Miami-Dade Chamber receives $850,000 for Liberty City business incubator

Liberty City is a dense, economically active neighborhood that has long operated within the administrative boundaries of Miami. The Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce announced on October 30 that it will use $850,000 in federal funding to launch a new small business incubator in that area.

The project, named the Liberty Square Launchpad, is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Chamber leaders credit U.S. Rep. Frederica S. Wilson, D-Miami Gardens, with securing the grant through the Community Project Funding program.

Gordon Eric Knowles, President and CEO of the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce, described the initiative in a statement as a way to unite government, business, education, and community partners. He stated, “Congresswoman Wilson has given us an extraordinary opportunity to bring government, business, education, and community partners together around one mission: creating economic opportunity.”

The chamber proposed a five-year plan for the incubator. The program targets low- and moderate-income microenterprise owners, defined as businesses with five or fewer employees including the owner. It also serves individuals developing new ventures. Outreach will focus on entrepreneurs in Liberty Square, Liberty City, and District 5.

Participants will receive technical assistance at no cost. The incubator aims to help businesses formalize operations, improve financial recordkeeping, and draft business plans. Matthew A. Pigatt, Senior Director of Small Business and Member Services, said, “When we help an entrepreneur strengthen their business, we’re investing in more than one company. We’re investing in families, future employees, and the economic strength of an entire community.”

Liberty City is home to approximately 50,000 residents. About 80% of the population is Black. If it were an independent municipality, it would rank as the seventh-largest city in Miami-Dade County.

A 2017 economic study by the University of Miami and Florida International University found that 87% of Liberty City businesses employ fewer than 20 people. That study also noted that all businesses in the area generated $12 billion in annual sales combined.