For decades, Miami has been more than a backdrop. It has been a destination where culture, creativity and entrepreneurship converge. Our neighborhoods, music, diversity and people have helped shape how the world sees South Florida. Yet while Florida continues to market itself as a global destination for visitors, we have failed to position ourselves as a destination for film and television production. That has come at a cost.
When Florida allowed its film and television incentive program to expire in 2016, the state didn’t just lose film and television productions. We lost jobs, small-business opportunities, workforce development and billions of dollars in economic activity.
This conversation is often framed as one about Hollywood. It is much bigger than that.
The film and television industry creates opportunities for electricians, carpenters, construction workers, truck drivers, caterers, hotel employees, security professionals, accountants, graphic designers, photographers, makeup artists, costume designers, marketing firms, transportation companies and countless small businesses. Every production supports an ecosystem of workers and entrepreneurs whose livelihoods depend on the industry’s success.
For Miami-Dade County, the stakes are especially high. Our community is home to an extraordinary concentration of Black, Haitian, Caribbean and Latino entrepreneurs, artists, creatives and skilled professionals. We have young people graduating from our colleges and universities with degrees in film, digital media, communications, music and theater. We also have experienced professionals with the technical skills to support large-scale productions.
Too often, however, those graduates and professionals are forced to leave Florida in search of opportunity elsewhere. We should ask ourselves a simple question: Why should our talent have to relocate to build careers that could be built right here at home?
Georgia answered that question years ago with a long-term commitment to the film and television industry. The result has been thousands of jobs, billions of dollars in economic impact and the growth of an entire creative economy that supports businesses beyond the entertainment sector.
Florida has every competitive advantage necessary to achieve similar success.
We have weather, internationally recognized destinations, diverse architecture, tourism infrastructure and one of the nation’s most culturally vibrant populations. Miami alone offers neighborhoods, waterfronts, business districts, arts institutions and cultural experiences that cannot be replicated anywhere else.
What we lack is a comprehensive strategy for competing. Any effort to restore Florida’s competitiveness should be grounded in accountability and measurable outcomes. Public investments should prioritize hiring Florida workers, contracting with local businesses, supporting workforce development and creating lasting economic benefits for the communities where productions occur.
This is not about subsidizing Hollywood. It is about investing in Floridians.
It is about creating pathways for young people pursuing careers in the creative economy. It is about helping minority-owned businesses compete for new opportunities. It is about strengthening industries that support tourism, hospitality, construction, technology, transportation and professional services.
Economic development should create opportunities that are inclusive and sustainable. The entertainment industry can do exactly that. As Miami continues to grow as a global city, we should position ourselves as a global production hub. That means recognizing that creativity is not simply part of our cultural identity; it is one of our greatest economic assets.
Florida has never lacked talent. We have never lacked ambition. What we have lacked is the commitment to develop an economic strategy that enables our creative workforce to thrive without leaving home. The next generation of filmmakers, producers, actors, electricians, editors, entrepreneurs and storytellers is already here.
Now it is time to act and build an economy that gives them every reason to stay.
Christine Sanon-Jules Olivo, a Miami native, is an entrepreneur, educator, public servant, community advocate and 2026 candidate for Florida State Senate District 34.
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