RELEASE: Full Stack Saint Paul is full steam ahead with new steering committee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4/18/18

Full Stack Saint Paul is full steam ahead with new steering committee

Committee tasked with expanding job and business growth around technology and innovation sectors in Saint Paul

SAINT PAUL – The City of Saint Paul and the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce today announced the official steering committee for Full Stack Saint Paul. The dynamic group, which includes experts in the technology, innovation, education, economic development, real estate, and workforce development sectors, is tasked with tackling strategies outlined by the Innovation Cabinet for expanding job and business growth around the technology and innovation sectors in Saint Paul.

“This exceptional group will amplify the entrepreneurial tech and innovation community in Saint Paul,” said Mayor Melvin Carter. “Their work will move our city forward by preparing young people to compete for top tech careers, bringing more jobs to Saint Paul, and driving leading-edge creation.”

Last year, the City of Saint Paul formed the Saint Paul Innovation Cabinet, a focused effort to identify ways to expand job and business growth around the technology and innovation sectors in Saint Paul. The cabinet’s work culminated in the creation of Full Stack Saint Paul, an action plan and four goals for Saint Paul to achieve by 2020: add 2,000 tech-related jobs; increase innovation-related commercial space in Saint Paul by 200,000 square feet; ensure that 50 innovation-focused events will be held annually in the city; and show significantly increased awareness of Saint Paul innovation.

“This group of private and public leaders will help accelerate the atmosphere of innovation that we have in Saint Paul and ensure that we continue to have job growth in the jobs of the future,” said Councilmember Chris Tolbert.

The steering committee will meet on a regular basis as a full group and in targeted task forces to discuss how to achieve its goals utilizing the following strategies:

• Telling the story: Intensifying awareness of the vibrant innovation culture in Saint Paul, its legacy, and potential, and its role in the greater metro region.
• Developing people: Building and supporting the places and events where innovators connect and supporting key pipelines for growing innovation talent in Saint Paul, especially among under-represented populations.
• Developing innovative places: Creating an ecosystem of high-quality real estate solutions that provide work environments and amenities that help Saint Paul innovation companies recruit and retain talent.

“Tech and innovation are vitally important to the business community, with these sectors multiplying their impact by creating three to four spin-off jobs in other sectors,” said Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO B Kyle. “Saint Paul is already home to many tech and innovation leaders.  Our intent is to build on this foundation and make a name for Saint Paul as the destination for these industries. The work we are doing to continue growing these sectors will benefit the entire East Metro through more businesses and more jobs.”

A recent ranking put Saint Paul as one of the top U.S. cities for women in tech, and innovative office space continues to increase, with Osborn370 filling at a rapid pace and the old Woolworth’s building – now called The 428 – nearing completion. Since the creation of Full Stack Saint Paul, the City has hosted many innovation/tech events including several during last year’s Twin Cities Startup Week, an event which it will also host in October 2018.

For more information, visit stpaul.gov/fullstack.

Contact: 
Hannah Burchill, Marketing & Public Relations Manager 
City of Saint Paul - Department of Planning & Economic Development 
hannah.burchill@ci.stpaul.mn.us 
651-266-6575 (o)

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