Last week, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) embarked on its annual legislative mission to Tallahassee, meeting with key legislators and stakeholders to advocate for policies that will enhance Miami’s economic vitality and quality of life. Over the course of three days, the GMCC team engaged in a whirlwind of meetings, briefings, and events to discuss issues critical to Miami-Dade County’s future.
Setting the Stage
The trip began with a meeting with Representative Alex Rizo (District 112), where discussions focused on workforce housing and transportation. Later that evening, during the President's Dinner, we had the pleasure of a brief visit from Rizo, who stopped by to greet everyone and show his support, demonstrating his connection to the Chamber and its mission.
Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr., a native of Hialeah and former State Representative, provided insights into the critical intersection of early learning and its importance to Miami’s business community. Advocacy team members, including Evelio Torres, Amanda Gorski, and Victor Caballero, represented our early learning and fiscal cliff advocacy efforts, emphasizing the need for sustainable workforce development initiatives. Additionally, our meeting with Senator Alexis Calatayud (District 38), one of last year's Chamber Legislative Champion honorees, centered on housing and fiscal policy, with the Senator offering her expertise and strategies to tackle these challenges. Her dedication to improving housing access and navigating fiscal complexities strongly echoes the Chamber’s advocacy priorities.
The day included a pivotal meeting with Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez, a passionate advocate for aerospace development. Discussions centered on transportation and workforce housing, particularly on the role of Homestead Air Reserve Base as a designated spaceport and its potential to attract aerospace industries to Miami-Dade County. Lindsay Pierce, from Space Florida, further expanded on these connections during a briefing at Ballard Partners’ office in Tallahassee, emphasizing collaborative opportunities and the region’s role in fostering innovation. Lieutenant Governor Nuñez, a Leadership Miami graduate, expressed enthusiasm about our collaboration with Space Florida, highlighting opportunities to strengthen Miami as a key hub for aerospace advancements.
Key Engagements on Workforce Housing
The Florida Housing Finance Corporation meeting was particularly impactful. Vice Chair of Workforce Housing, Anthony De Yurre, joined discussions on innovative financing tools for workforce housing development, reaffirming the Chamber’s commitment to addressing the housing needs of Miami’s growing middle-income population.
Representative Vicki Lopez (District 113), last year's second Chamber Legislative Champion honoree, shared her vision for expanding housing legislation and emphasized the importance of addressing workforce housing issues. Last summer, she partnered with the Chamber to engage developers in brainstorming solutions to expand workforce housing—a testament to her commitment to meaningful dialogue and actionable results.
Resilience and Sustainability: A Growing Focus
Other notable discussions included a meeting with Senator Ileana Garcia (District 36), where she voiced her support for the Chamber’s resilience priorities, including her resilience bill, Senate Bill 50, which focuses on innovative green and gray infrastructure solutions, more specifically Nature-based Methods for Improving Coastal Resilience. The Chamber fully supports Senate Bill 50 and stands ready to be a strong advocate in championing this critical legislation and its efforts to strengthen coastal resilience.
Engaging with the Miami-Dade Legislative Delegation
Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez (District 40), chair of the Miami-Dade delegation and a past Chamber champion and Leadership Miami graduate, emphasized her familiarity with the Chamber's four pillars. As a trusted leader within the delegation, she offered to serve as a key conduit for communicating priorities. Her leadership and ongoing support make her a valuable partner in advancing critical initiatives for Miami-Dade County.
In our meeting with Representative Kevin Chambliss (District 117), vice chair of the Miami-Dade delegation, we discussed healthcare and housing challenges outlined in the Chamber’s white paper, emphasizing the need for legislative support. For context, the delegation includes all Florida House and Senate members whose districts cover any part of Miami-Dade County. This group works closely with local municipalities to address the needs of the county’s 37 municipalities. Similarly, we connected with other members of the delegation regarding the healthcare committee white paper, such as Senator Shevrin Jones (District 34), Representative Vicki Lopez, and Representative Ashley Gantt (District 109), advocating for collaborative efforts to address these pressing issues.
Our meeting with newly elected Representative Omar Blanco (District 115) provided an excellent opportunity to introduce him to the Chamber's advocacy initiatives, including our four pillars. As a valued friend and new member, we engaged in a productive discussion about his vision for the 2025 legislative session and explored ways we could align and support each other's priorities.
Exploring Innovative Solutions
In one of the more unique conversations, Representative Juan Porras (District 119), known for championing HOA reform and working to address corruption in homeowners’ associations to protect homeowners from exploitative practices, shared his vision for Florida’s future. Porras expressed a passion for advancing legislation in emerging technologies, particularly in artificial intelligence. Porras highlighted the potential for Miami to lead in vertical mobility – using drone-like flying vehicles for passenger and freight transportation. Drawing on his firsthand experience as a logistics company owner, Porras recognizes the transformative potential of these technologies and the need for Miami to stay ahead of the curve. With Miami attracting companies in this space, Porras’ passion for innovation aligns well with the Chamber’s commitment to fostering cutting-edge industries.
Workforce Development and Economic Growth
During a meeting with Representative Mike Redondo (District 118), we discussed education, workforce development, and the importance of positioning Miami as an attractive hub for Fortune 500 companies. Redondo emphasized the need to grow Florida’s economy by creating an environment that draws top employers and retains talent, which reflects the Chamber’s focus on supporting Miami’s ongoing transformation into a global business center.
Partnering with the Florida Retail Federation
Alfred Sanchez, P.J. Campbell, and Giovanni Castro also met with R. Scott Shalley, President and CEO of Florida Retail Federation, to explore shared priorities and opportunities for collaboration – centering on how our efforts can align to champion policies that benefit and help our members and businesses advocate more strongly.
Legislative Briefing with the Florida Chamber
A key highlight of the trip was the legislative briefing led by Frank Walker and Andrew Wiggins from the Florida Chamber’s Governmental Affairs team. This annual tradition provided an insightful overview of the legislative landscape for the 2025 session and an opportunity to align on shared priorities. By working together, we aim to amplify our collective voice and impact during the legislative process.
Honoring Leadership at the Legislative Reception
The Chamber hosted its annual Legislative Reception at the Governor’s Club, a premier venue near the Capitol. This well-attended event brought together half of the Miami-Dade Delegation and other legislators, fostering valuable connections and conversations.
During the reception, the Chamber honored the Speaker of the Florida House, Daniel Perez (District 116), with the Legislative Champion Award for his unwavering commitment to Miami’s growth and prosperity. In his remarks, Speaker Perez underscored the significance of Chamber advocacy and reaffirmed his dedication to supporting the Miami community:
“This is the Chamber for me. This is home. I’m a Miami guy—I never run from it. This is where I was raised, and my job is to care for the state as a whole. That includes every resident regardless of where they live, what party affiliation they have, what age they are, what sex they are—it doesn’t matter. I have to represent everyone. But I never run away from the fact that I’m a Miami guy, and for me, there is no greater part than making sure that Miami is taken care of over the next two years.”
Speaker Perez’s heartfelt words emphasized the importance of collaboration and advocacy in shaping a vibrant future for Miami.
A Mission of Impact
While the schedule was intense, the results were worth it. From housing and healthcare to transportation and workforce development, the GMCC team made meaningful connections and advanced discussions on policies that will benefit Miami-Dade County. With this strong foundation, we are well-positioned to advocate for our region in the 2025 legislative session and beyond.
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to our Gold Sponsor, Amazon, and our Silver Sponsors, Baptist Health, the Consulate General of Canada in Miami, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, and West Coast University Miami. Your support helps make our advocacy efforts possible, and we truly appreciate your partnership.
Stay tuned for updates on these initiatives as we continue to work for the betterment of South Florida’s businesses and communities!