The Strive305 Small Business Tours are reshaping how local government connects with the entrepreneurial heartbeat of Miami-Dade County.
As part of Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s vision to build an economy that works for everyone, these tours take a hands-on, community-first approach to economic development. The concept is simple but powerful: meet small business owners where they are, listen to their challenges, and ensure they have direct access to resources and support.
Miami-Dade is one of the most dynamic small business ecosystems in the country. Over 80 percent of businesses in the county are classified as small businesses, and a significant portion are minority- and immigrant-owned. Many of these entrepreneurs operate in mom-and-pop shops, family-run services, or local storefronts that form the cultural and economic fabric of their communities.
However, despite the high rate of entrepreneurial activity, long-term business survival remains a challenge. Nearly one in two small businesses in the area fail to make it past the five-year mark, often due to limited access to capital, insufficient mentorship, and systemic barriers ranging from language access to regulatory complexity.
The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed these vulnerabilities. Thousands of businesses were disrupted, many permanently. The smallest and most vulnerable — particularly those without digital infrastructure or financial buffers — struggled to survive. In response, Miami-Dade has focused its post-pandemic recovery efforts not just on revitalizing the local economy, but on making it more equitable and resilient. That’s where the Strive305 initiative has stepped in with renewed energy.
The Strive305 Small Business Tours are a critical extension of that commitment. Rather than relying solely on formal reports or economic indicators, the tours create opportunities for the mayor and other local leaders to step into barber shops, bakeries, hardware stores, family-owned cafés, and emerging tech startups. The idea is not to talk at business owners, but to listen — to hear firsthand what’s working, what isn’t, and what kind of support is most urgently needed.
This direct engagement helps build trust in local government, especially among communities that have historically felt overlooked. For many entrepreneurs, it is their first face-to-face interaction with elected officials. It humanizes the process of governance and helps demystify how to access services and programs. It also provides immediate feedback for policy makers, highlighting barriers that may not appear in data sets but are obvious on the ground — from confusing permitting processes to language gaps in outreach materials.
The tours are strategically designed to reach every corner of Miami-Dade County — from Liberty City to Little Havana, Homestead to Hialeah, and everywhere in between. Each neighborhood brings its own unique mix of industries, cultural strengths, and challenges.
For example, while some business owners may be seeking access to digital marketing tools, others are navigating issues related to zoning or workforce shortages. By seeing these differences firsthand, county leadership can better tailor support to the local context rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions.
The tours also connect business owners with the wider range of supports Strive305 offers, including virtual business incubators, technical assistance bootcamps, funding opportunities, and mentorship networks. During the past year alone, Strive305 has helped thousands of small businesses through training programs and digital tools — many of which are offered in English, Spanish and Creole to ensure accessibility. These tours serve as an entry point to those resources, making sure no one gets left behind simply because they didn’t know help was available.
Ultimately, the Strive305 Small Business Tours are about more than visibility. They are a demonstration of commitment and a tool for accountability. By walking into small businesses and asking tough questions, Mayor Levine Cava and her team are making sure public resources are informed by real-world needs. This proactive, human-centered approach is helping build not just stronger businesses, but stronger communities.
As Miami-Dade continues to grow, these tours will remain a vital part of building an inclusive economy — one where every entrepreneur, regardless of background or ZIP code, has a fair shot at success.
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