EDA funds South Florida ClimateReady Tech Hub to scale climate technology

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) today announced it has awarded $19.5 million to the South Florida ClimateReady Tech Hub, spearheaded by Miami-Dade County under the leadership of Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, to accelerate regional technology and innovation-led growth by boosting the capacity to manufacture, commercialize, and deploy key climate technologies.  

“South Florida's Tech Hub designation underscores our global leadership in climate solutions. This investment from the Biden-Harris administration will enable us to confront the climate crisis head-on, driving economic innovation and creating high-quality jobs here in South Florida,” stated Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “Miami-Dade is proud to collaborate with public sector, academic, and private partners from Broward, Monroe, and Palm Beach counties on this groundbreaking initiative.” 

The ClimateReady Tech Hub is one of the 31 Tech Hubs designated by the EDA in October 2023, chosen from nearly 200 applicants nationwide. Less than half were awarded Phase 2 implementation funding. This significant federal investment will jump start climate innovation from public, private, academic, tribal, and community partners, positioning South Florida as a leader in adaptation and mitigation technology that can withstand extreme weather events, increased flooding, and rising temperatures. 

The EDA highlighted that South Florida’s application “demonstrated the leadership and potential to leverage regional assets, talent, and technological expertise to become a world-class, globally competitive technology innovation center.” 

“This funding marks a pivotal moment for South Florida,” said Francesca de Quesada Covey, Regional Innovation Officer of the ClimateReady Tech Hub and Chief Innovation and Economic Development Officer of Miami-Dade County. “The ClimateReady Tech Hub is not only the only recognized hub focused on finding solutions to our pressing climate challenges but also brings economic benefit in jobs and increased GDP to all of our communities from Palm Beach down to Monroe Counties, and west to the bordering Miccosukee nation.” 

The ClimateReady Tech Hub aims to address the climate crisis by developing, commercializing, and scaling technologies focused on climate adaptation and mitigation. Initial projects include advancements in clean concrete, coastal defense systems, and next-generation HVAC solutions. 

This initial phase is projected to create 23,000 new high-paying jobs over the next five years. Once fully operational, the Tech Hub is expected to generate $41 billion in new revenue over the next decade, establishing South Florida as a global hub in the $1.3 trillion market for sustainable and resilient infrastructure. 

The project has garnered bipartisan support from Members of Congress representing Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe Counties including Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Congressman Carlos Gimenez, Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar, Congressman Jared Moskowitz, Congresswoman, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Congresswoman Lois Frankel, Congressman Byron Donalds and Congressman Maxwell Frost all of whom endorsed the project.  Senator Marco Rubio also endorsed the project. 

About South Florida’s ClimateReady Tech Hub 

The ClimateReady Tech Hub is a consortium of local governments, businesses, universities, and organizations, originally convened by the South Florida Regional Planning Council and provided technical assistance support from Kenneth C. Griffin, Citadel and the Knight Foundation. These organizations collectively represent the region’s four counties and combine a diverse range of expertise, resources, and perspective to build a globally leading climate tech ecosystem.

Key partners include: Miami-Dade County (lead applicant), 1Print, AME Power, Beacon Council, Black & Veatch, Blue Frontier, Inc., Broward County, Carbon Limit, CareerSource, Catalyst Miami, Citadel and Citadel Securities, City of Miami, City of Miami Beach, City of Lake Worth Beach, CodePath, College of the Florida Keys, Denrgy, eMerge Americas, Endeavor Miami, Facade+Envelope, Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, Florida Memorial University, Florida Power & Light, Friends of The Underline, Inc., Frost Science Museum, Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, I Squared Capital, JLL, IUOE 487, Kenneth C. Griffin, Knight Foundation, Mangrove Contracting, Marine Research Hub, Maroon League, MasTec, Merrimac Ventures, Miami Tech Works, Miami Waterkeeper, Miami-Dade College, Miami-Dade Innovation Authority, Miccosukee Tribe, Mission One Capital, Monroe County, Museum of Discovery & Science, Northeastern University, Nova Southeastern University, OIC of South Florida, Ocean Exchange, Palm Beach County, Seaworthy Collective, ShoreLock, South Florida Defense Alliance, South Florida Regional Planning Council, Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact, Techstars, The Allapattah Collaborative CDC, The CLEO Institute, The Nature Conservancy, Titan, University of Florida, University of Miami, Venture Miami, and Watsco.