Tech industry group kicks off in Queens
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Tom Grech, the president and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, speaks at a kick-off event for the Queens Tech Council on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. Photo courtesy of the Queens Chamber of Commerce
By Jacob Kaye
The Queens Chamber of Commerce and the recently created Queens Tech Council hosted it’s kick-off event this week.
The council, a tech industry group created last year to advocate for tech companies and workers in the borough, and the chamber gathered at the Boro Hotel in Long Island City on Tuesday. The kick-off event featured a keynote speech from Hope Knight, the former president of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation who now serves as the president and CEO of Empire State Development.
“Queens is rich in the resources that are in-demand by today’s businesses – diversity, talent and energy,” Knight said. “The borough is uniquely positioned to be a leader in the tech field, fostering new growth of homegrown businesses, attracting companies looking to expand, and encouraging its local entrepreneurs.”
“Empire State Development’s productive partnership with the Queens Tech Council reflects Governor Hochul’s own vision for economic development: collaborative and community-based, supporting solid infrastructure and a skilled workforce to ensure New York remains competitive and prepared for the economy of tomorrow,” she added.
The Queens Tech Council is a division of the Queens Chamber of Commerce and features members from large tech companies including Google, Facebook and Amazon, as well as smaller, local businesses like Pursuit, which is based in Long Island City. It’s aim in the coming year is to promote tech incubators and accelerators, drive investment in Queens startups and connect companies with talent in the borough.
The push to support tech is part of the Queens Chamber’s long-term goal to promote the growth of the industry in the borough.
“Whether you’re a recently launched startup or an established leader in the industry, Queens is a great place for tech companies to grow and thrive,” said Tom Grech, the president and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “As we continue to recover from the pandemic, we will need to leverage all the wonderful assets our borough has to offer.”
Also in attendance was Long Island City Partnership president Elizabeth Lusskin and Jason Clark, a Queens-native who was recently appointed to serve as the executive director of Tech:NYC.
"I grew up in Queens, so it's no surprise to me that the city's most diverse borough is producing some of the most innovative ideas," Clark said. "Tech:NYC is excited to work with the Queens Tech Council and the Queens Chamber of Commerce to continue creating opportunities in Queens and beyond.”
