The Lexington city council’s budget committee heard ideas on how to boost the city’s tech industry during a Tuesday meeting.
A study from consultant company TEConomy presented to council members says Lexington has a significant talent pipeline from local universities. But, a lot of the city’s biggest tech initiatives are isolated from each other.
The study says there’s not much local growth in traditional sectors like IT and computing, but there is a demand for more specialized work. That includes agricultural tech, manufacturing tech, health tech, biotech and digital business services.
Jonathan Dworin presented TEConomy’s findings to the committee. He says a lot of Lexington’s tech initiatives are isolated from each other.
“We see an opportunity around growing tech employment with an emphasis on prioritizing connectivity among the various educational institutions, their students, the workers, employers, trying to bring everyone together,” Dworin said.
Dworin says one of the city’s biggest needs would be to fund a tech council to boost and connect those tech startups.
“We think that elevating the role of the Tech Council into a fully fledged entrepreneurial support organization can help serve as that front door and that physical hub,” Dworin said.
The study says Lexingtojn should also connect more businesses and initiatives together, boost existing start-ups within Lexington and create marketing campaigns for the city’s tech economy. It estimates those programs would cost the city more than $600,000.
