2022 State of the County
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Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava delivered the annual State of the County address on January 31, 2022. She summarized the accomplishments achieved during her first year in office, addressed the monumental challenges our County faced during moments of tragedy and a global health crisis, and outlined her administration's plans and goals for 2022.
Watch the State of the County AddressBuilding a Future Ready Miami-Dade
COVID Response
Miami-Dade County leads the State of Florida in COVID-19 vaccinations, having administered over 2,500,000 shots since the vaccines became available in January of last year.
Learn MoreTragedy in Surfside
In the early hours of June 24th, 2021, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to reports of a building collapse at Champlain Tower South.
Learn MorePreventing Gun Violence
On June 8th, 2021, the gears of positive change were set in motion when the 19 year, $95 million initiative to fight the root causes of gun violence, known as the Peace and Prosperity Plan was passed.
Learn MoreBuilding Infrastructure
Our community’s challenge to build a properly functioning public transportation system has been a source of frustration for so many of our residents.
Learn MoreWorkforce Investments
This year, we successfully negotiated ten collective bargaining agreements with all 8 Unions.
Learn MoreAffordability and Housing
For so many families in Miami-Dade County, the past two years have been some of the most difficult on record.
Learn MoreProtecting the Environment
Miami-Dade County is a community sitting on the very edge of the global climate crisis.
Learn MoreSupporting Small Business
Thanks to the work of our Innovation and Performance team, last year we set the stage for big wins in 2022 that will, by the end of 2023, result in making a big difference for 10,000 small businesses and creating $100M in economic impact.
Learn More2021 Departmental Achievements
- In 2021 Animal Services was able to achieve it’s highest cat save rate ever of almost 92% and provide an overall shelter pet save rate of 93%.
- 2021 also marked the completion of the 3 year countywide oral rabies vaccine program. More than 1.6 million doses were distributed protecting wildlife, pets and people from the rabies virus.
- More than 13,500 community cat sterilization surgeries were performed at no cost to residents.
- Issued 57 Audit Reports encompassing audits within County Departments or companies doing business with the County. These reviews resulted in improved internal controls and compliance with County procedures and/or contractual obligations, in addition to enhanced operational effectiveness. The revenue-based compliance audits resulted in net monetary assessments of $2.3 million, and recoveries of $1.3 million.
- Miami International Airport ranked the best mega airport in North America for passenger satisfaction by the J.D. Power 2021 North America Airport Satisfaction Study SM.
- MIA’s passenger traffic fully recovered from the pandemic by the end of 2021, with its November and December passenger totals both six percent higher than the same months in 2019. MIA also set a new all-time single-day passenger record of 165,553 total travelers on December 19. MIA finished 2021 with 37.2 million passengers, which was twice its total of 18.6 million in 2020 and just 18 percent below its pre-pandemic tally of 46 million in 2019.
- Hub carrier American Airlines is now operating its largest Miami schedule ever, at 378 daily departures. Spirit Airlines launched its first-ever flights at MIA in October and is now serving 31 Miami routes, making it MIA’s second-busiest passenger airline. Frontier Airlines, MIA’s fifth-busiest airline, increased its Miami network to a total of 36 destinations – its largest number ever. JetBlue Airways launched its Miami service in February 2021 and is now MIA’s eight-busiest airline. Additionally, JetBlue’s entry to MIA is estimated to generate nearly $915 million in business revenue and 7,300 jobs into the local economy annually, while Spirit’s new Miami schedule is projected to generate $1.6 billion in business revenue and support 12,500 local jobs annually.
- MIA handled more than 2.5 million tons of cargo, far exceeding its full-year total of 2.3 million tons in 2020 with another month still left in the year.
- Two major facility expansions that were completed: a $78-million renovation and expansion of the DHL hub and a $72.2-million expansion of the FedEx Express hub, the largest in the FedEx global network.
- Managed COVID-19 crisis communications, including messaging on prevention, masking, testing, vaccinations in each stage, in all media – print, digital, radio, television – in three languages. The Vaccine Finder, alone, has generated 4.2 million views since its launch.
- After the Surfside Building Collapse, the 311 Center created the Reunification within 2 hours of the collapse, answering 2,598 calls, taking 1,079 Missing Person reports, and 105 Check-in Safe reports.
- Launched website with information on the Champlain Towers response with almost 25 thousand page views to preempt the spread of misinformation.
- Spent nearly $11 million to get nearly 1.5 billion impressions, adding over $2 million in value and saving $6.7 million. Received 10 million views on 540 YouTube videos. Reached nearly 10 million through all social media channels.
- Received the 2021 National Association of Counties award for outstanding achievement in the Human Services category for the Remote Inmate Assessment project administered by Rehabilitative Services Division.
- Over 73,944 hours of individual and group counseling was provided to persons with substance abuse disorders, successfully diverting 91% of program participants from the court system through the outpatient Diversion and Treatment Program. 96% of clients successfully completed residential treatment transferring into stable housing. Training and employment placement services was received by 286 unemployed and underemployed clients, allowing them access to jobs during the pandemic.
- Opened the new Community Resource Center in the Stephen P. Clark Government Center, part of the Mayor’s “No Wrong Door” policy and managed by CAHSD’s Family and Community Services Division.
- Family and Community Services provided 4000+ customers with electrical assistance resolving emergencies up to $2000 per customer with LIHEAP Cares Act dollars.
- FCS launched an Advanced Child Tax Credit campaign to inform Miami-Dade County families about the opportunity to enroll.
- Over 1,436 low-income individuals received free tax preparation through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program and obtained Earned Income Tax Credit: $2.3 million was returned to stimulate the local economy.
- The Food Choice Pantry in the Miami-Gardens Community Resource Center distributed 53,443 pounds of food to more than 1,778 households in collaboration with Catalyst Miami and Feeding South Florida.
- 620 Thanksgiving baskets were distributed to low-income families in need, across the County.
- During the COVID-19 Pandemic, all Violence Prevention and Intervention Prevention Division (VPID) programs remained operational and continued to offer services, in-person and remotely, to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking and human trafficking.
- In July of 2020, CAHSD VPID obtained the for-profit shelter, “The Lodge,” and converted it into a Domestic Violence Certified Center operated by Miami-Dade County, adding 48 beds for abused women and their dependent children.
- 183 domestic violence and human trafficking victims received emergency direct relief Direct Relief funds for a variety of assistance including housing and relocations in the total amount of $304,397.327.
- VPID opened a new Domestic Violence Certified Center, the Safespace Empowerment Center, in October 2021. This Center adds 60 beds for victims of domestic violence, including male and transgender victims. It has a separate structure to house victims’ pets.
- VPID in partnership with the Miami-Dade Animal Services, launched the Healing Together Project; a Pet-inclusive Domestic Violence Shelter Program in October 2020.
- Nutrition services provided 103,316 Grab and Go meals for children unable to participate for in-person services.
- Head Start and Early Head Start provided 1,778,966 total meals across all programs. 92% of Head Start children and 96% of Early Head Start children met or exceeded school readiness expectations.
- Mental Health Consultants conducted 1,154 consultations with staff members, and 462 consultations with parents to provide support and strategies that promote the social and emotional well-being of children.
- Partnering with Barry University, Early Head Start teachers and staff received Montessori training to facilitate a “discovery” model. The model follows the successful Head Start tradition of supporting the whole child socially, intellectually, and emotionallyas well as the family with wrap-around social services, addressing social disparities. Montessori education for children from birth to 36 months is offered at: Haitian Youth’s Lillie Williams and Early Steps Center locations, and Catholic Charities’ Holy Redeemer and South Dade locations.
- Secured federal and private funding to help more than 130 arts organizations and artists survive the pandemic and help restart the economy through over $128 million in federal Shuttered Venue Operators Grants (SVOG) funding.
- Received two grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA): one to help support diverse, neighborhood nonprofit arts groups; and the second, a $500,000 grant from NEA American Rescue Plan funds to commission work from Miami-Dade artists of all disciplines.
- Delivered free and affordable virtual and in-person educational activities and cultural performances. The African Heritage Cultural Arts Center presented arts education virtually to hundreds of children, tripling last year’s numbers. While serving Miami-Dade youth, the Center’s online arts instruction also attracted young people from as far away as England and India. Miami-Dade County Auditorium pioneered pandemic era “drive-in’” music, dance, and theater performances in Little Havana using its outdoor loading dock as a stage with audiences safely in their cars in the adjoining parking lot tuning in through a FM radio channel.
- Resumed in-door performances at the Miami-Dade County Auditorium in July 2021.
- Reached tens of thousands of young people through Culture Shock Miami with free virtual arts activities during the pandemic. Currently, the program is selling out of tickets for in-person events.
- Served 300,000 youth in partnership with The Children's Trust, including the pioneering All Kids Included, for children with disabilities.
- Completed construction of the Westchester Cultural Arts Center in collaboration with Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department. This new cultural facility at the entrance of Tropical Park will provide accessible and affordable arts education and performances to families and children in West Miami-Dade County.
- Began construction of the East Park addition, immediately adjacent to the theater, to provide an innovative outdoor performance space. Together, the Center and the East Park, are the only cultural facilities co-located in a Miami-Dade County regional park.
- Teen Court has conducted 87 virtual hearings in response to the state of emergency which suspended Teen Court’s In-person courthouse hearings since March 2020.
- Teen Court’s virtual hearings welcome an average of 40 attendees per session which includes adult and youth attorneys, jury members, Teen Court participants, volunteers and parents, and strategic partners.
- Conducted 73 life skills workshops
- Conducted 296 mental health sessions (family and teen combined)
- Teen Court youth volunteers have been able to complete over 4,000 hours of community service.
- Provided Down-Payment Assistance funds to 100 First-Time Homebuyer households for $837,500, nearly 70% of those households were classified as Low-Income households according to HUD standards, and those borrowers purchased homes in every one of the 13 County Commissions Districts. MDEAT HAP passed another milestone in that the total (aggregate) purchase price for HAP funded households now exceeds $1 billion.
- Conducted 23 Municipal Elections and one Special Taxing District Election, to include two state-required recounts, with the highest level of efficiency and accuracy.
- Registered 40,592 new voters, bringing the total number of registered voters to an unprecedented 1,520,237 and since Florida joined the national consortium known as the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) in 2020, we can confidently state that our voter rolls are more accurate and up to date than in our county’s history.
- Partnered with the Miami-Dade County Public School System to implement the first-ever High School Student Poll Worker Program. High School students (who are 16, 17 or 18-years-old) can now serve as poll workers to assist in the facilitation of our democracy while earning community service hours for college.
- MDFR’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) coordinated and monitored the response to the COVID-19 pandemic throughout Miami-Dade County. MDFR worked collaboratively with State and local authorities, the United States Military, the Florida Department of Health, and the Office of the Mayor, in establishing and supporting 18 public testing sites throughout Miami-Dade, eight mobile testing sites using Sprinter vans, and multiple pop-up sites established through the OEM in conjunction with public, private and faith-based partnerships.
- When COVID-19 vaccines became available, MDFR deployed four mobile teams daily, to vaccinate homebound seniors and residents. MDFR led and worked collaboratively with strike teams from Miami Beach Fire Rescue, Coral Gables Fire Rescue, Miami Fire Rescue and Key Biscayne Fire Rescue to perform 700 homebound vaccination missions from the state throughout the County, for Holocaust and Bay of Pigs Brigade Survivors.
- Managed Miami-Dade County’s three primary vaccination sites at Miami-Dade College North, Tropical Park, and South Dade Government Center, and worked with State and Federal officials in coordinating the deployment and management of additional vaccination sites throughout the County.
- Surfside launched the largest non-hurricane Urban Search and Rescue response in department history. MDFR coordinated with seven other State US&R teams, five Federal US&R teams, the Israeli Defense Force Rescue and Mexican Cadena teams, and fire crews from neighboring Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County municipal fire-rescue departments. MDFR worked tirelessly for nearly a month to bring closure to all of the families affected by this tragedy, providing reliable communication and information sharing across all entities and to the public.
- Despite mobilization of over 140 units, MDFR maintained the same levels of service throughout the District, ensuring the continuity of critical services to County residents.
- Increased capabilities by replacing its aviation fleet of 4 helicopters with the new state-of-the-art Augusta AW139 Air Rescue helicopters, which increased flight range, critical patient transport capacity, search and rescue capabilities, safety enhancements, and the latest flight avionics. Additionally, MDFR also received 2 new fireboats, replacing aging vessels thus boosting Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s marine firefighting capability.
- A new rescue transport unit was placed in service at MDFR’s Village of Homestead Fire-Rescue Station 66 on October 18, 2021.
- Broke ground at the future site of MDFR Dolphin Fire-Rescue Station 68. The new Station 68 will be a one-story, 12,300-square-foot, three-bay fire rescue facility, capable of housing multiple suppression and rescue units. Additionally, MDFR celebrated the grand opening of the new 11,248 square-foot Sweetwater FireRescue Station 29, providing life-saving services to the residents of Sweetwater and surrounding areas.
- Throughout 2021, MDFR hired four (4) recruit classes totaling 96 new firefighters that are now serving our community.
- In October of 2021, MDFR introduced its K-9 Peer Response Unit and Foundation during a special Citizen’s presentation. MDFR’s K-9 Peer Response Unit provides support to MDFR personnel.
- MDFR’s 155 frontline rescue and fire suppression units were dispatched over 457,000 times to more than 270,00 emergencies; of these, approximately 195,000 were medical emergencies. MDFR transported more than 80,000 residents and visitors to South Florida hospitals and responded to more than 25,700 fire-related incidents. In addition, MDFR personnel responded to 49,700 other emergencies.
- Received accreditation status for the third time by Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI. MDFR was unanimously approved for accredited status by the CFAI. This reaccreditation reaffirms MDFR’s unwavering commitment to save and protect life and property while meeting best practice industry standards.
- Successfully negotiated ten collective bargaining agreements with all 8 Unions.
- Inspired by the Thrive 305 initiative, launched ITHRIVE@ Miami-Dade County where employee accomplishments are recognized and celebrated.
- Developed and launched Tackling Racial Bias and Disability Etiquette training and community workshops to educate employees and the public on their rights and responsibilities under the County’s expansive Human Rights Ordinance and ensure inclusion and equity for all residents and visitors.
- Continued to mobilize resources to create an emergency infrastructure to prevent, protect and respond to persons experiencing homelessness during the coronavirus pandemic.
- Launched initiative to permanently house senior citizens and other highly vulnerable individuals experiencing homelessness, with more than 750 vouchers targeted to those most in need.
- Triaged hundreds of residents deemed to be living in unsafe structures. The closures were the results of new scrutiny on multifamily buildings in the wake of the Surfside condominium collapse. With only hours to evacuate their homes and belongings, the Homeless Trust ensured no family was forced to sleep in their car or the streets.
- Launched a countywide ERP INFORMS platform to support Finance, Supply Chain, Payroll and Human Resources modules, completely replacing 25 year old legacy systems. By using a single system, standardization, and integrating data, INFORMS has enabled business process improvement, eliminated paper-based processes, simplified data collection, and centralized tracking mechanisms.
- Partnered with several academic institutions (Florida International University, Miami Dade College and University of Miami) to build a pathway from academia to technology careers.
- Launched the Accelerate Miami Dade Program in partnership with Microsoft, focused on reskilling and upskilling residents in underserved communities, to bridge the digital skills divide, to expand the economic opportunities for underserved communities and unlock a new local pipeline of talent in the tech sector. This program will be expanded countywide over the next three years.
- Created an innovation corps of "Igniters" from all corners of the County that will help identify service gaps and frame them into a series of innovation challenges that we tackle together with student and civic minded communities.
- Launched Spark aAcademy, an internal training program for all County employees to empower employees to make impact and drive change within their organization.
- Implemented a Value-Based Review Group to review procurement projects for opportunities for small and local business participation. The VBRG consists of key stakeholders from my Office of Equity and Inclusions and ISD’s Small Business, Procurement, and Legislative Divisions which meet weekly to review active solicitations to ensure the utilization of SBE firms, unbundling of large contracts, and identifying and removing barriers to create more set-asides for SBEs.
- Completed Larcenia J. Bullard Plaza, a business incubator for small start-up businesses and community organizations providing services to our community. The plaza also includes the South Dade Black History Center which will highlight the contributions Black communities have made to Miami-Dade County.
- Launched a new partnership with OBE Power to offer smart electric-vehicle (EV) charging stations at Miami-Dade parking facilities.
- Continued to respond to the County-wide need for COVID-19 disinfections to maintain uninterrupted services to the residents of Miami-Dade County.
- Worked closely with the Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces’ Fit2Lead Program and Miami-Dade Police Department Turn Around Police Academy to provide children involved in the juvenile justice and welfare system an opportunity to participate in prosocial activities deterring them from further penetration into the System.
- In line with Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s “No Wrong Door Initiative”, JSD has collaborated with the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) and the Public Housing and Community Development (PHCD) in triaging a countywide social services support infrastructure for residents facing eviction.
- Continuing to work with expert Wayne Rawlins on the Miami-Dade County Anti-Violence Initiative and Group Violence Intervention Program, a partnership with Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) and Community-based Organizations, recently adding a hospital-based Violence Intervention Program allowing Clinical Social Workers to address the needs of gun violence victims, and providing a continuum of care once they are released from the hospital.
- Collaborated with the Miami-Dade Police Department and the Miami-Dade Emergency Operations Center to distribute over 300,000 test kits over the course of three days in December 2021 and January 2022.
- Launched Tablet Lending Program enabling Miami-Dade County residents the ability to check out tablets with cellular internet service from all 49 library locations to use at home, work, school – really anywhere. The tablets are checked out for 30-day periods and can be renewed. As of December 2021, 4,411 tablets were checked out. The program is so successful that we are adding 2,000 chromebooks and 500 hotspots in 2022 to expand the program.
- Launched its Drive-Up Wi-Fi community connectivity initiative to enable residents, especially those with no internet access at home, to have reliable and safe way to connect at 24 of our 49 library locations, with a total of 240 marked parking stalls available for our residents throughout the County. In 2022, we will expand the program to 35 locations and increase the number of Wi-Fi parking spaces from 240 to 829.
- Received “Autism-Friendly Designation” from UM-NSU CARD (Center for Autism and Related Disabilities), with a majority of our staff having participated in UM CARD’s Autism awareness training and the education and programming staff are participating in additional training to make MDPLS programs more accessible for neurodivergent children, youth, and adults. All 49 libraries also have sensory-friendly kits that can be checked out and spaces in several libraries are being designated sensory-friendly.
- Successfully worked with all participating State and Federal agencies involved to establish and close out the first phase (the first 30 days) of a project for the Surfside tragedy that minimized the fiscal impact to Miami-Dade County.
- Successfully administered several Federal grants that funded the closing of several budget shortfalls, pandemic relief and several social programs countywide.
- Conducted over 18,300 medicolegal death investigations as the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner (ME) Department and provided support to the County’s law enforcement and medical partners, as well as thousands of families. With the help of partnering agencies and anthropology assistance, DNA was gathered to identify and certify the death of all Surfside Disaster Victims.
- Utilized new technology to identify and measure drugs infiltrating our community. The ME Toxicology Laboratory is one of the foremost authorities on fentanyl analogues and provided detailed briefings to local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The ME worked in partnership with the Florida Department of Health, providing statistics on opioid-related deaths, and received grant funding to purchase supplies and materials for the ME’s Toxicology Laboratory.
- Maintained accreditation by the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) and the American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT). NAME and ABFT set high standards for the small, elite group of departments nationwide that attain their accreditation.
- Operation Summer Heat targeted areas experiencing increases in shooting incidents which affected both unincorporated and incorporated Miami-Dade County, removing 1,238 firearms, contributing to the decrease in shootings throughout the County. Specifically, the Northside District experienced a 53% decrease in shootings, Intracoastal District decreased by 59%, and South District decreased by 57% when compared to the same time period in 2020.
- Provided activities through Police Athletic League (PAL) summer camp to 40 participants (ages 8-13) from high-crime areas at Modello and Jefferson Reaves Sr. Parks, serving Commission Districts 3 and 9.
- Launched Turn Around Police Academy, a program designed for youths (ages 13-17) which supports positive behavior and encourages community service, at the South Dade Regional Library.
- Launched Project Green Light, a partnership to improve neighborhood safety and promote the revitalization and economic growth of local businesses, by identifying, detering, and solving crime through the installation of high-definition cameras that provide video streaming from participating businesses to the MDPD.
- Launched the Public Information Dashboard as part of our ongoing efforts to provide transparency, accountability, and strengthen community relations, containing data regarding Police-involved Shootings, Supervisor’s Report of Response to Resistance, and Unauthorized Force Complaints. Each section allows items to be filtered by District of Incident, Date of Incident, and Officer/Subject information, to include race and gender, which allows the public to narrow their specific area of inquiry. The data is based on three-year blocks of information and includes the MDPD case number for additional information, if requested by a member of the community.
- Partnered with universities and agencies to develop a K-12 Marine Science Conservation Curriculum that will transform marine science education in the county. It will be taught in park programs, public schools, and other settings, officially launching on Earth Day, April 22, 2022.
- ZooMiami opened the Conservation Action Center, an immersive, interactive exhibition experience inspiring guests to local and global conservation education and action. The Center received the Florida Recreation and Park Association Innovative Programming: Environmental Resiliency and Sustainability Award, and a NACo Achievement Award honoring innovative, effective county programs that strengthen services for residents.
- Partnered with USDA to grow and disseminate a new air potato beetle species in park preserves to help combat the invasive air potato vine
- Discovered a new spider species, the Pine Rockland Trapdoor Spider (Ummidia richmond).
- Our Neat Streets Miami planted 4,065 trees and gave away 3109 trees through Million Trees Miami
- Expanded Fit2Lead Program, an award-winning, evidence-based program for at-risk youth, to encompass 800 new paid internships that kept teenagers engaged and productive during non-school hours, providing them with social-emotional learning, job coaching, sports, college readiness and other the skills to succeed in life.
- Partnered with the Miami Dolphins to secure scholarships for 200 children to play flag football at Goulds and Gwen Cherry Parks over a 4-year period.
- Partnership with USTA Florida and First Serve of Miami implemented the Tennis Outreach pilot program, designed to introduce kids from underserved communities to the game of tennis.
- Expanded Park’s ability to increase the number of softball and baseball games played and introduce more boys and girls to the sports thanks to Miami Marlins’ contribution of $170K for the renovation and upgrades to all four baseball fields at Tropical Park.
- Delivered $46 million in award-winning capital programs, including new and improved park facilities, and expanded access to parks, playgrounds, fitness courts, golf courses, and marinas.
- Refurbished 489 buildings, resurfaced 400 courts, replaced 48 playground surfaces; repaired/replaced 46 roofs, 35 HVAC units.
- Built NACo Award winning Tree Island Park and Preserve, 6.26-acre neighborhood park including dog park, playground, two picnic shelters and fitness zone.
- Increased water access with acquisition of “Pirate Spa” parcel that expanded boater parking at Black Point Marina.
- Restored Deering Estate People’s Dock at Deering Estate, increasing access to the bay.
- Built seven nature-based playgrounds.
- Completed Live Like Bella Recreation Center.
- Renovated four new baseball fields at Tropical Park in partnership with Marlins.
- Completed new turf installation on five Kendall Soccer Park fields.
- Acquired a new 5-acre park site at 12821 SW 232nd Street.
- Acquired a 0.62-acre parcel, adjacent to North Shorecrest Park, a 117% expansion in park size, from 0.53 acres to 1.15 acres, allowing for additional park amenities and recreation opportunities.
- Distributed over $80 million in Emergency Rental Assistance helping keep close to 8,400 vulnerable families facing eviction and housing instability to stay in their homes.
- Reaching a 100 percent obligation rate for the Emergency Rental Assistance 1 (ERA 1) program prior to the statutory deadline.
- Engaged in a first of its kind in the nation partnership between a public housing authority and a public school system, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, to construct a combined middle school and affordable housing building for educators along with another 250 housing units.
- Opened the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list for the first time in thirteen years having successfully exhausted the 70,000 plus wait list and plan to open the list every twelve to eighteen months.
- Contributed over $18 Million in year 1 and up to $13.8 Million in year 2 of Community Development Block Grant funds to support the Peace and Prosperity Plan, with a focus on assisting neighborhoods most affected by gun violence while addressing social and economic disparities in our community.
- Released the County’s Climate Action Strategy, a multiple decade guide to helping the county reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
- Creation of the position of Interim Chief Heat Officer in collaboration with the Adrienne Arsht- Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center and The Miami Foundation.
- Implemented a pilot Adaptation Action Area for the lower extent of the Little River. Action plan for the AAA will include septic to sewer investments and other infrastructure to reduce current flooding issues for residents.
- Broke another cargo record with an OPEN channel and no ship congestion. It recorded 1,254,064 twenty-foot equivalent units, up 17.6%, the busiest year in cargo activity in the Port's history.
- Successfully restarted cruise passenger operations keeping our workers employed while healthy and safe.
- Won Bond Buyer’s Deal of the Year award for its $1.24 billion revenue refunding bonds, the largest deal in our county’s history and the largest since the start of the pandemic for the maritime sector.
- Continued to deliver all recycling and waste collection, waste disposal and mosquito control services without interruption throughout 2021 despite the ongoing challenges brought about by COVID.
- Awarded a nearly $1.9 million EPA grant towards the purchase of 25 new waste hauling vehicles that reduce diesel emissions under the EPA’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) program.
- Recognized with four prestigious national awards: three 2021 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) for the “Dedicated Illegal Dumping Collection Program,” the “Insecticide Resistance Monitoring Program” and the “Illegal Dumping Suppression Collaboration Program”; and a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for the 26th consecutive year.
- Much-anticipated Better Bus Network received a green light from the Board of County Commissioners to move forward. When implemented, the new network will improve and re-imagine the existing Metrobus network to better serve the community as a whole and attract new riders by increasing better access to frequent bus routes, providing faster bus service, and improving off-peak service.
- Along with the Better Bus Network, DTPW is working on the Bus Passenger Shelter Program. The program will ensure that the bus shelters located in Unincorporated Miami-Dade County and participating municipalities are well maintained, safe, clean, have an attractive appearance, and are well illuminated. Under this Program, 360 new bus passenger shelters and 200 bicycle pads will be installed.
- Began testing an all-electric Proterra ZX5 bus, the first out of a total of 75 buses to be delivered by U.S.-based electric vehicle company Proterra. Once all 75 electric buses are delivered, 10 percent of DTPW’s Metrobus fleet will consist of zero-emission vehicles. Proterra battery-electric buses feature zero tailpipe emissions, saving approximately 230,000 pounds of greenhouse gases annually when replacing a diesel bus.
- Started construction of Phase 2 of the Underline. This phase extends 2.14 miles from SW 13th Street to SW 19th Avenue and runs through the Vizcaya Metrorail Station.
- Broke ground on the South Dade TransitWay Corridor Rapid Transit Project, one of the six Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) Plan corridors. The project includes the construction of 14 new BRT stations with air-conditioned vestibule, real-time bus arrival information, off-board fare collection (like on Metrorail), free wi-fi, bicycle amenities, and CCTV cameras. Stations will be designed with center boarding platforms, eliminating the need to step up onto the vehicles, allowing for quicker boarding and easier access. The remaining existing 16 bus stops will also receive upgrades to both northbound and southbound shelters.
- Kicked off Connect 2 Protect, a program that diminishes risks to public health, public and private property, and the environment from rising groundwater caused by sea-level rise by implementing a septic-to-sewer project.
- Provided the County a cost savings of more than $300 million by switching to newer, less expensive technologies that meet all federal requirements to comply with Ocean Outfall Legislation conditions and optimize equipment budgets through cooperative purchasing.
- Received a Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) low-interest loan which allows the Department to expedite Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects while limiting future financial impact to our customers. The $424 million loan will fund nearly half of the $866 million treatment plant upgrades that will allow WASD to discontinue the use of ocean outfall pipes to dispose of treated wastewater. It will create 226 direct local jobs for the community and will save ratepayers $88 million for the life of the loan when compared to typical bond financing options.
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On Monday, Jan. 31 at 10 a.m., Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava delivered the 2022 State of the County address where she summarized the accomplishments achieved during her first year in office.
Mayor Daniella Levine Cava
Daniella Levine Cava was elected Miami-Dade County’s first-ever woman Mayor in November 2020. She enters the Mayor's office following a nearly 40-year career as a relentless advocate for South Florida families in public service and elected leadership.
As Miami-Dade County’s Mayor, she oversees a metropolitan government with more than 31,000 employees serving nearly 3 million residents, managing an annual budget of approximately $12 billion.
A social worker, lawyer, and community activist, she was first elected in 2014, and re-elected in August 2018, to serve as the Miami-Dade County Commissioner representing District 8.
