Transforming Black economic prosperity is happening right in South Florida, and most residents don't even know it exists. Deputy Director Chandra Daniels reveals how the Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust has quietly distributed over half a million dollars in grants to Black-owned businesses throughout the county, from restaurants to healthcare providers to artists, with some receiving up to $20,000 to scale their operations.

What truly sets this county agency apart is their revolutionary approach to homeownership. As Daniels explains, "Home ownership is the cornerstone of wealth in this country." Their Down Payment Assistance Program provides up to $28,000 as a completely forgivable loan - meaning if you stay in your home for 20 years as your primary residence, you never pay back a cent. In a market where housing prices have tripled in just four years, this program is creating pathways to property ownership previously unattainable for many Black families.

Perhaps most remarkable is their Rehabilitation Assistance Program, offering up to $50,000 in forgivable loans for critical home repairs. The program prioritizes health and safety issues like roof repairs, electrical, and plumbing problems, particularly benefiting senior homeowners who might otherwise be forced to sell. "We had some clients who we had to build a ramp because now they're at an age where they can't walk up those stairs," Daniels shares, highlighting how these investments allow residents to age in place with dignity while preserving community wealth. With both programs centered on long-term community stabilization and generational wealth building, MDEAT represents a model other cities should emulate. Learn more by visiting MiamiDade.gov/MDEAT or following @MDETinfo on Instagram.

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