Florida International University / Metropolitan Center Economic Development Implementation Plan: April, 2001

effect, the impediments to successful economic development. FIU/MC’s assessment and community planning process identified the following ten key impediments to economic development in Miami-Dade County:

Absence of a coherent and unifying economic vision and policy.

Insufficient access to private capital.

Isolation and alienation of the African-American community.

Absence of an entrepreneurial environment.

Fragmented economic development delivery system.

Lack of public infrastructure investment.

Disconnect between planning and economic development.

The EDIP recommends the consideration of four “operational elements” and policy strategies: 1) creation of a strong entrepreneurial environment; 2) community collaboration and capacity-building; 3) comprehensive economic development planning with a coordinated and integrated economic development delivery system; and 4) building a public/private lending capacity.

Lack of benchmarking and performance standards.

No clear economic development authority.

Absence of formalized and tailored workforce development programs.

To address these key findings, the EDIP recommends the consideration of four “operational elements” and their accompanying policy strategies. The operational elements are: 1) creation of a strong entrepreneurial environment; 2) community collaboration and capacity-building; 3) comprehensive economic development planning with a coordinated and integrated economic development delivery system; and 4) building a public/private lending capacity.