News
Jan (1) | Feb (2) | Mar (2) | Apr (2) | May (9) | Jun (3) | Jul | Aug (2) | Sep (3) | Oct (2) | Nov (3) | Dec (7) |
January
SoFla’s affordable housing crisis: How can developers spur construction?
Forum brings together top industry pros, advocates to find answers.
February
South Florida faces long odds for Amazon’s HQ2, FIU researchers say
"Researchers at Florida International University crunched the numbers on South Florida’s bid for Amazon’s second headquarters. The conclusion: South Florida compares unfavorably to the other 19 finalists."
Miami is a long shot to land Amazon HQ2, FIU analysis shows
"South Florida ranks low among the 20 finalists still in the running to snare Amazon.com's second headquarters, according to a new analysis by economics researchers at Florida International University."
March
Teacher's can't afford Miami rents. The county has a plan: let them live at school
“When you look at teacher salaries, it’s just impossible for them to get into the housing market,” said Ned Murray, associate director of Florida International University’s Metropolitan Center, which studies the gap between income and housing in Miami. Using school property to create housing for the school system’s workforce “is a good idea, because land is such a difficult piece of the puzzle.”
South Florida population growth slowed in 2017 as domestic residents left area
International migration slowed in South Florida for the first time this decade.
April
South Florida Mortgage Applications Denied at Higher Rate than Most of US
"Homebuyers in South Florida get turned down for mortgages at a higher rate than most other metropolitan areas in the U.S., a new study shows."
Counties, cities failing to deliver affordable housing help
"Spending more than 30 percent of household income on rents or mortgages is considered too much. By that standard, Broward County’s median home price of about $340,000 in December was unaffordable to 80 percent of Broward’s households, according to Florida International University’s Metropolitan Center."
May
En el downtown de Miami viven más familias con hijos que nunca
"Mucha gente que trabaja en el downtown se ha visto obligada a mudarse a Kendall y Homestead", dijo el Dr. Ned Murray, director adjunto del Centro Metropolitano de la Universidad Internacional de la Florida.
Hurricane Season in The Keys, Startups in South Florida and Narco Tours
Maria Ilcheva is a senior researcher at the Metropolitan Center at Florida International University. According to a recent report from the center, “A growing number of Miami-Dade residents are experiencing declining economic opportunity, mobility, and equity.”
NEW: How much could Wellington get in property taxes this year?
"FIU team said Wellington’s unique, small business-based economy helps it stand out. “You’ve already got this story to tell to businesses, to employers and to prospective new residents,” said Kevin Greiner, research fellow with FIU’s Metropolitan Center. “… ‘We’ve got a quality of life that the brand new construction can’t compete with.’”
¿Por qué los salarios en Miami son bajos? El paraíso de los emprendedores tiene sus riesgos
"Es la ciudad donde más personas trabajan independientemente. ¿Qué sale de sumar esas dos cosas? Salarios bajos y una clase media que se reduce, según un nuevo estudio de la Universidad Internacional de la Florida (FIU) sobre la economía de Miami-Dade."
Study finds small businesses employ most workers in Miami-Dade County
"Of six comparison counties studied, Miami-Dade had the highest percentage of microbusinesses, representing 81.3 percent of all businesses in the county."
Why are Miami wages so low? 'No. 1 startup city' comes with a downside BY ROB WILE rwile@miamiheral
"The No. 1 city for startups. The city with the most people working for themselves. What does it add up to? Low wages and a shrinking middle class, according to a new Florida International University study on the Miami-Dade County economy. Businesses five years or younger now account for 18 percent of total employment in the county, according to the school's Metropolitan Center."
Wellington faces challenge of older home stock as new communities grow
"It’s that family-friendly aspect combined with a unique, thriving local economy that keeps Wellington in the game when it comes to attracting residents, a team of Florida International University researchers told the village council and staff at a May 4 workshop."
Miami-Dade Incomes are now Below where they were in 1970
"A new calculation shows that the median household income in Miami-Dade has actually decreased over the past five decades—to $45,900 in 2016 from $49,800 in 1970. That's according to Alan Berube, senior fellow and deputy director at the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program. Berube is keynote speaker at today's Annual Metro Forum: State of the South Florida Economy presentation at the FIU Metropolitan Center."
More people now work for themselves in Miami than anywhere else, study says
"According to Kevin Greiner, senior fellow at the Florida International University Metropolitan Center, this workforce dominates here because there are fewer large corporations in Miami than in other metros. South Florida also tends to draw highly skilled immigrants who create their own businesses."
June
South Florida home prices and rents are already expensive. And they could soon get worse.
An analysis of housing and census data by the FIU Metropolitan Center found that 85 percent of Miami-Dade residents earning the median household income of $44,000 can't afford to buy a home.
https://finance-commerce.com/2018/06/more-families-living-in-downtown-miami/
“A lot of people who work in downtown have been forced to move out into Kendall and Homestead,” said Dr. Ned Murray, associate director of the Metropolitan Center at Florida International University. “Miami-Dade is the proverbial tale of two cities. The growth of downtown has no effect on the lack of public transit, the high cost of transportation and the housing index for people in Kendall and Doral and Homestead. There’s no progress there."
August
Planning Collaboration Targets Affordable Housing Crisis
The Miami City Commission recently approved a resolution establishing collaboration between the city and Florida International University’s Metropolitan Center to work on the preparation of the city’s Affordable Housing Master Plan. The move allows the FIU center to collaborate with the city’s Department of Community and Economic Development on the housing plan.
How can we better transportation? County agency asks residents
Florida International University’s Metropolitan Center launched a survey to Palm Beach County residents asking where they want their money to go to improve transportation.
September
Miami and FIU move forward on Affordable Housing Master Plan
This fall, the City of Miami and the Florida International University Metropolitan Center will begin work on the much anticipated Affordable Housing Master Plan for the City, following an agreement signed earlier this year.
Massive ‘Innovation District’ could change Little Haiti forever. But what would that mean?
Dr. Ned Murray, associate director of the Metropolitan Center at Florida International University, said Little Haiti has a poverty rate of 46 percent (higher than the City of Miami’s 30 percent) and an unemployment rate of 23 percent. An estimated 63 percent of renters in the neighborhood are cost-burdened, meaning they spend 30 percent or more of their income on housing. Magic City has the potential to push rents even higher, forcing working-class residents to who-knows-where.
Real estate-reveal event draws insiders looking for insights
Ned Murray, associate director of the Florida International University Metropolitan center, discussed real-estate insights on a panel hosted by the Miami Herald.
October
What professional development courses are you interested in taking?
We want to hear from you! Professional development courses are a way to improve your skills in your field. In the past, our training institute has offered courses like: Grant Writing, Intro/Intermediate ArcView GIS, Cultural Diversity, Essentials for Leadership, Public Speaking and Presentation Skills, and Retirement Planning. Let us know what courses you'd like to take by filling out our survey.
November
Home for the Holidays: Thanksgiving Infographic
In our latest infographic, we explore Thanksgiving throughout time. We also show facts and figures for this year's celebration.
The International Visitor Leadership Program
The International Visitor Leadership Program led by the U.S. Department of State recently held a workshop at FIU Metropolitan Center on November 1, 2018. The group was comprised of representatives from 19 African countries who attended a "Transparency and Ethics in Government" workshop led by Mayor Shirley Gibson. The attendees presented Mayor Gibson with a special recognition.
Major League Soccer Infographic
With Inter Miami CF coming to town, it is time to brush up on your soccer knowledge! View our latest infographic with MLS stats and the list of proposed plans Inter Miami CF intends to bring to our community.
December
The Lack of Affordable Housing Has an Impact on a Family’s Health – A Negative One
This is the time of year to reflect on our blessings and think about the struggles of those who are less fortunate. As housing costs in Miami-Dade continue to skyrocket, too many around us are unable to find quality, affordable housing. It’s a challenge that exposes them to health hazards and limits their ability to meet other basic needs, including access to healthcare.
The ‘Year of the Woman’ but still so unequal
County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava, the Miami-Dade Commission for Women, the Miami-Dade Commission Auditor and FIU’s Metropolitan Center announced the release of the second annual report on the status of women and girls in Miami-Dade County on Dec. 18. The report findings shed a light on areas where women and girls are succeeding and struggling, including in education, health and safety, and economics.
Report: Women in Miami-Dade 2018
Our latest update to the "Women in Miami-Dade" report presents evidence that economic conditions for women improved modestly since the publication of the first report released in 2016. However, women’s earnings continue to lag behind men’s earnings, among many other findings. For more information, see our full report here.
Holiday Infographic Part 2
The winter holiday average spending per person saw a 12.8% increase between 2011 and 2017. Between Thanksgiving Day and Cyber Monday, more than 165 million Americans shopped in-stores or online. To see the national spending numbers and a snapshot of New Year's Day traditions, check out part 2 of our holiday season infographic.
Holidays Infographic Part 1
Do you know some of South Florida's most popular holiday traditions? Check out part 1 of our holiday season infographic!
What would Miami build with $58 million the city wants to borrow? Here’s the list
The city’s examination includes a citywide master plan under development by Florida International University’s Metropolitan Center and a community outreach initiative led by the Center for Community Investment meant to bring residents, banks, developers and other interested parties together to recommend realistic strategies for how to create more affordable units.
Miami wants community input on citywide plan to create more affordable housing
The City of Miami approved an agreement to work with The Metropolitan Center to address its affordable housing concerns. The City is looking for community input as this plan is developed.