Cochrane Mayor Jeff Genung and CAO Dave Devana boarded planes this week to travel to Las Vegas and talk tech at the Consumer Technology Association Conference.
The pair is keen on boosting the town’s appeal to attract more tech-sector companies to join the ranks of Garmin, 4iiii, mcThings and others that call Cochrane home.
They are also hoping to unite Cochrane businesses to apply for Infrastructure Canada’s Smart Cities Challenge. The cross-country competition calls on communities to adopt innovative solutions to improve the lives of their residents – with serious prize dollars up for grabs for four communities.
Top prize is up to $50 million; two second-place winners with populations under 500,000 can take home up to $10 million each; and one-third place winner will earn up to $5 million.
“I am committed to working to ensure Cochrane businesses have access to cutting-edge, high-tech infrastructure, opportunities to grow, create good jobs and seek new opportunities that will benefit everyone in our town,” said Genung.
“As mayor, it’s my responsibility to make sure Cochrane has every opportunity to remain competitive in the global and rapidly changing economy.”
Genung said he will be touting Cochrane as an ideal headquarters for both start-up and established tech-sector companies.
Other members from Cochrane’s tech sector companies will also be in attendance.
Expenses for the trip will be reported on cochrane.ca, as per protocol.
Deadline for the Smart Cities Challenge is April 24.
Learn more at www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/cities-villes-eng.html.
