A. Industrial Jobs

Jobs are an integral aspect of the entire sustainable development strategy. Jobs will be generated by the redevelopment of the Northside Shopping Center and the Amtrak site, as well from housing rehabilitation and new housing construction (see below). In addition the target community has three unusual sources of other jobs derived from its unique position in the metro area, industrial jobs (especially replacement jobs) in two industrial areas and a wide range of jobs further north accessed by Tri-Rail:

* 36th Avenue Industrial Corridor: The industrial corridor from 79th Street to Miami International Airport that is rich in industrial firms and jobs and is well served by rapid transit and bus routes, and

* Poinciana Industrial Park: The Poinciana Industrial Park located between NW 79th St. on the north, the FEC railroad on the south, NW 27th Ave. on the west and NW 22ndAve on the east. It was originally conceived as a cooperative venture between Miami Dade County and New Century Development Corporation to create jobs for adjacent public housing residents. The County acquired the land and used CDBG dollars to install the infrastructure (sewers, roads, and water). New Century's job was to recruit industrial tenants using a variety of incentives and financial tools, including a state-sanctioned "enterprise zone," grants and loans from the federal, state and local governments, and active cooperation from the Beacon Council. Although some tenants were attracted, the results have been generally disappointing. Most prospective tenants are interested in a completed building ready for occupancy, not a vacant parcel of land. Recently EPA has provided the county with funds to help alleviate brownsfield conditions within the park boundaries.

Action 14: Carry Out a Sector-by-Sector Analysis of the 36th Avenue Industrial Corridor.

This sectoral analysis will identify employment niches where there is a steady demand for skilled workers - both for replacement and new positions. It will evaluate the ways that employers currently find workers and explore new strategies to put potential 79th Street Corridor workers "in the information loop" about job openings. This study will also look for situations where employers are having difficulty finding skilled workers and then explore potential job training partnerships between trade associations, non-profit organizations, businesses and community colleges to meet these training needs.

B. Jobs Access via Transit

In Greater Miami and in the three county area, jobs can be accessed through the 79th Street MetroRail and Tri-Rail stations at 36th Avenue in

* Downtown Miami,
* Miami International Airport,
* Fort Lauderdale,
* West Palm Beach, and
* Other urban areas in Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

Action 15: Carry Out a Job Linkage Analysis Along the Tri-Rail Corridor: One of the advantages of the 79th Street Project is its access to jobs along the Tri-Rail Corridor. For this to translate into real jobs, much more information is needed about the job market surrounding the various Tri-Rail stations, including the wages and benefits offered and the skills required. Such a study should also explore the desirability and feasibility of "sister community" relationships with 79th Street, for example, a partnership between 79th Street and West Palm Beach that would formally link that job-rich community with the worker-rich 79th Street area.