Background
The Coral Gables Permitting Assistance Program (PAP) is an economic development initiative established in 2012 to assist new-to-market and existing/expanding businesses obtain timely permits that will result in a material positive impact of job retention and creation, as well as capital investment in Coral Gables.
Permitting is typically one of the greatest impediments and source of complaints identified by a regional business community such as exists in Coral Gables. The city faces the challenging task of processing numerous permits on a timely basis day in and day out. Unfortunately, permitting can affect the employment base of a regional economy by not allowing employers to move into or remain in the city resulting in the material loss of new and existing jobs due to permitting delays.
This affects not just the city, the regional business community, but every citizen as well. For it is the business base that generates the most significant portion of the city’s revenues through ad valorem property taxes, parking and other commercial fees. Specifically, in Coral Gables the business base pays for nearly 50% of the total tax revenue allowing each citizen to minimize their proportionate share of tax expenses (approximately 35% in ad valorem taxes).
Loss of jobs and employers, as well as no material growth in the employment base can result in higher taxes to the residents and/or a sizable reduction of services for its citizens. This program addresses and responds to this need directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
The program is a partnership between the City of Coral Gables and the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. The role of the chamber is to serve as an extension of the city to the Coral Gables business community at large. Specifically, the chamber helps identify new-to-market and existing companies that may qualify for the Permitting Assistance Program.
The chamber and the city also host permitting assistance workshops annually to assist the city in educating the business community on the fundamentals of the permitting process and new initiatives and where to seek help when needed. This component of the program focuses on small business owners that may not have the resources to understand and process permits for their business in the city.
The city’s point of contact for the chamber concerning project assistance is Julian Perez of the Office of Economic Development who coordinates efforts with the city’s Development Services Department, led by Suramy Cabrera, PE.
Appropriate contacts will be made with other key permitting entities from Miami-Dade County on an as needed basis.
Companies that are:
- Locating new-to-market operations, especially targeted business operations such as a headquarters, regional headquarters, multi-national and tech corporations and others that bring a significant number of new, high paying jobs to the city.
- Expanding existing operations
- Investing in significant job retention and creation
- Making significant capital investment
- Representing and investing in targeted industries
Each project is assessed on a case by case basis based on the level of economic impact and need for permitting assistance. The current criteria to be considered for PAP is the creation and/or retention of a minimum of 25 new jobs and a capital investment of at least $300,000.
Yes. Since the program’s commencement approximately three years ago, it has resulted in the retention and creation of more than 1500 jobs and nearly $30 million in new capital investment in Coral Gables.
To date, the PAP has successfully assisted more than 20 companies since its launch in 2013, resulting in over 1,500 direct jobs. Some of the companies served through this program include Cable & Wireless, HBO Latin America, Cherry Bekaert, Quirch Foods, Infiniti of Coral Gables, AMC Latin America, Cosentino, the University of Florida Coral Gables, Landmark Cinemas, WeWork and Kimley-Horn & Associates.
Contact Us
For more information on the Coral Gables Permitting Assistance Program, please contact:
Belkys Perez, Director, Economic Development, City of Coral Gables at (305) 460-5392, bperez2@coralgables.com
Mark Trowbridge, President, Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce at (305) 446-1657, mtrowbridge@coralgableschamber.org.