We've only had two meetings, but already, a theme for this council committee has emerged - growth.
Unlike most cities, Tempe cannot sprawl. We are landlocked. Our city is as large as it will ever be. But this does not mean that we cannot grow and prosper, that our residents, our workforce and our companies cannot flourish. In fact, we expect them to become their best, more than they may have originally thought they could become. After all, Tempe is a place where impossible, outlandish ideas become realized, successful - and normal.
We change the world in Tempe. For the better.
At the last Technology, Economic and Community Development meeting, we approved the work plan we are submitting to the entire Tempe City Council for approval. It is a full agenda. I don't expect that we will accomplish everything on it. In fact, you will see the word "explore" in front of many of the items.
Not everything on our list will be implemented. Some items may turn out to be impractical, too expensive, too cumbersome or just not right for Tempe. We want to explore everything, though, and see which ideas are right for our city.
This committee is commited to growth. We want to grow technology companies - and business opportunities in general. We want to innovate ways to help these companies succeed and refine our procedures to ensure continued prosperity. A healthy business community contributes significantly to providing quality city services and to the economic success of our workforce and resident base.
Growing companies isn't easy. Tempe is fortunate to be surrounded by colleges and universities filled with students and professors who have new concepts for products and services. Launching those ideas takes time and money as well as professional guidance. Angel investors, incubators and community programs can help people take their fledgling products and turn them into Fortune 500 companies.
Some communities invest hundreds of thousands of dollars - sometimes millions - into incubator programs and coworking spaces. After nearly two years of work, technology expert Fred von Graf presented his incubator, LaunchSpot, to our committee.
LaunchSpot is a combination of an incubator and a coworking facility. Located in 14,000 square feet in west Tempe, LaunchSpot will provide seed money to several software development companies in hopes of helping them become the next "Facebook." Work has begun on the space and the facility could open in just a couple months. We could see several new companies sprout in Tempe in 2011 as a result of Fred's efforts.
Garin Groff of the East Valley Tribune wrote an excellent article detailing this project: http://bit.ly/eAG2Wb
When I talk about growth being the theme of this committee, I am being literal. We will be growing vegetables, fruit, flowers and more. One of the many items we will work on this year is a plan to encourage community gardens. We are working with Tempe Community Action Agency (TCAA), the neighbors near the Escalante Center and Tempe Leadership to create a community garden in Escalante Park. Some of the fruits of their labors will fill the food pantry operated by TCAA. Some will be given to those who tilled the soil. Some of it may be sold at farmers markets to buy seeds, tools, fertilizer and the like. If you would like to find out more about this project, TCAA is hosting a fundraiser to benefit the garden this New Year's Eve. For details, visit http://bit.ly/fTn8cK.
This will be a case study for us, as we watch the garden go through its seasons, so we can learn how to best help these projects succeed. Our Community Development Department is working on guidelines that will help to create more opportunities like this one.
There is so much to be learned in a garden. It's healthy for us to go outside, smell the good earth beneath our fingers, plant seeds and watch them grow. We nourish ourselves with exercise and fresh food. We learn to take care of what we plant, to hope for a good harvest, and to cherish the earth we all share. A green patch of ground is respite for us in this busy, urban environment. I look forward to the work our committee will do in this area.
Our next committee meeting happens on Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. at Tempe City Hall, 31 E. Fifth Street. We meet on the third floor. I hope you can join us in our smart growth efforts.
