Miami-Dade Chamber Secures $850,000 for Liberty City Business Center

The Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce has secured $850,000 in federal funding to build a new small business incubator in Liberty City. The money comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and will support the Liberty Square Launchpad project.

U.S. Rep. Frederica S. Wilson, D-Miami Gardens, identified the grant opportunity within the Community Project Funding program. Chamber President and CEO Gordon Eric Knowles stated that the funding allows the organization to unite government, business, and education partners around a single economic goal. Knowles described the Launchpad as a potential model for using strategic investment to create jobs and build community wealth.

The project follows a proposed five-year plan outlined by the Chamber. The program targets low- and moderate-income microenterprise owners, defined as businesses with five or fewer employees including the owner. It also serves individuals actively developing new ventures. Outreach will prioritize entrepreneurs in Liberty Square, Liberty City, and District 5.

Participants will receive technical assistance at no cost. The Chamber aims to help these businesses formalize operations, improve financial recordkeeping, and draft business plans. Matthew A. Pigatt, Senior Director of Small Business and Member Services, explained that strengthening one business invests in families and future employees. He noted that the Congressional investment allows the Chamber to deepen its work and help more Liberty City entrepreneurs build competitive businesses.

Liberty City is home to approximately 50,000 residents, of whom about eight in 10 are Black. If it were a municipality, it would rank as Miami-Dade County's seventh-largest city. A 2017 economic study by the University of Miami and Florida International University found that the area is among the county's poorest, yet it maintains a strong local economy. The study reported that 87% of all Liberty City businesses employ fewer than 20 people. Those businesses generated a collective $12 billion in annual sales.

The Chamber announced the funding on October 30, 2026. The grant will be administered through the Chamber's small business division. Further details on the program's launch are expected from the organization at www.m-dcc.org.