HomeMy WebLinkAboutAttachment ACITY V OF MIAMI, FI,ORIDA
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO: Daniel J. Alfonso, City Manager DATE: January 30, 2017
FROM: Milton Vickers, Senior Advisor
to the City Manager on behalf
of Commissioner Hardemon
SUBJECT: $50,000.00 from District 4 for
CAMACOL - Local Business Development &
Assistance Program
BACKGROUND
The City of Miami ("City") created the Anti -Poverty Initiative to address poverty and focus on providing
support to its residents.
CAMACOL (the organization) is the largest and one of the oldest Hispanic business organizations in the
State of Florida and one of the most influential minority business groups in the United States. For more
than five decades, CAMACOL's mission has been to foster the entrepreneurial spirit of Florida's
Hispanic and minority communities, and as such, to conduct programs that strengthen local business
activity, promote economic development, facilitate international commerce, and serve the civic needs of
the community and state. The organization in partnership with Commissioner Suarez understand that
small businesses located in District 4 often lack the ability to meet their financial obligations. The Local
Business Development & Assistance Program is designed to provide relief to those businesses, which
have suffered an economic hardship, by way of providing them with a grant to cover expenses such as:
lease payments, utilities, permitting and licensing expenses, and other business expenses as approved by
the program administrator.
As they are familiar with the needs of the community and requirements imposed by the City, it would be
advantageous to the City to expedite the allocation and waive procurement requirements at this time.
Providing these funds to the organization will allow more youth to obtain these services immediately, with
no added time for the procurement process, which could take over 30-40 days.
RECOMMENDATION
In light of the above stated, approval of a waiver of the formal requirements of competitive sealed bidding
methods as not being practicable or advantageous to the City as set forth in the City Code of Ordinances, as
amended, specifically Section 18-85 (A), and the affirmation of these written findings and the forwarding of
the same to the City Commission for ratification by a four -fifths vote is respectfully requested.
/DISAPPROVAL:
Daniel J. Alfonso, ' Man. _er