Florida Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R) is celebrating the South Florida Climate Resilience Tech Hub for its innovations and advancements in coastal infrastructure solutions in the region. The efforts of the partially Miami-Dade County-based center ensures that Miami will continue to lead the country in both innovation and economic development.
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration website, the goal of the tech hub is “to advance its global leadership in Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure (SRI) solutions for the global climate crisis.”
Salazar has supported climate resilience efforts in the past, leading the effort to create a National Resilience Strategy through the National Climate Adaptation and Resilience Act (NCARS).
In a statement, Rep. Salazar informed that “Miami is ground zero for sea-level rise, and we continue to lead the charge in developing resilient infrastructure.” “Miami is home to more than 100 tech companies,” she added, detailing that Miami attracts “world-class talent and researchers – the establishment of a Tech Hub in Miami ensures we continue leading in innovation and technological advancement, while creating new jobs, growing our economy, and promoting national security.”
Other Florida lawmakers have also weighed in on the positive impact of the tech hub, citing the improvements it'll yield.
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D) further commented that “South Florida remains ground zero for the climate crisis, with the impact felt directly by communities and ecosystems throughout the entire region.”
“By harnessing local innovation and research, the South Florida Climate Resilience Tech Hub will develop cutting-edge technology solutions that meet this urgent moment and forge a more sustainable, resilient path forward,” Cherfilus-McCormick continued.
Miami is one of 31 regional tech hubs that received funding for South Florida Climate Resilience. The tech hubs were chosen from 198 applications from regional consortia that included academia, industry, state and local governments, labor and workforce partners, and economic development organizations.
