Thursday, March 31, 2016

Multi-Chamber of Commerce Event, Wednesday, April 6th





Multi-Chamber of Commerce



 Business Card Exchange

Wednesday, April 6th 2016

6:30 pm to 8:30 pm




The Chambers of Biscayne Garden,Bolivia, Camacol,Coconut Grove, Colombia, Chile, Downtown Miami & Brickell, Ecuador, Global, Haití, Honduras, Junior Chamber International, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru,Poland , along with Brickell Rotary Club of Miami Brickell, invite you to celebrate the Monthly Multichamber of Commerce networking event. Members $10 in advance Non-members $15 in advance to purchase tickets , please click on link below

This is an advance ticket event, 
Tickets must be purchased prior to the event , 
NO tickets will be sold at the door.

Date: Wednesday, April 6th 2016
Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Location: Garzon Restaurant
Address: 801 S Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33130
Valet Parking: $10 Valet Parking or street parking
Cost: Members $10,Non Members $15 in advance
Cost at the Door: NO tickets will be sold at the door.
Dress Code: Business Attire

rsvp@fabulousmiami.com by Wednesday, April 6th 2016



Members





Non-Members



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Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Entrepreneurship Training Pilot Program Launches to Aid Florida Veterans





Media Release    
  
Contacts:
Gerry Goldstein
Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program
(850) 898-3489

Dianne Gross
Florida SBDC Network
(850) 898-3486
  
March 28, 2016
For Immediate Release

Entrepreneurship Training Pilot Program 
Launches to Aid Florida Veterans  

Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program Kicks Off First of Three Phases

FSBDCN State Office (Pensacola, Fla.) - The Florida SBDC Network, in partnership with Veterans Florida, welcomed the first class of participants in the new Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program, a statewide initiative offering qualified veterans the opportunity to receive an accelerated entrepreneurship education at no cost. The pilot program, which began the first of three phases March 15, received over 600 applications and accepted 400 participants.

Delivered through five participating institutions of higher education, the Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program is an educational training program in entrepreneurship offered to military veterans that meet the following requirements: have been honorably discharged, are National Guardsmen or Reservists, or are active duty within one year of separation; reside in Florida, and demonstrate a strong interest in entrepreneurship.

The first phase of the program, an accelerated online training, seeks to equip participating veterans with the essential information to build their venture on a strong business foundation. The course entails developing business concepts, exploring feasibility, researching target customers, and gaining an understanding of Lean Startup and the Canvas Business Model, programs utilized in the phase two in-class training. Over a period of eight weeks, participants will receive exercises, readings, videos, and guidance from instructors from one of five institutions of higher education - the University of West Florida (UWF), University of North Florida (UNF), Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), Florida Atlantic University (FAU), and Hillsborough Community College (HCC).  

Due to funding support provided by the State of Florida, the Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program is offered to participating veterans at no cost. In December, Veterans Florida, a non-profit created by the Florida Legislature to attract and retain veterans, selected UWF, through its Florida SBDC Network and Military Veterans Resource Center, to administer the program.

"Military veterans are 45 percent more likely to start a business than those with no prior active-duty experience," said Bobby Carbonell, Executive Director of Veterans Florida. "The support and training the program provides is designed to serve as a catalyst for veterans to kick-start the launch of their business concepts."

Michael Myhre, CEO and Network State Director of the Florida SBDC Network, described the positive response the program has received.

"Demand for the program exceeded resources, capacity, and our expectations," said Myhre. "Our initial goal was to recruit 400 qualified veteran applicants within six weeks - a feat we achieved within a two week period. Prior to suspending our statewide marketing efforts and closing applications earlier than planned, we received over 600 applications - demonstrating the significant demand and need for this type of program in the state."

Following the conclusion of phase one in May, participating veterans will attend six days of in-class training held over a period of three consecutive weekends at their assigned institution of higher education. Following successful completion, participants will receive up to six-months of ongoing mentorship from Florida SBDC business consultants to drive success.

The objective of the Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program is to assist all participants realize their entrepreneurial potential and develop practical skills - both technical and behavioral - to achieve their entrepreneurial aspirations.

For more information, please visit www.FloridaVetBiz.org.
  
About the Florida SBDC Network: 

The Florida SBDC Network, the state's principal provider of business assistance, is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2016. Since its inception, the Florida SBDC Network has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development to provide emerging and established business owners with management and technical assistance, enabling overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for the state. In 2014, the initiatives of the Florida SBDC Network resulted in 42,664 jobs created, retained and saved; $5.8 billion in sales growth; $140.2 million in capital accessed; $210.2 million in government contract awards; and 952 new businesses started. A statewide network of over 40 centers, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Defense Logistics Agency, State of Florida and other private and public partners, with the University of West Florida serving as the network's designated lead host institution. The Florida SBDC Network is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs. For more information, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.

About Veterans Florida: 

Veterans Florida was established by the Florida Legislature in 2014 as part of the Florida GI Bill to serve as an innovative corporation to encourage recently retired or separated military personnel to make Florida their permanent residence. The 501c(3) corporation will reinforce Florida's standing as the most veteran-friendly state in the nation by helping veterans to bring or develop the skills needed by Florida businesses to the state. The board of directors is comprised of nine individuals from across the state. For more information, visit www.veteransflorida.org.

###

designation-navy

FSBDCN State Office l UWF Center for Research and Economic Opportunity
Suntrust Tower, Suite 301, 220 West Garden Street l Pensacola, FL 32502
850.898.3479 l www.FloridaSBDC.org

The U.S. Population Is Swelling in Almost Every State (BW)

Does the subway/freeway/Shake Shack line feel a little more crowded than it did a year ago? It might not be all in your head: The population of the United States grew 0.79 percent in the past year, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

North Dakota saw the biggest one-year jump in population, growing 2.28 percent. Only seven states saw their populations dip in the past year, with West Virginia leading the fall with a 0.25 percent overall drop. Shale-rich North Dakota up and coal-filled West Virginia down? Guess that shouldn't have surprised anyone following the energy sector. Keep in mind though this data only goes through July 1, 2015, and oil-rich states haven't had the best run in the quarters since.

Note: 1-yr data through July 1, 2015

Note: 1-yr data through July 1, 2015

Trump supporters, hold your ears: Some of the rise in the U.S. population last year was due to international migration. According to Census bureau data, net international migration in the U.S. as a percentage of total 2014 population was 0.36 percent in the 12 months ended July 1, 2015, with Hawaii more than double that rate at 0.71 percent. A total of seven states — New York, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland and Hawaii — saw net international migration of more than 0.5 percent of their total populations. West Virginia and Montana saw the smallest inflow of new international residents, each with just 0.07 percent. No states ended the one-year period with net outflow abroad.

Note: Census includes in its calculations the migration of the foreign born, migration between the U.S. and Puerto Rico, U.S. citizens moving back to the U.S. from abroad and the net movement of the Armed Forces between the U.S. and overseas.
Note: Census includes in its calculations the migration of the foreign born, migration between the U.S. and Puerto Rico, U.S. citizens moving back to the U.S. from abroad and the net movement of the Armed Forces between the U.S. and overseas.

The remainder of the change in state populations can be attributed to the inevitables in life: births, deaths and, well, moving across state lines. North Dakota saw the biggest one-year rise in domestic migration at 1.35 percent of its 2014 population, with Florida and Colorado not far behind. The majority of states, however, lost residents to domestic migration, with Alaska seeing the biggest decline. Don't worry Alaskans (or do worry, really): if global warming continues, Anchorage will be a top destination yet.

Note: Net domestic migration (within the U.S.) is measured by information on addresses through a combination of government sources such as the Internal Revenue Service returns and medicare enrollment, among others.
Note: Net domestic migration (within the U.S.) is measured by information on addresses through a combination of government sources such as the Internal Revenue Service returns and medicare enrollment, among others.


Monday, March 28, 2016

What's Happening this Week in Miami-Dade




HOSPITALITY JOBS, JOBS, JOBS...
RECORD ACCOMMODATIONS AND FOOD SERVICE JOBS IN GREATER MIAMI AND THE BEACHES REPORTED FOR FEBRUARY 2016 MARKING 6 YEARS AND 2 MONTHS OF CONSECUTIVE JOB INCREASES
Greater Miami's Accommodations and Food Service jobs increased + 0.3 percent in February 2016 compared to the same period in 2015. This marks 6 years and 2 months
of consecutive increased employment in Greater Miami's Accommodations and Food Service Industry. 
Record Greater Miami Accommodations and Food Service Jobs
February 2016
February 2015
% Change
119,900 
119,600 
+0.3% 





 HEADLINES THIS WEEK
March is Shop Miami Month!
Experience it all. Shop to your heart’s content and take advantage of shopping experiences so diverse and unique that they could only take place in Greater Miami and the Beaches.

April is Miami Sports & Wellness Month!
The GMCVB and Citibank®, the Official Bank Sponsor of Miami Sports & Wellness Month, want you enjoy special discounts to great recreational activities including golf, water sports, running and more this April. Come out and join GMCVB President & CEO William D. Talbert, III, CDME and the GMCVB Team for the Miami Mascot Madness Kickoff Race at 10 a.m. on March 31 at Museum Park.


9th Annual Miami International Agriculture, Horse & Cattle Show Returns April 15-17, 2016
Cattle breeders from North America, South America and throughout the world will meet during the 9th Annual Miami International Agriculture, Horse & Cattle Show, April 15-17, 2016 at the Ronald Reagan Equestrian Center at Miami-Dade County's Tropical Park.


GMCVB 25th Annual H.O.T. Challenge Golf Tournament to be held Thursday, May 13, 2016 at the Miami Beach Golf Club
The GMCVB organizes the Hospitality Open Golf Tournament (H.O.T.) to fund scholarships for men and women of African heritage committed to working in the local visitor industry upon their graduation, as well as the GMCVB’s multicultural tourism programs. Click here for more information and a full list of sponsors.


First Available Visa Interview Date in São Paulo, Brazil is March 31, 2016

The average wait time in São Paulo, Brazil for a Visa interview appointment in order to visit the USA is currently 3 days. Click through to find out the wait time for other top Brazilian cities.


WWE Entertainment Ranks #12, #13 and #17 in Nielsen's Cable Top 25 Ratings for the Week Ending March 20, 2016

WWE's WrestleMania Week drew record-breaking crowds to Miami and Beaches in April 2012. WrestleMania Week previously drew record-breaking crowds to Miami and Beaches.
GMCVB President & CEO and Team to Attend 11th Annual Breakfast with Arts & Hospitality on March 31, 2016

On March 31, 2016, GMCVB President & CEO William D. Talbert, III, CDME and GMCVB Associate Vice President of Cultural Tourism/LGBT George Neary will attend the 11th Annual Breakfast with Arts & Hospitality at the InterContinental Miami.

Who are the Region’s Most Visionary Citizens? Share Your Nominations with The Miami Herald by March 30, 2016
The Miami Herald has launched an important new initiative to recognize those who are working to make our community a better place to work and live. The Visionary Awards span multiple genres important to our local economy, including culture, art, business, real estate development, philanthropy, civic engagement and healthcare. Details about the nomination process can be found here. The deadline is March 30.


2016-2017 VISIT FLORIDA Committee Application Period Now Open
As an industry-driven organization, VISIT FLORIDA’s greatest strength is the input and guidance it receives from the members of the Florida tourism industry. To learn more about the new 2016-2017 committee platform and to apply to serve, please click here. Deadline is April 1, 2016.


2016 Miami Open presented by Itaú Continues Through April 3, 2016
The 2016 Miami Open presented by Itaú continues through April 3, 2016 at Miami-Dade County’s Crandon Park Tennis Center on Key Biscayne. Catch No.1 ranked and 2015 defending champions Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams in action as they look to defend their coveted trophies on the tournament’s signature purple courts.


Save The Date! Great Park Summit – The Power of Parks 2016 Set for April 15, 2016
The Great Parks Summit – The Power of Parks 2016 is set for April 15, 2016. Join great people – business, civic and change leaders who believe that the quality of life in any community begins with its commitment to a public realm made up of great parks, cultural and natural areas.






 For more information about Miami Dade Events, Click here




Friday, March 25, 2016

Why Voters Will Stay Angry (BW)

From the supporters of Donald Trump to the street protesters of southern Europe, voters around the world are mad as hell. Inequality, immigration, and the establishment's perceived indifference are firing up electorates in a way that's rarely been seen before. As these charts show, the forces shaping the disruption of global politics have been building for years and aren't about to diminish.

The world's middle classes are getting poorer

The share of wealth owned by the middle class declined in every part of the world on a relative basis 1


U.S. workers' share of income has dropped to near the lowest since World War II

And in the past century, the rich have gotten markedly richer 


Incomes in Europe's southern crisis countries have fallen since 2009, while rising elsewhere

Things are even worse for young people

In Spain and Greece, unemployment among those under 25 is still close to 40 percent despite a slight improvement in recent years
U.S. student debt is soaring, while median pay for recent college graduates has barely budged


Parents in major western countries are increasingly worried about their children's prospects
Immigration and war are compounding the anxiety

European countries are seeing unprecedented flows of refugees seeking asylum and have little power to stop them within the passport-free zone
As Syria's implosion sends millions of refugees toward the EU, more voters choose immigration as a top concern 
Americans worry about immigration more than they did 14 years ago 

All this is causing politics to fragment
Last year, only 19% of Americans trusted their government "just about always" or "most of the time" - down from 54% after the 9/11 attacks 

As measured by historical voting in the U.S. House of Representatives, the two U.S. political parties have moved away from the center in the past 40 years 
It's the same picture in Europe as distrust of government has surged, to a high of 84% in Spain 
That's all helping insurgent parties storm the region's national parliaments
Political newcomers have gained far greater share in recent elections, and established parties in some cases have withered away 

Asia is bucking the trend. So far

Asia has largely been exempt from the West's discontent, in part because incomes have risen so rapidly 

But unrest can't be ruled out, especially as China's growth miracle recedes. Already workers' strikes are becoming more and more widespread

Upcoming elections with potential to cause more chaos:

U.S., November 2016
Democrat Hillary Clinton leads Republican Donald Trump in the latest average of polls on a head-to-head comparison* of the parties' front-runners. Yet that matchup is far from assured, as Republican power brokers are exploring ways to keep Trump from claiming the nomination at the party's convention in July and pushing his closest rival, Senator Ted Cruz, as the preferred alternative in the remaining state nominating contests.

* RealClearPolitics national average of head-to-head polling between 2/11-3/6 shows Hillary Clinton with a 6.3 percentage point edge over Trump.

Brexit, June 23, 2016 Polls*: 

36% stay
36% leave
28% don't know

France, May 2017 First-round voting preference:

27% National Front's Marine Le Pen
22% President Francois Hollande
21% Former president Nicolas Sarkozy
* Ifop Dec. 2015 poll

Germany, around summer 2017

While national polls show Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union far ahead of the second-biggest party, the Social Democrats, the insurgent Alternative for Germany could cause trouble. Support for the anti-immigrant party surged in recent regional elections.












Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Florida Global University y CAMACOL impulsan Programa de Auspicio de 100 becas de estudios

Florida Global University y CAMACOL impulsan Programa de Auspicio de 100 becas de estudios universitarios para la Comunidad Hispana 
en Estados Unidos.

Profesionales latinoamericanos podrán revalidar sus estudios en Estados Unidos apoyados por la reciente alianza entre FGU y CAMACOL.


Entendiendo la situación profesional desfavorable de los latinos en Estados Unidos, y basados en la trayectoria de CAMACOL de 50 años de impulso de los valores empresariales de los hispanos, Florida Global University ha tomado la iniciativa de brindar su oferta académica de Bachelors y Master, 100% en línea y  en español, estableciendo una estrecha alianza entre ambas Organizaciones.

El Programa de 100 Becas de estudios en la Florida Global University - valorado en $1,200,000.00 - está estructurado para que las empresas que hacen vida en el Sur de la Florida, puedan ofrecer a su personal y las comunidades con menor acceso a la educación universitaria, estudios superiores de calidad y con titulación americana,  pagando solo el 20% del valor de la matrícula, lo que genera mayores niveles de acceso al empleo y mejoras salariales sustanciales en nuestra comunidad.

En palabras de José Mattos, Director Ejecutivo de CAMACOL, “Nos sentimos honrados de participar en la iniciativa de Florida Global University de la creación y entrega de becas a 100 estudiantes del Sur de la Florida y de  América Latina; la razón de unirnos a esta iniciativa es por el enfoque específico de ayudar al profesional que está emigrando a los Estados Unidos y se encuentra en base de completar su carrera o revalidar sus títulos”

Bajo este mismo esquema de estudio los beneficiarios de las becas, tendrán acceso al mejoramiento de sus conocimientos de inglés, bajo el curso incluido “FGU-English” de 4 Niveles, así como los cursos de “Emprendimiento y Liderazgo Innovador” de UDI Business Institute, todo ello como parte de los beneficios de ser estudiante del Programa FGU-CAMACOL.

La iniciativa tendrá la entrega de las becas para los primeros estudiantes y reconocimento a las empresas auspiciantes, en el importante escenario del 37th Congreso Hemisférico de Cámaras de Comercio Latinas organizado por Camacol, a realizarse del 6 al 9 de junio de 2016, en la instalaciones del Biltmore Hotel de Coral Gables en la Ciudad de Miami. Para mayor información www.fgu-edu.com/camacol o en www.camacol.org


Tuesday, March 22, 2016

CAMACOL - New Member Announcement - Aretto LLC

One More Big Reason You Can't Buy a Home

Lack of inventory is especially hurting would-be buyers of starter homes, Trulia data show

Aerials Of New York And New Jersey Infrastructure As Stocks Rally With Gold, Dollar Falls On Fed Rate View
Eight years after the crash, the housing market still awaits the return of the first-time home buyer. Beyond the struggle to build credit to meet stricter standards, and the difficulty saving for a down payment amid skyrocketing rents and surging student loan burdens, there lies an even simpler explanation: fewer choices.

It's the lack of inventory that's haunting Ralph McLaughlin, chief economist at real estate website Trulia, as he looks at the year ahead in housing. Inventory is strongly correlated with affordability across all price segments, which Trulia breaks up into "starter," "trade-up" and "premium" homes.

The stark numbers: Overall housing stock is down 39 percent from four years ago, and it's even worse for starter homes, according to the data in the debut of a quarterly inventory report released Monday. Properties valued in the bottom third of all listings have seen a 44 percent drop over the same period.


While scant supply is good news for sellers yearning for bidding wars, the inventory outlook is bleak for the industry as a whole and especially for buyers, McLaughlin said.

"Industry-wide, it's certainly going to be a very pertinent problem, both for buyers of real estate but also the real-estate industry itself — particularly agents and lenders," he said. "If there are a lot fewer homes on the market than there have been in the past, there's likely to be fewer home sales and fewer loan originations."

Why the slimmest pickings for the two cheaper categories? McLaughlin says three factors are to blame: First, investors are still clinging to a large share of homes that were foreclosed during the downturn. Also, a large number of homeowners still "underwater" — likely to sell at a loss as prices are still below their pre-recession peak — means that fewer of the cheapest properties are being listed.

Lastly, a widening spread between the costs for the most-expensive homes and those in the middle price range has caused a shortage for the latter, since owners of trade-up homes are less likely to put their properties on the market if the cost of moving into the highest category is climbing, McLaughlin said.

The limited options are crimping affordability. Buyers of starter homes now have to pony up 38 percent of their income toward a purchase, compared with 32 percent in 2012.

Affordability of starter homes has fallen the most in California over the past four years, the Trulia data show. The West and South saw the biggest declines in stock of these properties.


Even amid these gloomy prospects, McLaughlin sees little need to worry that the next housing downturn will look like the last crash. Tighter lending standards have removed one of the most significant causes of the last real-estate downturn, so the next cycle probably will feature "either a plateau or a soft landing of the housing market rather than a complete collapse," he said.

Inventories for the three price groups were calculated among the 100 largest U.S. metro areas over the period from January 1, 2012 to March 1, 2016. Price categories are determined based on home-value estimates of the entire housing stock, rather than listing price, in order to control for swings in the mix of homes on the market.