Report on the Strive305 Initiative and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction: Fostering Inclusive Economic Growth in Miami-Dade County

The Strive305 Small Business Tours represent a strategic initiative by the Miami-Dade County government, under the direction of Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, to foster a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable local economy. This program employs a direct engagement model to connect with small business owners, understand their operational challenges, and facilitate access to critical resources. The initiative’s core objective is to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem, which is fundamental to the county’s economic vitality, and directly aligns with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

2.0 Economic Context and Systemic Challenges

Miami-Dade County possesses a dynamic entrepreneurial landscape, yet faces significant challenges to long-term business sustainability. This context underscores the need for targeted interventions that promote decent work and reduce systemic inequalities.

2.1 Profile of the Small Business Sector

• Over 80% of all enterprises in the county are classified as small businesses.
• A significant proportion of these businesses are minority- and immigrant-owned, forming the economic backbone of diverse local communities.

2.2 Barriers to Sustainable Growth

• High Business Failure Rate: Approximately 50% of small businesses in the region do not survive beyond the five-year mark.
• Access to Capital and Mentorship: Entrepreneurs face persistent difficulties in securing adequate funding and expert guidance.
• Systemic and Language Barriers: Regulatory complexity and a lack of multilingual resources create significant obstacles for a diverse population of business owners.
• Post-Pandemic Vulnerabilities: The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing fragilities, particularly for businesses lacking digital infrastructure and financial reserves.

3.0 The Strive305 Tours: A Proactive Engagement Model

The Strive305 Small Business Tours are a core component of the county’s strategy to build a more equitable economy. The program is designed to bridge the gap between government and the grassroots business community, thereby strengthening partnerships for sustainable development.

3.1 Program Objectives

1. To establish direct, face-to-face communication between government officials and small business owners.
2. To gather firsthand data on the real-world challenges and needs of entrepreneurs across different neighborhoods.
3. To build trust and demystify access to government services, particularly within historically underserved communities.
4. To connect business owners with the comprehensive Strive305 support ecosystem, which includes incubators, technical training, and funding opportunities available in English, Spanish, and Creole.
5. To inform evidence-based policymaking by incorporating qualitative feedback from the business community.

4.0 Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Strive305 initiative is a practical implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the municipal level. Its design and execution contribute directly to the following SDGs:

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
  By focusing on the long-term survival and success of small businesses, the initiative directly promotes sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth. It supports job creation and enhances the resilience of the local economy, which are central tenets of Goal 8.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
  The program’s deliberate focus on minority- and immigrant-owned businesses, along with its commitment to reaching every geographic corner of the county, actively works to reduce inequalities. The provision of multilingual resources ensures that support is accessible to all, regardless of background, directly addressing targets within Goal 10.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  Strengthening local “mom-and-pop” shops, family-run services, and community storefronts enhances the social and economic fabric of neighborhoods. This contributes to making Miami-Dade’s communities more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable, in line with the objectives of Goal 11.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
  The tours embody the spirit of Goal 17 by creating a robust partnership between a public entity (the county government) and the private sector (small business owners). This collaborative approach is essential for mobilizing resources and ensuring that development efforts are effective and responsive to local needs.

5.0 Conclusion: A Model for Human-Centered Economic Development

The Strive305 Small Business Tours serve as a powerful tool for accountability and human-centered governance. By grounding economic development strategy in the lived experiences of entrepreneurs, Miami-Dade County is building a more robust and equitable economic foundation. This proactive approach ensures that growth is not only achieved but is also inclusive and sustainable, creating an environment where every entrepreneur has a genuine opportunity to succeed. The initiative stands as a replicable model for aligning local government action with the global Sustainable Development Goals.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed in the Article

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article directly addresses SDG 8 by focusing on promoting the growth and survival of small businesses, which are described as the “entrepreneurial heartbeat of Miami-Dade County.” The Strive305 initiative aims to foster a resilient local economy by supporting entrepreneurs, which is central to creating decent work and sustainable economic growth.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  This goal is central to the article’s theme of building an “economy that works for everyone.” The initiative specifically targets support for “minority- and immigrant-owned” businesses and aims to reach communities that have “historically felt overlooked.” By addressing systemic barriers like language access and ensuring every entrepreneur “regardless of background or ZIP code, has a fair shot at success,” the program directly works to reduce economic inequalities.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article connects the health of small businesses to the strength of communities. It states that these businesses “form the cultural and economic fabric of their communities” and that the initiative is “helping build not just stronger businesses, but stronger communities.” The focus on tailoring support to different neighborhoods, from “Liberty City to Little Havana,” aligns with making cities and communities more inclusive and sustainable.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The Strive305 tours are presented as a mechanism for building “trust in local government” and making it more responsive and accountable. The article highlights that the tours “humanize the process of governance” and ensure “public resources are informed by real-world needs.” This reflects the goal of developing effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at the local level.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

• Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support … entrepreneurship … and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.

  The article clearly aligns with this target. The entire Strive305 initiative is a development-oriented policy to support small businesses. It directly addresses the challenges of “limited access to capital” and connects business owners with “funding opportunities,” “technical assistance bootcamps,” and “mentorship networks” to encourage their growth.

• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of … race, ethnicity, origin … or other status.

  This target is reflected in the program’s explicit focus on inclusivity. The article notes that a “significant portion” of businesses are “minority- and immigrant-owned” and that support is offered in “English, Spanish, and Creole to ensure accessibility.” This demonstrates a clear effort to empower and promote the economic inclusion of diverse groups.

• Target 11.a: Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.

  The Strive305 tours represent a form of local development planning aimed at strengthening the economic and social fabric within the diverse communities of Miami-Dade. The article emphasizes a “community-first approach” and the strategic design to “reach every corner of Miami-Dade County,” thereby strengthening the links within the region.

• Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.

  The core concept of the tours—to “meet small business owners where they are, listen to their challenges”—is a direct application of participatory and responsive decision-making. The article states that this direct engagement provides “immediate feedback for policy makers,” ensuring that government actions are informed by the real-world needs of the community.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

• Indicator: Survival rate of small businesses.

  The article implies this indicator by stating, “Nearly 1 in 2 small businesses in the area fail to make it past the five-year mark.” Progress towards Target 8.3 could be measured by tracking an increase in the five-year survival rate of small businesses, especially those participating in the Strive305 program.

• Indicator: Number and proportion of minority- and immigrant-owned businesses receiving support.

  This is implied by the article’s focus on these specific demographics. To measure progress on Target 10.2, the county could track the number of businesses owned by minorities and immigrants that access Strive305 resources (training, funding, mentorship) as a proportion of all businesses supported.

• Indicator: Accessibility of support services across different languages and geographic locations.

  The article mentions that services are offered in “English, Spanish, and Creole” and that tours reach “every corner of Miami-Dade County.” Progress on Targets 10.2 and 11.a could be measured by the number of resources available in multiple languages and the geographic distribution of businesses receiving assistance, ensuring no ZIP code is left behind.

• Indicator: Number of policy or process changes based on community feedback.

  This is implied by the statement that tours provide “immediate feedback for policy makers, highlighting barriers that may not appear in data sets.” To measure progress on Target 16.7, the government could track how many specific changes—such as simplifying “confusing permitting processes” or closing “language gaps in outreach materials”—are implemented as a direct result of the feedback gathered during the tours.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: communitynewspapers.com