Greater Sacramento Eyes South By Southwest For Recruiting Potential
Source: Sacramento Business Journal, Mark Anderson
Photo: Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger at a panel discussion at last year’s South by Southwest conference. The Greater Sacramento Economic Council is planning to send a delegation to next year’s South by South Southwest technology, art and music festival in Austin, Texas. (ARNOLD WELLS)
The Greater Sacramento Economic Council is taking a tip from Texas, and considering sending a recruiting delegation to the Lone Star State during its big festival of technology, music and art.
Sacramento’s regional recruiting and economic development group Greater Sacramento is proposing to send up to three panels of speakers to the Texas capital of Austin during the South by Southwest conference next March.
The first proposed panel would focus on ag-tech, and using information technology and microbiology to feed the world without straining resources.
A second proposed panel would focus on local leaders discussing how to build inclusive economies.
A third proposed panel would discuss building sustainable economic models that leverage value propositions with public-private partnerships.
In 2018, Greater Sacramento sent a small delegation to SXSW to see the lay of the land. This year, the economic council has applied to have speakers on panels of local Sacramento expertise, said Sarah Frayne, spokeswoman for Greater Sacramento.
The group is also planning marketing to support the groups that go, she said. So far, it hasn’t been decided which groups will go, as Greater Sacramento is still seeking sponsors, donations and other support for the mission, she said.
The decision on the panels will be based on popular votes and levels of support. Greater Sacramento is currently seeking input on its website.
In 2020, South by Southwest will run March 16 through 22. It will be the festival’s 33rd year.
The move by Greater Sacramento mimics the actions of a long line of Texas governors who have come to California to recruit companies to move their headquarters to Texas to save on taxes.