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Miami Herald 1/26/02

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE ECONOMIC SUMMIT

INTERNATIONAL TRADE/INVESTMENT: Support creation of a World Trade Center facility; establish a two-year plan to develop international trade.

ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION/POVERTY: Seek public support for transportation and distressed neighborhoods; improve access to capital and create public funding sources for economic development.

SMALL BUSINESSES: Create an independent review board for all government contracts; make available affordable health, liability and workers compensation insurance for all small businesses.

MASS TRANSPORTATION: Create fund for transit only and establish a regional transit system.

AIRPORT/SEAPORT: Establish an aviation authority structure within the next 60 days to allow the director to run airport as a business with public accountability. VISITOR INDUSTRY: Improve customer service through signage, communications and transportation; expand and modernize convention facilities.

IT/TELECOMMUNICATIONS: Improve image of Miami-Dade as an IT/telecommunications center and enhance marketing of industry assets; create cooperation between public and private sectors to improve education.

FINANCIAL/BANKING: Promote legislation encouraging foreign insurance companies to do business in Miami-Dade and Florida; encourage financial services, regulatory agencies and multilateral agencies to establish local field offices in Miami-Dade specializing in international business services; create a stock exchange based in Miami-Dade specializing in Latin American securities.

BIOMEDICAL/HEALTH SERVICES: Market locally, nationally, and internationally bio-medical resource opportunities; increase awareness of our political leaders to maximize state and federal funding for biomedical research.

AVIATION: Continue to improve the business environment at Miami International Airport.

FILM: Provide additional marketing and PR; create an industry association; identify new incentives to support the industry and future production and sound stage facility development.

NONPROFIT: Establish a permanent mechanism to assess the impact of nonprofits as a sector.

CULTURAL: Secure at least $5 million in additional funding for the Miami-Dade department of Cultural Affairs budget over next four years; double Florida Arts budget over next four years.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT/EDUCATION: Provide universally available pre-kindergarten education for all children; provide full funding for capital, operational and professional development -- pre-K through adult -- to include a dedicated funding source for children's services through impact fees and property provided by developers.