MIAMI –  Manny Wong, a loyal Asian-American Advisory Board (AAAB) member since 2005 who has served as the AAAB Chair in the past, was selected by the U.S. Small Business Administration as the South Florida Minority Owned Small Business “Person of the Year” for 2020. The announcement took place on Sept. 23, during a virtual award ceremony held as part of this year’s National Small Business Week.

MIAMI  —Based on surveys from U.S. or Canadian residents who traveled through at least one U.S. or Canadian airport from August 2019 through July 2020, Miami International Airport was ranked as the best mega airport for passenger satisfaction in the eastern U.S. and Florida by the J.D. Power 2020 North America Airport Satisfaction Study SM, released on September 23.

Miami, FL - During August 2020, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Miami-Dade County was 8 percent. From August 2019 to August 2020, the County had a reduction of 75,800 nonagricultural payroll jobs (not seasonally adjusted), which indicate a 6.2 percentage point decrease. From July 2020 to August 2020, there was an increase of 16,000, which reflects a 1.4 percent increase of nonagricultural payroll jobs.

GENEVA, Switzerland – The International Labor Organization (ILO) is warning that almost half a million Caribbean tourism workers face the prospect of losing their jobs, working hours and income due to the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Miami – Today Miami-Dade County officials authorized the issuance of $335 million to PortMiami under the Capital Asset Acquisition Special Obligation Bonds “2020 Authorization” for revenue generating capital projects with Carnival Corporation, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line (Bahamas), Terminal Link Miami, and Virgin Cruise Intermediate Limited, as well as other infrastructure projects allowing the Port to continue expanding business opportunities.

MIAMI, FL –  In honor of the 2020 National Minority Enterprise Development Week (MED Week), the Minority Development Business Agency (MBDA) Export Center – Florida, will launch a “Buy MBE Day” in Florida on Saturday, September 19th. The MBDA Expo Center - Florida will join the national network of MBDA Business and Specialty Centers across the country in demonstrating support and commitment to the minority business community. 

MIAMI-DADE – Today, on Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava called attention to the need for more economic justice and to close the wage gap, particularly for women of color. She reconfirmed her commitment to racial justice and pay equity while presenting a proclamation during a community forum sponsored by the Miami-Dade County Commission for Women and The Women’s Fund.

Various private sector concerns in the Caribbean, hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, are to benefit from more than US$2 billion in new financing from Inter-American Development Bank and its private sector arm, IDB Invest.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida ― Broward Health welcomes Alisa Bert as vice president of financial operations. In her new role, Bert will provide strategic leadership and system-wide oversight of the daily operations of general accounting, financial planning, and patient billing services, including third-party reimbursements, financial and statistical reporting functions.

MIAMI  —Miami International Airport began August with a triple shot of new air service, when it welcomed back three more airlines – each of which is serving international routes.

West Palm Beach, FL - In celebration of the National Black Business Month, The Mosaic Group (www.mosaicgroup.co), in partnership with the Urban League of Broward County (ULBC), will host the 10th Annual National Black Economic Conference (NBEC) August 21-22, 2020.  This year’s conference will be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Honeycomb Credit is a small crowdfunding company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It typically handles 10 inquiries a day from business owners seeking loans from the community. Since pandemic hit, it is averaging 30 to 40 daily.