Chicago looking to "double" tech sector.
“Chicago mayor and former Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel announced a new initiative today aimed at doubling the size of his city’s tech sector by adding 40,000 new jobs over the next ten years. The plan was announced at 1871, a co-working space that houses a number of the areas’ young startup companies. Under Emanuel’s tenure, the tech sector in the Windy City has reportedly grown 30 percent.
“The mayor’s plan has three core pieces: Chicago will host a venture capital summit in conjunction with Lollapalooza, Purdue University will launch a Chicago-based weekend MBA program to help engineers and computer scientists turn ideas into businesses; and the Mayor will join tech leaders from around the city to visit the top 5 business schools in the country and recruit students.”
Mayor Rahm Emanuel vows to double Chicago’s tech sector over next decade : http://www.theverge.com/2013/11/5/5070494/rham-emanuel-vows-to-double-chicagos-tech-sector
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Fine. Press releases, “initiatives”, summits, meetings. Let’s talk… and talk and talk… about how nice it would be to maybe have some tech.
Chicago is certainly a draw, America’s Second City, right? If there is already a start-up ecosystem in place in Chicago it would likely double on its own anyway. The city government’s ‘helping hand’ won’t hurt that, but likely won’t ‘help’ much either.
I’m sure I’ve mentioned that I personally think that a vibrant Tech community starts more with the community part, and not so much with initiatives coming out of the mayor’s office. But best of luck to you anyway, Chicago. If nothing else you can claim credit for the natural growth already occuring.
