Another sign Miami’s booming? The city’s getting a different kind of ‘club’
A tradition begun by East Coast business leaders more than a century ago has finally made its way to Miami.
A group of local professionals led by Jeb Bush Jr. and Miami City Attorney Jeremy Schwarz have launched the Economic Club of Miami.
According to its website, the club’s goal is “to convene 21st century leaders and host events that encourage networking and thought leadership in all industries represented in Miami.”
Why now? It’s simple: Miami is going through an economic boom.
“It was the same when they started the Economic Club of New York,” said Miami Club Executive Director Lourdes Castillo. “They needed a think tank-type meeting place for people impacted by the economy.”
Once New York’s club was founded, others in Chicago, Washington, D.C., Detroit and elsewhere followed.
“These booming cities got their own economic clubs — but Miami has never been in that arena,” she said. “It’s always been a tourist destination, always been about ‘fun’ — and now, because of all these businesses coming, and the branchings within the economic structure of the city, a group of us have decided to set up an Economic Club.”
One-year memberships start at $400. The group has already co-sponsored its first event, a fireside chat with Peter Thiel. Its next event, which will coincide with Art Basel, will be on NFTs and will feature FTX exchange co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried.
More info at econclubmiami.org.
This story was originally published November 14, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
