Miami Lakes EDC shifts focus from single Main Street Live events to paid marketing; approves $500 ad spend

The Miami Lakes Economic Development Committee discussed whether to continue funding Main Street Live directly or reallocate limited committee funds into paid external marketing to draw visitors from neighboring cities, and approved $500 for an upcoming event's advertising.

Committee members and staff heard that an existing contract often referred to as the “Intel” service was already accounted for this fiscal year and that the roughly $10,000 assigned to that contract cannot be repurposed for other committee line items until next budget cycle. Staff said the town may absorb the service under another department, but any decision to shift continued funding off the committee would leave the EDC to request replacement dollars in next year’s budget.

The committee’s immediate…