Manny Cid on how the Beacon Council’s small business initiative is creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs
Small businesses are the backbone of Miami-Dade County. They create jobs, fuel innovation, and define the character of the community. Supporting them is the mission of Strive305, the Beacon Council’s official small business initiative for Miami-Dade County, led by Manny Cid, Assistant Director for Small and Local Business Development The initiative is designed to help entrepreneurs launch, scale, and sustain their businesses.
“I see entrepreneurs every day taking risks, sacrificing time and money, and striving to make their businesses work. That’s what drives me,” says Cid. Having launched three businesses himself, Manny Cid understands the challenges firsthand.
Community-centered support
Strive305 was originally a virtual program offering online resources for small businesses. Under Cid’s leadership moving Mayor Daniella Levine Cava vision forward, the initiative evolved into a more community-centered, entrepreneur-driven economic development platform focused on meeting business owners where they are.
“Entrepreneurs evolve every day, and our program has to evolve with them,” Manny Cid explains. “That’s why our work is so nimble. We adjust quickly as the local economy changes.”
Tackling key challenges for entrepreneurs
Even in Miami’s dynamic economy, small business owners face persistent obstacles. Drawing on research from organizations such as Catalyst Miami and the Miami Foundation, Manny Cid and the Strive305 team have identified three core challenges.
Access to capital remains the most significant barrier. Small businesses often lack the financial connections available to larger companies. To help address this, Miami-Dade County launched the Rise Fund, which offers loans of up to $75,000 at competitive rates (prime minus one). “This year alone, 262 businesses are being supported, totaling $10.4 million,” Cid says.
Permits and regulations are another major hurdle. Navigating city and county requirements can be confusing and time-consuming. Strive305 works closely with public-sector partners to help streamline permitting and compliance processes for entrepreneurs.
Marketing and visibility present the third challenge. Small businesses often lack the reach and resources of large corporations. Strive305 provides guidance, tools, and connections to help local businesses increase their exposure and grow their customer base.
“Strive305 is about giving business owners the tools they need to grow,” Cid says. “Capital, guidance, and marketing support are just the beginning.”
Reaching every corner of Miami-Dade
Accessibility is a core priority of Strive305. Training, mentorship, and technical assistance are offered free of charge across Miami-Dade County, while low-interest loan programs help keep financial barriers low. To ensure resources reach all communities, Strive305 partners with many local governments and technical assistance organizations.
“We are going to begin tracking our impact using KPIs and a GIS map of the county,” Cid adds. “Each dot represents a business we’ve served, showing where we’re reaching entrepreneurs and where we need to focus more attention. It helps ensure no neighborhood is left behind.”
Preparing businesses for a digital world
Strive305 collaborates with Miami Dade College and private-sector partners to provide education in AI, Excel, financial management, and digital marketing.
“Many entrepreneurs underestimate technology because they’re focused on daily operations,” Manny Cid notes. “Programs like Fit to Lead help by providing paid interns to support businesses, giving owners the time and capacity to learn new skills and integrate technology.”
Inclusive opportunities for all
Miami’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths, and Strive305 is committed to ensuring minority-owned, immigrant-owned, veteran-owned, and women-owned businesses have equitable access to resources. Programming is offered in English, Spanish, and Creole, with plans to expand to Portuguese and increased support for the Asian business community through the Asian Advisory Board.
“Miami is a true melting pot,” Cid explains. “Entrepreneurs operate across language and cultural barriers, and our programs are designed to help them succeed in that environment.”
Breaking down bureaucratic barriers
Opening a business in Miami-Dade often requires navigating multiple layers of city and county bureaucracy. Strive305 works with public partners to simplify this process through innovative solutions.
Kiosks installed in municipal building departments, paired with the “MeetQ” program, allow business owners—such as those in Miami Beach—to complete county permitting processes virtually from their city offices, reducing travel and wait times.
“This levels the playing field,” Cid says.
Skills for long-term success
Manny Cid believes adaptability will be the most critical skill for entrepreneurs over the next decade.
“Strategy matters, but adaptability matters more,” he says. “Businesses need to launch, optimize, pivot, and continuously improve. The entrepreneurs who thrive are the ones who adapt to change.”
The inspiration behind the commitment
Manny Cid’s passion for entrepreneurship stems from personal experience. “I’ve been there—taking risks, investing time and money, and making sacrifices,” he says. “That’s why I love working with small business owners in Miami-Dade.”
Through the Beacon Council's Strive305 and now the Strategic Procurement Department Small & Local Business team, Manny Cid remains committed to building an inclusive, resilient small business ecosystem that supports entrepreneurs at every stage of growth.
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