People Like Working Where They Like Living.
-
8/15/2008
As Coral Gables City Founder George Merrick formulated the initial elements of his dream city in the 1920's , he identified spacious park and open space locations, selected the public landscaping, established the zoning and regulatory codes, approved all public and private buildings planned, and created the social organizations necessary for a city of lasting importance. Merrick wanted his city to be not only attractive to the eye but also to the intellect, so he convinced university planners to locate the main campus of the University of Miami in Coral Gables. In 1926, Merrick wrote “the university will have far reaching influence on our whole nation and even upon the Latin countries with whom our business and intellectual destinies by wise Providence are plainly linked.”
Merrick knew the university and his City were destined to serve as International Gateways by virtue of geography and strategy, and he fostered that concept through architecture (although 14 were planned, he constructed 7 international thematic villages), cultural exchanges, foreign government presence, and international outreach.
Merrick’s legacy of a great international city, small in size but boundless in enterprise, continues today through corporate investment, university programs, and cultural exchanges. Today, the University of Miami attracts students from more than 100 countries. Through corporate enterprise, the city is home to more than 175 multinational companies that have selected Coral Gables as their gateway to either the U.S., Latin America, or the world. In addition to U.S.-based companies, the City has regional offices of international companies, from Italy, England, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, France, Canada, Spain, Bermuda, and The Netherlands. The popular “Flags on Ponce” program, a boulevard of international flags, proudly announces the more than 90 different countries that do business with Coral Gables companies. International cuisine is also a signature of Coral Gables with award-winning cuisine from around the world including Vietnam, India, Thailand, France, Italy, Spain, and the Caribbean. As for foreign government presence, Coral Gables continues to be the location of choice for official consular offices and residences. Coral Gables is proud to be the office address for more than 25 consulates and cultural or trade offices. In recognition of this international presence, the U.S. Department of State has located its Office of Foreign Missions in Coral Gables and the World Olympians Association has selected Coral Gables as one of only three worldwide offices.
One important aspect of international outreach is the Sister City program. Started almost fifty years ago, through a twinning with Cartagena, Colombia in 1957, Coral Gables currently has six Sister Cities. These cities are Cartagena, Colombia (1957); Quito, Ecuador (1975); Granada, Spain (1989); La Antigua, Guatemala (1993); Aix-en-Provence, France (1997); and the Province of Pisa, Italy (2003). Assisted by the Commission-appointed International Affairs Coordinating Council, the City recently hosted delegations from Pisa, Aix, and Cartagena. The City, in turn, has sent delegations to Aix, Pisa, and La Antigua and is currently planning a visit to Granada in October 2004. In addition to its Sister City responsibilities, the Council, which was created in 1995, also advises the City Commission on other international outreach efforts, including coordinating the visits of international dignitaries, fostering mutually beneficial relationships with the Consular Corps community, and facilitating international cultural exchanges.
*****************************************************************************
Coral Gables is home to more than 175 multinational companies which gives the city a unique global perspective and also contributes to the creation of a workforce comprised of highly educated and talented multilingual professionals and support personnel equal to that found in major international cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Brussels, Paris, Rome or Hong Kong. Over 42,000 professionals work in the downtown each business day.
Multi-lingual Workforce
Bi-lingual skills of English and Spanish are common place in the workplace followed by Portuguese and French. Other languages include Italian, German, Dutch, Hebrew, Polish, Russian, Creole, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese. Miami-Dade and South Florida are home to over 900,000 Cuban exiles, but also to more than 500,000 South/Central American and Caribbean expatriates who came here as entrepreneurs to develop business services and distribution import/export links with their home countries.
Convenience
Quality of 'work' life is an important objective of employers. Senior executives, management and administrative employees who like their work environment are less likely to seek employment opportunities elsewhere and tend to be more efficient and productive. Coral Gables is a city which values the essence of community and convenience. The downtown is vibrant and active, both day and night, with an abundance of boutiques and retail shops with more than 100 cafes and restaurants - all with walking distance of the downtown business district.
For employees working in the city there are personal and professional services all at their doorstep, making their lunch, or before and after work hours less hectic with an opportunity to take care of personal business or activities. Convenience means less stress at work and at home.
Centralized Accessibility
Most major commercial districts are less than 20 minutes from downtown Coral Gables. Miami International Airport is just over four miles. It is under five miles to Brickell Avenue and Miami's central financial district via US 1 or Coral Way, and less than five miles to the South Miami and Dadeland business districts. It is 12 miles to Hialeah and 15 miles to Miami Lakes and Aventura and an equal distant 23 miles to Homestead to the south and Fort Lauderdale to the north.
The Doral/West Miami industrial area is under ten miles. The City is easily accessible from US 1 on the south with connections via LeJeune or Douglas Road to the north to (SR836) the Dolphin Expressway connecting to I-95. Access to the east is via Bird Road which connects to (SR826) Don Shula Expressway which connects to the Florida Turnpike and I-75.
Coral Gables has four major arteries from which to choose which gives the City an advantage of alternate routes in case of emergencies or accidents and accounts for the smooth flow of traffic even during peak hours. It is also accessible by Metrorail which is linked to the downtown by the Gables Trolley which is from the Douglas Road Metrorail station down Ponce De Leon Boulevard to Calle Ocho (Eighth Street) and Douglas Entrance.
Intellectual Capital
The University of Miami's main campus is located on over 230-acres in the City of Coral Gables. Today, the University of Miami is the largest, most comprehensive private research university in the southeastern United States with a well-earned reputation for academic excellence. Coral Gables based companies have the advantage of proximity and access to a globally enhanced concentration of intellectual capital.
The University of Miami has one of the most culturally diverse student populations in the nation. Nearly 15,000 undergraduate and graduate students from every state and more than 114 nations around the world call UM home during the academic semesters. The University has grown from its main location in the City of Coral Gables to the Medical Campus located in Downtown Miami, the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science on Virginia Key, and the South and Richmond campuses in southwest Miami-Dade county as well as off-campus facilities. With more than 10,000 full- and part-time faculty and staff, UM is the largest private employer in Miami-Dade County.
A<
J. | Coral Gables, FL