Spotlight On: Daniella Levine Cava, Mayor, Miami-Dade County
April 2025 — In an interview with Invest:, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava of Miami-Dade County discussed her second-term priorities, including infrastructure investment, economic development, public-private partnerships, housing affordability, transit improvements, public safety, and environmental resilience, all aimed at fostering a thriving and inclusive community.
What are the key priorities and initiatives guiding your second term, and how do they align with the county’s long-term growth strategy?
I’m honored to serve my second term as the first woman mayor of Miami-Dade. I believe voters supported me because we delivered on our promises. While continuing our mission, we’ve refined our focus to five priorities.
First, building trust in government. We must show we are responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, ensuring funds are spent efficiently on initiatives that matter.
Second, investing in infrastructure. We inherited outdated systems, including those at the airport and in transit. We’ve since secured $9 billion through public-private partnerships and federal and state funding to modernize the county. We’ve also made major investments in water and sewer infrastructure to meet compliance standards and support growth.
Third, building an economy that works for everyone. While we have one of the nation’s lowest unemployment rates, we must ensure residents not only get by but get ahead. Housing remains our biggest challenge, and we’ve doubled our annual budget, with 17,000 affordable and workforce units in the pipeline. We’ve also launched innovative programs like zero-interest loans of up to $50,000 for condo owners facing special assessments, benefiting over 1,000 people.
Education is key to economic mobility. Through our Future Ready Scholarships, 2,000 students have received full financial support to complete associate degrees, opening doors to higher-paying jobs.
Fourth, mobility and transportation. Traffic congestion is a challenge, and transit is the solution. Our bus system redesign has increased ridership by 10%, a post-pandemic rarity. We’ve expanded on-demand services like MetroConnect and are launching the South Dade TransitWay, the longest electric bus rapid transit system in the United States, with train-like speed and efficiency.
Fifth, public safety and environmental resilience. While the Police Department is no longer under my direct oversight, we continue investing in crime prevention, juvenile justice, and violence prevention through initiatives like the Peace and Prosperity Plan. We’ve also prioritized efforts to reduce domestic violence and suicide.
On the environmental front, we’re investing in flood mitigation and Bay protection to safeguard property and ensure long-term prosperity.
How do you see public-private partnerships playing a role in advancing Miami-Dade’s economic development and infrastructure goals?
We have to do this together. The government is just one leg of a three-legged stool: business, civil society, and government must collaborate. Miami-Dade is known for being business-friendly, and we’ve reinforced that by launching the Office of Innovation and Economic Development to support small businesses. Our Strive305 program, for example, has already helped 15,000 businesses, with a goal of reaching 75% of our local businesses, which form the backbone of our economy.
Public-private partnerships are essential to our major infrastructure projects. From the $2 billion investment in water infrastructure to the $9 billion in airport improvements, private builders, designers, and contractors play a critical role in ensuring we stay ahead and continue growing.
We’re also driving innovation through initiatives like the Climate Tech Hub, which received $20 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce. This program brings together businesses and academic institutions to develop cutting-edge solutions for extreme weather and disaster prevention. Dozens of companies have stepped up with innovative ideas.
Another exciting initiative is the Miami-Dade Innovation Authority, modeled after the Israel Innovation Authority. We’re launching challenges and providing seed funding to pilot solutions for government needs. For example, we’ve funded projects to tackle sargassum removal on beaches, cargo logistics at the port, and airport navigation improvements. We’re also developing AI-driven solutions for traffic reduction. The idea is to work with the private sector to test and, if successful, implement these innovations.
How is the county collaborating with state and federal leaders to secure funding for major infrastructure projects?
We’ve been very successful in securing federal infrastructure funding. Under the last administration, we secured approximately $1.5 billion, which is one of the highest per capita rates in the country. These investments have significantly benefited our transit corridors, transportation projects, and critical infrastructure, including new bridges for the Venetian Causeway, which is essential for evacuation and safety. The airport has also received major funding, and we’ve secured $80 million to renovate and expand two affordable housing developments to meet modern standards.
Looking ahead, we are optimistic about continued federal support. Given that the new president is from Florida and has appointed key officials from the state, we hope Miami-Dade will remain a priority for federal investment.
At the state level, we’ve seen strong support for resilience initiatives, Everglades restoration, and water quality improvements for Biscayne Bay. Just recently, we received a new state grant to support sea level rise preparedness, which involves collaboration with the private sector to enhance climate adaptation strategies.
How is Miami-Dade preparing for the future in terms of economic and infrastructure growth?
Like any successful business, we have to plan ahead, and I hope we’re demonstrating that we are future-ready. Beyond addressing past infrastructure maintenance issues, we are preparing for future expansions at the airport, improvements to public transit, and continued economic growth.
One key partner in this effort is the Partnership for Miami, an organization aligned with our long-term vision and committed to identifying new funding opportunities. We also work closely with local universities and colleges to ensure that educational institutions are part of our broader economic development strategy.
As a social worker and public interest lawyer, I strongly believe in collaboration. Miami-Dade has 34 cities, and we are building strong relationships with them to take a unified approach to challenges such as disaster preparedness, transit improvements, flood mitigation, and stormwater management. By fostering trust and collaboration between the public and private sectors, we can work together to address these challenges and continue building a thriving, resilient community.
What are the key factors contributing to Miami-Dade’s success in public safety and quality of life?
Safety is a top priority, and we’ve seen remarkable progress. Violent crime across Miami-Dade has dropped by 20%, and gun-related crimes have decreased by 40%. These reductions are significant, and they reinforce a sense of security, one of the county’s major attractions for both residents and businesses.
Homelessness is another area where we’ve made great strides. Despite a population of three million, we have only 1,000 individuals experiencing homelessness, which is an exceptionally low number for a metro area of our size. This success is due to our dedicated funding, outreach programs, and transitional housing initiatives. We are continuously identifying new ways to expand these efforts and provide long-term solutions.
The key takeaway is that intentional investment in people leads to tangible success. Miami-Dade has a strong philanthropic community, including many newcomers who actively contribute to causes like affordable housing, homelessness prevention, and healthcare. These dedicated funding sources ensure that we maintain a high quality of life while preventing people from falling into despair.
Miami-Dade remains a place of hope and opportunity, attracting people with the promise of the American Dream. While the cost of living is a challenge, we are working hard to address it through affordable housing investments, workforce support, and economic initiatives. By continuing these efforts, we can retain our workforce, prevent outmigration, and ensure that our prosperity benefits everyone, a rising tide that lifts all boats.
What is your vision for Miami-Dade’s future?
The future is incredibly bright. Miami-Dade is a world-class metro, a top-tier global city alongside Dubai and Singapore, as highlighted by an FIU professor in his research. We’re not just the capital of Latin America and the Caribbean, but also a financial hub that connects to Europe, the Far East, and Africa. Our diversity, inclusivity, and global connectivity make Miami a magnet for talent, business, and investment.
We are seeing an influx of people from around the world — 54% of our population is foreign-born, and over 70% are Spanish speakers. Beyond our economic and cultural appeal, we offer beautiful weather, world-class restaurants, rich cultural institutions, and stunning national parks.
However, growth presents challenges, especially in housing affordability. The demand for housing has driven up costs, and while rents are stabilizing and home prices are cooling slightly, we must continue investing in affordable housing development, renovations, and subsidies to ensure the people who power our economy can afford to live here.
Miami is in high demand — we’re hosting the World Cup, major soccer tournaments, the Latin Grammys, and countless other global events. Our job is to ensure we keep up with growth, support our workforce, and maintain the infrastructure that makes Miami-Dade such a desirable place to live and visit. By doubling down on our strengths and addressing challenges head-on, we will continue to be one of the most dynamic and resilient economies in the world.
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