If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com<\/a> or Grant@communitynewspapers.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n Connect To Your Customers & Grow Your Business
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Nearly 400 small businesses and service providers came together at Miami Dade College\u2019s Wolfson Campus on Friday, Oct. 24, for the 2025 Elevate Small Business Conference, hosted by Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins.<\/p>\n
The full-day event inspired local entrepreneurs to connect, grow, and lead, while setting a new standard for sustainability in community events.<\/p>\n
\u201cHelping small business owners connect to opportunity has always been my passion,\u201d Commissioner Higgins said. \u201cWhen local entrepreneurs have access to the right tools, partners, and resources, they don\u2019t just grow their businesses; they transform our neighborhoods.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Elevate Small Business Conference was about building those connections that turn ideas into action and dreams into thriving businesses. That\u2019s what Elevate is all about \u2014 opening doors, sharing knowledge, and growing together as a community.\u201d<\/p>\n
The event featured a vibrant vendor market showcasing local small businesses, along with more than a dozen workshops led by local and national experts on topics such as digital marketing, artificial intelligence, access to capital, and growth strategy. Conference highlights include:<\/p>\n
\u2022 More than 100 attendees walked away with a new AI process or tool they could immediately implement to boost productivity \u2014 offered in both English and Spanish.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Nearly 50 entrepreneurs participated in specialized Speed Coaching sessions with local small business experts, leaving with actionable growth strategies and new connections to resource providers ready to support them every step of the way.<\/p>\n
\u2022 More than 100 entrepreneurs received free professional headshots to help elevate their personal and business branding.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Each participant left with a ready-to-post job description, tailored to their specific needs, helping them recruit tech talent and take their business to the next level.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Attendees practiced networking skills they could put to work immediately (and did), building new connections and partnerships to grow their businesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Elevate Small Business Conference changed everything for me,\u201d said Amanda Nicol, founder of Jewelry One of a KIND. \u201cThanks to Commissioner Eileen Higgins and her team, Jewelry One of a KIND connected with the people I needed to speak with and the resources<\/p>\n
I needed to continue to grow. Eileen\u2019s leadership builds more than businesses \u2014 it builds community rooted in kindness, connection, and the belief that we rise by lifting each other up.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Elevate Small Business Conference was designed with the planet in mind. From recycled notebooks and reusable tote bags to eco-friendly signage and staff shirts, every material was thoughtfully chosen to be sustainable and responsibly sourced. Attendees received refillable aluminum bottles and had access to water refill stations to eliminate single-use plastics.<\/p>\n
In partnership with Compost for Life, composting stations were available throughout the venue for food scraps, paper, utensils, and containers. This effort diverted 762 pounds of trash from landfills, resulting in 200 kilograms of CO2 being kept out of the atmosphere, equivalent to the environmental benefit of five trees absorbing carbon for ten years.<\/p>\n
The Elevate Small Business Conference is part of Commissioner Higgins\u2019 Elevate District 5 initiative, launched in 2022 to help small businesses grow and scale. Since its inception, Elevate District 5 has supported over 1,000 small businesses by providing 50-plus training sessions and awarding nearly 750 grants.<\/p>\n
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This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.<\/p>\n
Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami\u2019s culture. Whether you\u2019re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami\u2019s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https:\/\/communitynewspapers.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com<\/a> or Grant@communitynewspapers.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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