The South Florida Technology Alliance announced today that it is launching an expanded agenda and a multi-year campaign to promote South Florida as a major emerging tech center.
The first change, unveiled today, is a new, comprehensive website that aims to serve as a central information portal for the technology community. It includes links to companies, academic institutions, business and technology organizations, funding groups, governmental programs and additional resources, a calendar for events throughout the region and a blog. That website can be reached through the SFTA website at www.southfloridatech.org or directly at www.sftechinfo.org.
“The mission of the SFTA is to help its members learn about the business of technology and connect with others who share similar interests, as well as promote the growth, success and awareness of the South Florida regional technology community,” said SFTA President Lonnie Maier. “In the past we have done that through events, networking, programs and education. This campaign will enhance our programs and extend them to cover the full spectrum of high technology including IT, Life Sciences, medical devices and clean technology. Over time, we will add new programs to assist the technology community to learn, connect and grow.”
SFTA’s approach is to work with all groups from Miami-Dade through St. Lucie County to support the regional technology community, said Maier. For instance, in addition to the 10-plus major events it produces a year, SFTA could do a joint event with IT Women, said Maier. The next stage of the SFTA’s efforts will be to create additional councils, such as for CEOs, CFOs, sales and marketing, renewable energy and life sciences, and each of those councils could host additional gatherings and provide community resources. “Our goal is to grow jobs,” Maier said.
SFTA, which has about 100 members and has an office in the Technology Business Incubator at the Research Park at FAU, has partnered with Next Horizon Communications of West Palm Beach to facilitate this campaign. Next Horizon is a communications strategy firm experienced in building high technology centers of excellence.