Some local Internet entrepreneurs, higher education faculty and the Chamber of Commerce are pulling together a conference Oct. 5, in conjunction with Buy the Bay Showcase at Bayfront Plaza Convention Center, to help local businesses use the Internet to their advantage. The Oct. 5 conference aims to take some of the mystery out of e-commerce and Web page design and to introduce local entrepreneurs to proven Internet business plans. Another outgrowth of the conference is the likely formation of a local Internet Technology Society, now in the works. Intellectual capital provided by our local colleges and universities. Low cost of living.
Internet industry is non-polluting, thus complementing the existing tourist industry.
Beautiful bay and beaches with plenty of water sports to attract the young Internet professionals. That's already happening. Local real estate agents tell us that Austin's Internet rich are buying Padre Island homes as getaways. Chamber CEO Tom Niskala has said that some of them are bound to like it here enough to make it their permanent home. One way or another, it seems, we'll be the next Austin.