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Register here to join us for our 13th climate tech meetup on October 2nd featuring an energy savings challenge to help businesses through sustainability initiatives.
You can watch our latest Academic Leaders Council event focused on AI’s impact on education and workforce development here.
It may not come as a surprise that South Florida was named the nation’s first climate tech hub by the federal government. We only have to see the recent flooding in our neighborhoods exacerbated by king tides to serve as a reminder that the climate crisis is our biggest challenge at the moment.
It is also proving to be our biggest economic opportunity.
To achieve that, though, we need our business sector involved from the start. That is why we are partnering with The Office of Resilience of Miami-Dade County for our 13th climate tech meetup happening on October 2nd (Energy Efficiency Day) at The Miami-Dade Beacon Council, featuring business leaders that are involved in the Building Efficiency 305 Challenge. REGISTER HERE.
At the meetup, there will be guest speakers and a panel discussion followed by breakout groups for companies to learn how to start or further advance their sustainability journey by exploring existing County programs and sustainability incentives. Mayor Daniella Levine Cava will speak at the event as well as Beacon CEO Rodrick Miller.
EXPLORING FURTHER COLLABORATION
It was almost a year ago when the federal government named 31 regional centers as tech hubs primed for technology innovation and job creation. Our region was named as the only one focused on climate and was recently granted $19.5 million to focus on advancing community-level climate outcomes.
This initiative is a major win for the region and will catapult our innovation and growth in the climate sector. The federal grant for the South Florida ClimateReady Tech Hub, led by the Miami-Dade County Office of Innovation and Economic Development, will help with “dismantling silos within the climate and capital ecosystem to foster collaboration.”
That collaboration is already happening in the community with the County’s Building 305 Challenge.
THE BE305 CHALLENGE
Since buildings produce almost half of the County’s yearly greenhouse gas emissions, slashing that number is key to meeting its goal of reducing its emissions. To get there, the County began the BE305 challenge in April 2021 to help owners of residential, commercial, and institutional buildings save energy – and money – with energy and water use assessments. The companies also receive strategies to reduce consumption and save on utility bills. Learn more in our previous On Site video feature, which you can watch here.
ALC EVENT
Last week, we held our fifth Academic Leaders Council event focused on AI in education and workforce development. The discussion centered on training, policy, and the infrastructure landscape surrounding AI.
Guest speaker and renowned AI expert Dr. Jay Liebowitz explained how AI is helping to mostly create new jobs, such as the humans that will help maintain the robots replacing some work, for example. “I think the people who are at risk are those who don't use these AI tools that might be accessible and available to them,” he added. “So you're starting to even see from the technology perspective, how emotional intelligence is being factored into these AI systems.”
You can watch the entire ALC event on our YouTube page.
The discussion was held at The Idea Center at Miami Dade College, which sponsored the event. The college was the first in Florida to implement a bachelor’s degree in AI. President Madeline Pumariega, chair of the Academic Leaders Council, acknowledged the shifts in how higher education institutions govern, invest, and focus on AI.
As Mayor Daniella Levine Cava put it: “Innovation is in Miami-Dade County’s DNA.”
PITCH US
If you have a company or entrepreneur to suggest or an idea to share that relates to building Miami’s future, email us at next@opportunity.miami. We invite you to subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on our social media channels. If you were forwarded this newsletter, you can subscribe by clicking here. And if you are new to Opportunity Miami, you can learn about our mission and work here.
Hope to hear from you.
– Suzette
