NORTH MIAMI – The City of North Miami has announced the launch of NoMi Tech, an inclusion focused initiative intended to promote economic development in the region by supporting technology driven startups. North Miami is home to a population with over 62,000 residents, 60% of whom identify as Black.
The program will include entrepreneur education programming through Lightship Bootcamp, a multi-day immersive series of workshops facilitated by Lightship Foundation, a national leader in providing resources and support to minority led tech startups throughout typically under-supported US regions including the Midwest and the South.
Lightship will work with the City of North Miami to bridge the gap between minority led high-growth startups and meaningful opportunities through talent development and specialized programming. Lightship will provide guidance, support and the network necessary to achieve sustainable businesses in the North Miami ecosystem.
Vice Mayor, Estime Irvine
“As a Council, we gave our then City manager, Theresa Therilus, a directive to bring technology to our city. Through her hard work and leadership, we now have NoMi Tech. The formation of NoMI Tech has allowed for a partnership with the Lightship Foundation. The Lightship Foundation’s investment in our North Miami community will help create a competitive advantage for our residents that want to stay in the community they grew up in. The NoMi Tech program will provide them with the needed training to develop new skills for higher paying jobs in the technology industry. Keeping our talents at home while investing in their future is how you invest in your community”, stated North Miami Vice Mayor Mary Estime-Irvin
The Nomi Tech initiative is an ambitious plan to quickly launch the City to the competitive forefront of the greater Miami tech ecosystem. NoMi Tech promises to create a sustainable workforce by capitalizing on the region’s emerging strength as a national tech hub. The City expects this program to provide faster employment growth in “advanced industry” jobs, with the potential to generate higher incomes for small businesses and entrepreneurs located in the City of North Miami.
Global Tech Growth
Candice Matthews Brackeen
“As Miami is increasingly recognized as a strong force in the global tech driven economy, it’s important that ecosystems like North Miami that are largely represented by founders of color have the opportunity to capitalize, as well.” says Candice Matthews Brackeen, founder and CEO of Lightship Foundation. “We are honored to have been chosen by North Miami to join them in leading this effort and look forward to the progress our partnership will promote.”
Key Partnership
John Lorfils
North Miami’s Economic Development Director, John Lorfils, commented, I’m glad to see this partnership come to fruition as North Miami positions itself in the technology industry. Making North Miami a premier destination for underrepresented founders to start and grow their business is a major priority. This partnership between Lightship Capital and the City of North Miami is not only going to provide a home for minority led startups but also the programming and resources needed for them to excel”.
