Written and delivered to the City of Miami in January 2010. The plan has begun to be executed in various forms.

1. Report on the viability of expansion of a
Technology Sector in City of Miami
Prepared January 2010
byMarc Billings :
marc.billings@digiport.com
o305-424-0016 x 6551
m. 305-970-7010

2. Contents
Report on the viability of expansion of a ...................................................................................................... 1
Technology Sector in City of Miami .............................................................................................................. 1
Executive Summary:...................................................................................................................................... 3
Strategy Memo Outline................................................................................................................................. 4
1. Defining the Technology Industry ..................................................................................................... 4
2. Technology as an economic driver for United States and US City .................................................... 4
3. Miami’s current Report Card ............................................................................................................ 4
4. Economic Impact to the City of a Technology Industry .................................................................... 5
5. Market Timing ................................................................................................................................... 5
6. Current infrastructures in the City .................................................................................................... 5
7. Does the industry fit within the City’s environmental goals?........................................................... 6
8. Course of Action ................................................................................................................................ 6
9. Review of Statewide Programs ......................................................................................................... 7
10. Directory resources ....................................................................................................................... 7
11. Report Committee Team .............................................................................................................. 7
Report on the viability of expansion of a Technology Sector in City of Miami
Prepared January 2010 byMarc Billings : marc.billings@digiport.com o305-424-0016 x 6551 m. 305-970-7010

3. Executive Summary:
Miami is a burgeoning metropolis. Long known for its beautiful scenery and tropical weather,
population growth in the city has created inert demand for increased jobs. The purpose of this strategy
memo is to create a roadmap for the development of a technical industry within the City of Miami.
Technical industry is significantly underrepresented in the City of Miami and therefore has primarily
been left out of the wealth created in the internet’s expansion. Reasons can be listed as geographic
dispersion, median education level of local workforce, geographic isolation from major educational
hubs, lack of specialized economic development. As the above limitations of the City erode, the
abilitytarget the technology industry as a primary jobs industry gains opportunity. The inclusion of the
industry as a core component of the Miami economyresults in increased jobs, competitiveness of local
businesses. demand for educational institutions, existing professional services businesses. Extending
the economic impact using a standard multiplier effect yields value propositions over long periods of
time and over multiple sectors including commercial, residential real estate markets and municipal tax
bases. The industry, listed as a top growth industry for the future has limited environmental impact.
Technology companies require relatively little startup capital to begin operations and have the ability to
scale to highly successful ventures.
Technology culture is young and adaptive, requiring access to lifestyle amenities such as live/work
environments, public transportation, nightlife and entertainment, arts and leisure, Universities and
transportation. Each of these items are strengths in Miami. By developing the start of a culture, the
attraction of young talent will begin within the city. The expansion of the worker base will then create a
talent inventory which will further accelerate the growth. Support of the growth through events,
programs and promotions will create awareness of the activity to the outside professional services.
A properly designed governmental roll will add significant advantage to the development. Municipal
opportunities include expansion of purchasing of technical applications,accessibility of government
information as use of technology to communicate with residents. A recommended plan of action would
include a designed Impact statement, annual program reviews and point of contact within City for
management. Potential measurement items would include: job creation, number of housing units
occupied by technical employees, square footage of space occupied by technical and support
companies, events generated in the City based on technology drivers, hotel rooms generated, food and
nightlife expenditures).
The broader program should include a team of public and private individuals designed to monitor and
promote the program.
Geographically, the City’s three key business zones are Downtown/Brickell, Coconut Grove and
MidTown. A possible scenario would include downtown as the epicenter, MidTown for larger footprint
real estate requirements and Coconut Grove as design graphics design community.
Report on the viability of expansion of a Technology Sector in City of Miami
Prepared January 2010 byMarc Billings : marc.billings@digiport.com o305-424-0016 x 6551 m. 305-970-7010

4. Strategy Memo Outline
1. Defining the Technology Industry
a. What is the Technology industry?
i. Definitions of the Industry
ii. History of Industry
iii. Current Trends in the Industry
iv. Technology impact across industries
v. Developing company stages
1. Concept,
2. Incubation,
3. Early Stage,
4. Growth Stage
vi. Industry Financial Ecosystem
1. Entrepreneur
2. Friends and Family
3. Angel Investors
4. Venture Investors
5. Private Equity
6. Investment Bank
7. Public/ Private Exit
vii. Support Programs
1. University
2. Other Technology
3. Incubation
4. Industry Events
5. Meetups
6. Mashups
7. CodeCamps
2. Technology as an economic driver for United States and US City
i. United States roll in Internet
ii. Major US City Highlights
iii. Review of International Hotspots
b. Review of US City sources of growth
i. Universities
ii. Geographic assets
3. Miami’s current Report Card
a. Review of Funding Options
b. Review of Infrastructure Assets
c. Review of University Programs
d. Review of Workforce Availability
e. Review of Professional Services Resources
Report on the viability of expansion of a Technology Sector in City of Miami
Prepared January 2010 byMarc Billings : marc.billings@digiport.com o305-424-0016 x 6551 m. 305-970-7010

5. 4. Economic Impact to the City of a Technology Industry
a. Technology as a demand driver across industries
i. Job growth
ii. Residential living demand increase
iii. Commercial Office space demand increase
iv. Hotel Space demand increase
v. Food, Entertainment and Retail demand increase
vi. Increase in use of public transportation
b. Miscellaneous value propositions to the City.
i. White collar jobs
ii. Low environment impact jobs
iii. Strong draw for young professionals
iv. Supports other industries; real estate, travel, entertainment
c. Financial Projections
i. Current Industry
ii. Potential Industry Size
iii. Economic Impact Statement
5. Market Timing
a. Eastward Ho Initiatives
i. New growth of the city naturally moves downtown
ii. Residential living in downtown is a game changing event
iii. Traffic issues facing the city will continue
iv. Cultural benefits of a strong downtown
v. Current programs already in place by City
b. Why downtown for technology
i. Technology is a lifestyle job- Live/Work
ii. Access to office space
iii. Access to public transportation
iv. Access to key lifestyle areas of Coconut Grove, Miami Beach, Design District
v. Access to entertainment options: AArena, Bayfront Park, Hyatt, Omni Area,
Performing Arts Center
vi. International Value Propositions
1. Gateway to South America
2. Gateway to Caribbean
3. International Flavor-
c. Challenges to overcome
i. Costs of commercial real estate occupancy
ii. Costs surrounding parking requirements
iii. Traffic management
6. Current infrastructures in the City
i. Telecom Facilities: Terremark, 200 SE 1st, NWT, 36 NE 2nd, Wiltel old
ii. Previous Successes: Alienware, Citrix, Yahoo LatAm, Adult- Misc
iii. Private companies with significant IT infrastructures: Carnival, Royal
Caribbean, Baptist Health, Vitas Healthcare
Report on the viability of expansion of a Technology Sector in City of Miami
Prepared January 2010 byMarc Billings : marc.billings@digiport.com o305-424-0016 x 6551 m. 305-970-7010

6. iv. Networking Associations: Refresh Miami, Tech Tuesday, IphoneMeetup,
misc other meetups.
v. Professional Services Firms: Legal, Accounting, Banking
vi. Universities: UM , FIU, Miami- Dade
vii. Technical Schools: ITT Tech, Misc.
viii. Public/Private Organizations: Enterprise Development Corporation, Launch
Pad UM, Incubate Miami
b. What items are lacking in the City?
i. Venture Capital Firms
ii. Angel Investment Groups
iii. Expanded University computer science programs
iv. Increased transparency of City government information sources
7. Does the industry fit within the City’s environmental goals?
a. A downtown Miami residential occupant is the lowest impact resident to current
traffic patterns in the city due to reverse traffic requirements.
b. A downtown live and work resident is nearly a zero emission worker.
c. Downtown has greatest current draw to younger demographic; developing
businesses in downtown that have a high likelihood of younger workers increases
opportunity for Live/Work residents.
d. Internet businesses are a low carbon footprint emission business.
e. Internet businesses can assist in developing other green technologies
8. Course of Action
a. What is the roll that Local Government can play to assist in development?
i. Office of Technology Development for coordination
ii. Marketing of the City as a home for technology companies
iii. Public/ Private partnerships in developing new technologies for the City
iv. Transparency of public information for accessibility
v. Public bid process weighted for local contracts
vi. Sponsorships of private industry events to encourage site selection
vii. City officials participating in recruiting events
viii. Real estate incentives for businesses moving to downtown
ix. Real estate incentives for businesses hiring from downtown residents
x. Real estate incentives for decreased rents for technology companies
xi. Coordinate activities between industry sectors
xii. Expand curriculum through public educational system
b. State of Florida Funding Opportunities
i. State Opportunity Fund
ii. Florida Institute for Commercialization
iii. Florida Growth Fund
c. Role of Educational Institutions
i. Encourage expanded entrepreneurship
ii. Develop advanced computer science programs
iii. Provide program resources for alumni and visitors
iv. Create programs for innovation management
Report on the viability of expansion of a Technology Sector in City of Miami
Prepared January 2010 byMarc Billings : marc.billings@digiport.com o305-424-0016 x 6551 m. 305-970-7010

7. v. Expose internal resources for entrepreneurship
vi. Fund programs surrounding technology
vii. Increase data transparency through approved programs
d. Role of Private Industry
i. Encourage innovation programs within company
ii. Create innovation opportunities within companies with encouragement to
integrate with local technology companies
iii. Encourage integration of workers with downtown programs on innovation
iv. Encourage workers to increase technical education
e. Managing the ongoing support of the program
i. Marketing the city
ii. Ongoing support
iii. Reinvestment
iv. Management of the Process
v. Geographical Guidelines
1. Downtown develops first
2. Large footprint buildings from 14th- Midtown
3. Midtown as suburb
4. Coconut Grove links design
9. Review of Statewide Programs
a. Financial Firms
b. Government Resources
c. Technology Companies
d. Incubator/Co-working facilities
10. Directory resources
a. State key persons index
b. Other key parties of interest
11. Report Committee Team
a. Downtown Development Agency,
b. Crispin/ Porter,
c. Digiport,
d. EDC,
e. Law Firm,
f. Real Estate Development Firm,
g. University
Report on the viability of expansion of a Technology Sector in City of Miami
Prepared January 2010 byMarc Billings : marc.billings@digiport.com o305-424-0016 x 6551 m. 305-970-7010