable of providing F-16C multi-purpose fighter aircraft, along with mission ready pilots and support personnel, for short-notice worldwide deployment. The wing has more than 1,500 members, including approximately 1,200 reservists, of which 250 are full-time reservists, in addition to 300 full-time civilians. Besides the 482nd FW, there are other military tenants on the base, including Headquarters, U.S. Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH), Detachment 1 of the 125th Fighter Wing, Florida Air National Guard, the 50th Area Support Group, Florida Army National Guard, U. S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team Miami, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Miami Air Branch, whose aircraft conduct drug enforcement air interdiction missions from Homestead. Recent and on-going construction projects at HARB with the new Headquarters Building for SOCSOUTH, Community Activity Center, state-of-the-art fitness center, gas station/shopette, and improvements to the runway area all speak to the vibrancy of the base. Indeed, the very special relationship between the Chamber and the Base is reflected in our Military Affairs Committee (MAC) that has its beginning in September of 1967. The history of the Rotary Club of Homestead shows that a similar, informal community committee functioned in 1955 with the purpose of “smoothing relations between the newly activated Homestead Air Force Base and Homestead and other Redland District communities.” It was called the Civilian-Military Liaison Committee. Today’s MAC is a self-governing committee of the Chamber and its mission is to assist the military units within the South Dade’s Chamber of Commerce’s area to achieve their missions and goals and to promote understanding and cooperation between the civilian and military communities and enhance the quality of life for military personnel and their families in our community. The popular “Meet and Greets” at the Base gives the opportunity for community and military members to get together in a social setting and the
annual Golf Tournament is always a sell-out. The annual Awards Banquet helps honor designated military personnel and the committee conducts a variety of other events throughout the year. Military Appreciation Day is of course a major event put on by ther City of Homesetead that brings in a large crowd.
miami dade defense alliance The Miami-Dade Defense Alliance (MDDA) is a program of The Beacon Council that serves as a liaison to the Florida Defense Alliance and Enterprise Florida. The MDDA’s goal is to enhance, expand and retain existing military installations in Miami-Dade County, to support local reuse efforts as a result of base/mission closures or realignments and to retain and enhance the defense-related industries that contribute significant economic benefit to the local economy. For more information about MDDA visit http://www.beaconcouncil.com/what-wedo/miami-dade-defense-alliance.
FAST FACTS
• Employment: 53,151 • Avg. Earnings per Job: $67,500 • More than $5.1 Billion Annual Impact in Miami-Dade County
MAJOR MILITARY ENTITIES:
• U.S. Southcom •U.S. Special Operations Command South • Homestead Air Reserve Base • Florida National Guard • U.S. Coast Guard 7th District • Miami Veterans Administration • U.S. Customs and Border Protection
chamber promoting the community In demonstrating how the Chamber works together with the member communities to promote both business and quality of life, this synergy was seen when Homestead became the winter training location for the famous Golden Knights, the U.S. Army Demonstration Parachute Team. In 2009, the award winning jump team first come to Homestead Air Reserve Bose to try it as on alternative to the site they had been using for many years. The Chamber, Homestead, Florida City, & HARB all played a role in presenting the positive aspects of relocating the winter training from the previous location to right here. Those efforts resulted in Homestead now being the Golden Knights official winter training site where they hone their skills in preparation for their upcoming air show and competition circuit. As the "Official Ambassadors of the Army,“ the team performs spectacular live parachute demonstrations for the public, and while they are in residence for approximately two months, they bring an economic boost through lodging, shopping, and enjoying local recreation, but they also actively seek interaction with the community at all levels. They encourage residents to attend their practices, they make public appearances, & they provide opportunities for ordinary citizens to jump with the team. U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Tom Melton(top) and Sgt. First Class Brian Karst, team leader and assistant team leader for the Gold Demonstration Team, United States Army Parachute Team, Golden Knights, train on Canopy Relative Work over Homestead Air Reserve Base, FL. The Golden Knights are taking part in their annual winter training that is used to hone their skills as the premier competition and demonstration skydiving team in the world. — at HARB Black Team members of the US Army Parachute Team, Golden Knights, exit their C-31 Fokker aircraft above HAFB, FL. (U.S. Army photo by SGT David Echeverry)
U.S. Army Sergeant Blake Gaynor, Gold Demonstration Team member of the United States Army Parachute Team, Golden Knights, tracks away as he performs the bomb-burst maneuver over HAFB, FL. Army photo by SGT Blake Gayno
Members of the United States Army Parachute Team, Golden Knights, Vertical Formation Skydiving Team train on building formations over HAFB, FL. U.S. Army photo by SFC Jon Ewald
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE
DEDICATED CITIZEN AIRMEN The 482nd Fighter Wing,
Air Force Reserve Command, maintains & operates Homestead Air Reserve Base, located near the southern end of the Florida peninsula, about 25 miles south of Miami. It is a fully combat ready unit capable of providing F-16C multi-purpose fighter aircraft, along with mission ready pilots and support personnel, for short-notice worldwide deployment.
Recent construction includes a brand-new Community Activity Center and AAFES Express. The Sam Johnson Fitness Center also received a $4.5 million renovation. Additionally, Special Operations Command South moved into their new headquarters building in February 2014.
The base generates more than 3,000 jobs with an economic impact of more than $291 million dollars. The 482nd Fighter Wing serves as the host unit for multiple Department of Defense and federal agencies including: 50th Regional Support Group, Florida Air National Guard, Special Operations Command South, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team.
the enduring link of agriculture A decade or more before Henry Flagler’s vision of extending his railroad, pioneering families chose to endure what were harsh conditions in the southernmost part of Dade County. Dense foliage, no roads, soil that broke many a plow, swarms of bugs, alligators, slithering snakes, and other factors had kept the secret of the potential agricultural richness hidden beneath these challenges. Yet with the spirit of refusing to quit, the first few families found the means to break into the ground that would ultimately yield a profusion of produce and exotic offerings that had been considered impossible. It was their perseverance that laid the foundation, and yes, it was Flagler’s railroad that opened wider markets to the people in snowbound states who thrilled to the ability to have fresh oranges appear in winter. Those same pioneering families did more than discover farming techniques – horticulturists and agriculturists made discoveries and created hybrids that saw Redland’s produce, fruits, and later ornamental products being shipped throughout the country and abroad. After roads were carved out, the area obviously become more developed, but even today, there are sections where land cannot be purchased in smaller than five-acre parcels. And in driving past rows of nurseries and farms, the uniqueness of the Redland is easy to see. It is common to hear urban dwellers exclaim, “I never knew this was so close to Miami!”. With an annual impact of over three billion dollars in Miami-Dade County, the economic engine of the agricultural community embraces the heritage of pioneers as they face the continuing challenges of today and look to the future. Whether small farms or global providers, the richness of agriculture is seen throughout the Redland District and around town in the fields than remain among recent development. There are tomatoes, lychee nuts, corn, mangos, strawberries, and more types of avocados than you can imagine. Orchid blossoms as tiny as a fingernail or as large as a hand, and palm trees of every shape and size. All of these flourish at the retail and wholesale level. Several of the local farms are open for tours and internships and the education system from middle school to college provides courses in virtually every aspect of agriculture. Achieving the correct balance between thriving agriculture and caring for the land and other resources is a goal of several non-profit organizations that are available for teens through adults. The Dade County Farm Bureau is a wonderful source of information about what has been termed, “Our patchwork quilt of agriculture”.
Among the wealth of knowledge to be gained from the Dade County Farm Bureau was their run-down of the more well-known Famer’s Markets. “A staple of Homestead and South Florida are all the Farmer's Markets spread throughout the area. South Florida is known for its diverse agricultural landscape. During the fall and winter months growers are harvesting row crops such as squash, tomatoes, green beans, and strawberries. Many markets offer U-pick where families have the chance to hand select produce right from the plant. With South Florida's tropical climate, the summer season is booming with unique tropical fruits. Robert is Here invites all to "Come Taste the Unusual" as South Florida is the only place in the country where these tropical fruits grow. Each of the Farmers Markets has its own special flair and carry a variety of produce and other goods. If you are just visiting or are a local to the area, make sure you visit at least one of the very unique and family friendly Farmers Markets. From the world famous Sticky Buns at Knaus Berry Farm to the fresh fruit milkshakes at Sam and Philly's, there is something for every member of the family at the farmer's markets in South Dade.” As a note of interest, many of the markets are seasonal and you might want to give a call before heading out if it’s the hot months of June, July, and August. Curbside Market & Milkshakes, 29100 Krome Ave. Homestead, Florida, 33030 Phil's Berry Farm, 13955 SW 248 St., Homestead, Florida 33032; (305) 905-2284; http://philsberryfarm.com Sam & Philly's, 16790 SW 177th Ave. Miami, Florida 33187; (305) 233-FARM (3276); http://www.samandphillys.com Robert is Here, 19200 SW 344th St., Homestead, FL 33034. Knaus Berry Farm, 15980 SW 248th St., Homestead, FL 33031; (305) 247-0668 Pinecrest Gardens, 11000 Southwest 57th Avenue, Pinecrest, FL 33156 Burr's Berry Farm, 12741 SW 216th St Miami, Fl 33170 Strawberry Fields of Kendall: Kendall U-Pick: 94 St. and 137th Avenue Country Walk U-Pick: 157th Avenue and 160th St. Turnpike U-Pick: 117th Avenue and 160th Street Keep your eyes open though since new markets often open with little fanfare. Cruising along Krome Avenue and throughout Redland is the way to find them.
Produce/fruit stands and U-Picks are always popular places to purchase and enjoy local fruits and vegetables.
BANK
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Campbell Branch 1750 NE 8th Street Homestead, FL 33033
Princeton Branch 25151 S Dixie Highway Princeton, FL 33032
East Biscayne Branch 12520 SW 288th Street Homestead, FL 33033
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Kendale Lakes Branch 7330 SW 152nd Avenue Miami, FL 33193
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the city of homestead: the best place to grow your business On August 21, 2014 the City of Homestead Mayor and Council and City officials celebrated the Groundbreaking Ceremony of Homestead’s New City Hall located at 100 NE Civic Court, Homestead, Florida 33030. This groundbreaking is a significant step toward the City’s commitment to revitalize the Downtown Homestead area. The impressive plans for the contemporary City Hall on Washington Avenue ensures the new home for City business will be a community centerpiece. We invite you to learn about Homestead, Florida and discover how our premier city is the best place for you to grow, expand or relocate your business. We are excited to welcome you to Homestead, Florida. Homestead is a beautiful place to live, work and play with a quality of life that is unparalleled. Our city is ideally located between Miami and the Florida Keys providing your business with easy access to two growing markets. Homestead is conveniently located just a short drive from Miami International Airport and the Port of Miami – making logistics and travel a breeze. We have a wealth of affordable, undeveloped land and commercial sites making Homestead an ideal location for you to grow or expand your business. Our City boasts a diverse and well-educated workforce, as well as both high quality colleges and technical programs. Here in Homestead you have a partner in the City of Homestead’s Economic Development office to guide you as you plan to start-up, expand, or relocate your business in Homestead. Our Economic Development team can help you navigate legal and regulatory requirements in order to thrive as a member of our vibrant business community. We provide business support services free of charge for every Homestead business and for businesses that are considering moving to Homestead. We constantly strive to provide the most useful tools and data sources. We are here to help you grow your business. For more information, please contact our Economic Development office at (305) 224-4483 or visit our website at www.cityofhomestead.com. A top-notch workforce: Homestead is home to a top-notch workforce with over 60,000 City residents and an additional 400,000 people within a 20 minute commute. College and training programs: The City of Homestead is home to Miami Dade College, a 5,000-student college with a variety of undergraduate programs including a world-class aviation-training program. Our Historic Downtown is also home to a premium medical training school, Dade Medical College. Homestead is also in close proximity to two nationally ranked universities with high quality undergraduate and graduate programs: Florida International University and the University of Miami. Military-trained personnel: Homestead is home to thousands of retired veterans who are still early-to-mid career and can bring their expertise to your business. These veterans as well as the many reservists in Homestead provide a deep pool of management and technical expertise to the community and can help take your business to the next level. Workforce bolstered by right-to-work: Employers and employees in Florida are constitutionally protected by the right-to work regardless of membership or nonmembership in a labor organization.
Your business deserves a better banking experience technology including Online Banking, Bill Pay, Mobile Banking, EZ Deposit, iLock Box, and more. As a member of the South Dade community for more than 40 years, Community Bank of Florida will service your business with a personal touch and a vested interest in your success! Seven convenient South Dade locations Checking account choices for any size business Technology tools The latest in merchant services products Business credit cards with rewards programs Concierge service — we’ll come to you
www.communitybankfl.com Member FDIC
ROXANNE JEGHERS Owner/Broker Cell: 305-793-8325 Email: roxannejeghers@bellsouth.net CALL TODAY TO SELL OR BUY A PROPERTY! Short Sales, Residential & Commercial Sales & Rentals
powering your home An interesting aspect for residents is that electrical power is provided from two different sources depending on where you live. Although Florida Power and Light serves most of the area’s residents, the City of Homestead is one of the few municipalities that still owns and operates a power plant. Residents within designated areas are customers of this plant. This is a question that you will want to ask when either renting or buying.
buying and renting: year round or seasonal Speaking of cruising around to look, have you considered owning property with your own avocado and mango grove? Maybe be next to a golf course is part of your plan. Perhaps a house with a pool is a better match, or an apartment conveniently located to shops, restaurants, and the movie theater. Choices between single family dwellings, townhomes, and condominiums range in different prices with Key Largo and the Upper Keys as well as points in South Miami all within commuting distance. Seasonal residents are also a large part of the community as people come to enjoy the warm winters. Whether buying a move-in ready home, land on which to build, or renting, the Homestead area has residential and commercial real estate to meet most needs. Local agents are well-versed in what each community has to offer and a knowledgeable real estate agent can be of great assistance in your search. Of note is that many homes are within gated communities with Homeowner Associations that usually include additional monthly fees, and the amount of the fees depends on what services are provided as part of that particular community. Commercial properties are equally available for all levels of commerce & in a wide variety of sectors.
banking One of the signs that communities are expanding is when new banks and financial services increase, and the area has certainly seen that during the past few years. In addition to multiple national and regional banks and credit unions, there are two locallyowned community banks that have seen the area through good times and bad, experiencing both the devastation of, and the recovery from, the deadly Hurricane Andrew. The two community banks are 1st National Bank of South Florida and Community Bank of Florida.
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Savings based on national customer-reported data for new policies in 2012. Actual savings vary. Discounts subject to terms, conditions and availability. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Co. Š 2013 Allstate Insurance Co.
education: how choices have expanded general and the public schools
The community understands the importance of education to families from Kindergarten through high school and beyond. Florida now leads the country in the concept of school choice and that can bring many questions from parents and students alike. As the fourth largest public school system in the country and the largest in Florida and the Southeastern United States, the Miami-Dade public school system maintains a robust website to provide extensive information. The site, http://www.dadeschools.net also has the “Parent Academy” tab under the Resources section will be of special interest. Each school within the system has a schoolspecific web site. Homestead and the surrounding area are part of District 9 in the South Region. There are multiple charter and some magnet schools within the public school system in addition to traditional schools, and recent movement has also seen a number of schools convert to K-8 Learning Centers in response to parental input. The three full magnet schools that are in Homestead are the Air Base Elementary School (The Center For International Education), the Medical Academy for Science and Technology (MAST), a high school that consistently receives national recognition and has been rated as the third best high school in the country in math. The newest 2014 magnet addition is the Center for International Education: A Cambridge Associate School that provides highly motivated students with a challenging academic curriculum. Emphasis is placed on developing writing, analysis, and critical thinking skills while learning to synthesize information and reflect on outcomes. Charter schools have greatly expanded in the area as well, and among the new schools is the Homestead location for the Miami Arts Charter School, a grades 6-12 school focused on the performing arts. In addition to a college-preparatory academic program, the school offers a variety of majors for the artistically minded middle or high school student: Instrumental Choral and Jazz Vocal Studies; Visual Arts; Photography; Theatre; Dance (Ballet, Modern, Contemporary and Jazz); and Creative Writing. Although all of the schools have, or are adopting magnet programs within traditional schools, attendance at magnet and charter schools is by application and a lottery system is used when schools are over-subscribed. Students can apply to schools that are outside their geographic location and while every effort is made to provide transportation, that does depend upon available resources. An important point is that there is a priority placement for military families. Information about this program can be found through the http://www.dadeschools.net website. The feeder system that is used to move children from Kindergarten through High school in all of the traditional schools is based on a resident’s address that enters a student into elementary, then middle school (if not in a K-8), then into high school. However, the increase of choice through charter and magnet schools allows parents and students to apply to those schools rather than the designated “traditional” school in the feeder system. There are thirteen elementary schools, fourteen K-8 Learning Centers, five middle schools, and six high schools in the Miami-Dade Public School System that are within a ten-mile radius of Homestead and Florida City. These are a mix of traditional charter, and magnet schools. (The Robert Morgan Learning Center is an additional high school that also has an adult education component.)
The inclusion of magnet programs and academies, that are specific areas of focus, into the traditional public schools, is part of an on-going revitalization of area schools. Residents of the county voted in a 2.1 billion dollar bond issue in 2013 and progress made as well as planned for the various schools can be tracked through the http://www.dadeschools.net website. An excellent example of magnet and academy programs are Homestead Senior High and South Dade High that have corporate or college level partnerships in numerous designated areas of study. Examples are the Student Nursing Program at Homestead High that provides academic and practical training in nursing where a student can graduate high school with a completed certificate as a practical nurse or nurse’s assistant. The Tourism Program provides high-level marketing, especially in social media and skills such as web site development. There are dozens of technical certifications that high school students can pursue simultaneously with their diplomas. Another program that has been well-established for years is the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC). Air Force ROTC is at Homestead High and Army ROTC at South Dade High. JROTC, was established under the Federal program Title 10, "to instill in students in secondary educational institutions the values of citizenship, service to the United States, and personal responsibility and a sense of accomplishment." For Homestead JROTC members though, they have a special relationship thanks to Special Operations Command, South (SOCSOUTH), located at Homestead Air Reserve Base (HARB), SOCSOUTH has an ongoing mentorship program called the Special Operations Command Military Assistance Program or SOCMAP. The program was established in an effort to strengthen ties between SOCSOUTH and high school students across the Homestead area. Events where students come onto the base to experience activities with SOCSOUTH such as rappelling from a tower type help further the development of a bond between our military personnel and the students and faculty of the participating high schools. With the large number of choices available through alternatives to traditional public schools, and the option of students attending schools that are beyond their residential address, parents and students are encouraged to visit http://www.dadeschools.net for more information. The County also holds Curriculum Expos during the year to highlight the different school programs. As a special note of interest, many schools have a mandatory uniform policy and all students have a requirement to complete a community service project to qualify for high school graduation. A strong measure of success of the on-going efforts to achieve high student performance was seen in January 2014 when MiamiDade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) in Florida was named the College Board Advanced Placement® Equity and Excellence District of the Year for being the nation’s leader, among large school districts, in simultaneously expanding access to Advanced Placement Program (AP®) courses and improving AP Exam performance. “This accomplishment proves that through hard work, equity and excellence can be achieved in classrooms across the country,” said College Board President David Coleman. “I congratulate the students of Miami-Dade for their excellent work, and I applaud Miami-Dade’s teachers and administrators for their commitment to deliver rigorous work worth doing.” In addition to numerous other special programs within the public high schools, there is also the School for Advanced Studies (SAS), a full time dual-enrollment high school located at Miami Dade College (MDC) Homestead Campus and other MDC sites. It is a combined effort of Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) and Miami-Dade College. The approximately 100 students attending SAS complete their last two years of high school while attending MDC. The opportunity for acceleration and enrichment attracts motivated and academically talented students. SAS takes pride in its family-like environment, small school setting, and focus on a quality education. School for Advanced Studies was recently ranked by Newsweek Magazine as the 12th Best High School in the United States. Phone: 305-237-5062. Website: http://www.sas.dadeschools.net. The Migrant Educational Program is Pre-K-12, and for special education needs there is the Neva King Cooper Educational Center, a Special Education School Pre-K-12.
private schools Private schools, to include Montessori and religious affiliations, are also available to parents who choose that option, and rules governing home schooling can be found through the Miami-Dade County Home Education Office. There are currently approximately nineteen private schools within less than a ten-mile radius. Of those schools, eight include high school.
college and technical training
Not every high school student is ready to leave home or to seek a four-year degree immediately after high school. For more than twenty years, Miami-Dade College (MDC) has provided a local opportunity to students of all ages. MDC is a large and diverse college with eight campuses around the county to include in Homestead. The MDC system offers over 300 programs of study and several degree options, including vocational, associate, and baccalaureate degrees. MDC-Homestead is a vibrant campus constantly attuned to the needs of the community with twelve separate Academic Schools of study. One of the newer degrees is the Associate in Science Degree, Electrical Power Technology. Dr. Jeanne F. Jacobs, President of MDC-Homestead Campus, partnered with Florida Power and Light (FPL), specifically with Turkey Point, to determine what skills and abilities they required for new personnel. The course has been designed with those needs in mind and all classes can be taken in Homestead. Instruction includes hands-on experience with FPL, the opportunity for paid summer internships, and the degree leads the way to jobs such as mechanic, electrician, or instrument and control technicians. For the graduates, these are high paying jobs, and for FPL supervisors, it is a workforce that they know is highly trained. With an average placement rate of 85%, the program has gained notice. Another of their very popular programs is the triple track available in the Eig-Watson School of Aviation. Students can pursue a professional pilot’s license, aviation maintenance, or air traffic control and administration. Medical Technology, Early Childhood Development, Information Technology, Entertainment Design Technology and Television Production, are among the other numerous programs that enable graduates to gain positions in professional fields as they can then continue on later to baccalaureate degrees. There is also a robust continuing education program for residents who want to perhaps seek a new career field, increase their level of proficiency in their current profession, or take one of those classes they always envisioned, be it belly dancing, computer basics, or learning a new language. MDC-Homestead offers a wider range of course options from regular semester, to “Mini-terms�, to distance learning; all in order to accommodate the diverse student population, especially for students who hold full or part time jobs.
educational benefits for veterans South Dade has a long tradition of a close relationship with the military and Florida is a veteran-friendly state. Legislation passed during 2014 has opened in-state tuition to all honorably discharged veterans with no prior residency requirements. This valuable benefit is extended further for Purple Heart or higher recipients who may be eligible for free tuition.