San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce encourages tech survey

Posted: Jun 15, 2010 8:08 AM by John Soares
Updated: Jun 15, 2010 8:07 AM

As the economy slowly climbs out of a recession, jobs in technology, have actually rebounded more quickly.

One local group looks to bring those opportunities to the Central Coast. The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce kicks off its bi-annual online survey to uncover trends, needs and issues affecting the local technology community. Anyone who uses technology in the workplace is encouraged to take it.

The Technology Advocacy Committee for the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce sees high technology as the engine for more jobs on the Central Coast. The survey is one way to figure out just how to go about doing that.

"For all of us in the area, we want the the tech companies to be growing and healthy and that's good for the whole economy," said Jeff Buckingham, a co-founder of Blue Rooster Telecom, a high tech startup in San Luis Obispo.

He sees the survey as a way to create a technology community. "The tricky part of tech companies is knowing how many there are, are they growing , shrinking, how are they doing," said Buckingham.

Amy Kardel, owner of Clever Ducks, says some of these companies are sort of underground. She says the information the survey will provide is invaluable.

"The biggest trend we've seen in technology companies here on the Central Coast is that there are more and more startups. That data's really been critical in looking at what opportunities there are, like bringing Google fiber to the Central Coast, " said Kardel.

And that could mean more jobs. "Probably the most important thing is tech companies would like to see more tech companies," said Dave Garth of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce.

Garth says preserving the Central Coast's greatest asset for attracting those opportunities. "We have to make sure we don't ruin the quality of life in growing the economy it has to be a balance. It's been the foundation of San Luis Obispo's economy, and has been for years and years," said Garth.

Aside from quality of life, previous surveys have found Cal Poly and Cuesta graduates are also a plus for high tech companies. But the cost of housing continues to be the greatest challenge.

Results of the survey will be ready at the end of August. A more detailed technology forecast will be published by the end of the year.