Chicago tries to woo tech workers in Austin, elsewhere

KevinFromTexas · #1 Posted **May 30, 2021, 5:13 PM**

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2021/05/28/chicago-campaign-bring-techies-back-p33.html
Chicago tries to woo tech workers in Austin, elsewhere
Have a valued employee with roots in Windy City? They may get pitches online soon to leave you

By Jim Dallke – Senior Editor, Chicago Business Journal
May 28, 2021 Updated May 28, 2021, 3:03pm CDT

A new initiative is underway to help bring back thousands of tech workers that grew up and went to college in Illinois but left the state to start their careers in hotspots such as Austin.

The new threat to local managers, P33, is a Chicago nonprofit that's aiming to turn the Windy City into a top-tier tech hub. It announced May 27 a program that will target 100,000 tech workers in cities across the country, with the hope of convincing 10,000 of them to return to the state they once called home.

"Most people who left Chicago 10 years ago think Chicago has a very thin startup ecosystem and tech ecosystem, because 10 years ago it was," P33 CEO Brad Henderson said. "There are over 100 growth-stage companies in Chicago that are hiring in droves. That’s a very different Chicago than when they left. What we’ve found is they don’t know that."

dimondpark · #2 Posted **May 30, 2021, 5:29 PM**

Get it Chi-town!

C. · #3 Posted **May 30, 2021, 5:38 PM**

I love Chicago and prefer it over Austin, but…

Austin is a huge tech town for good reason. It’s going to be a hard sell due to the climate and taxes. But who knows, maybe Chicago’s thin crust pizza and the wet Italian beefs will be the deciding factor.

I miss me a good deep dish Chicago pizza from Piquods and hot dogs from any place with Vienna beef for sure! Breakfast tacos and sliced brisket though. Yum!

iheartthed · #4 Posted **May 30, 2021, 5:45 PM**

Misguided. I doubt any of these campaigns to lure back natives have ever worked.

LA21st · #5 Posted **May 30, 2021, 5:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.

I love Chicago and prefer it over Austin, but…

Austin is a huge tech town for good reason. It’s going to be a hard sell due to the climate and taxes. But who knows, maybe Chicago’s thin crust pizza and the wet Italian beefs will be the deciding factor.

I miss me a good deep dish Chicago pizza from Piquods and hot dogs from any place with Vienna beef for sure! Breakfast tacos and sliced brisket though. Yum!

Chicago offers alot more than good food lol.

C. · #6 Posted **May 30, 2021, 6:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LA21st

Chicago offers alot more than good food lol.

Ya but

JManc · #7 Posted **May 30, 2021, 6:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LA21st

Chicago offers alot more than good food lol.

Really good craft beer too.

C. · #8 Posted **May 30, 2021, 6:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JManc

Really good craft beer too.

Always a fun time when visiting Chicago.

TexasPlaya · #9 Posted **May 30, 2021, 6:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.

Ya but

That looks like some sort of pasta pie

LA21st · #10 Posted **May 30, 2021, 6:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.

Ya but

Lol. I lived there for 10 years. I'm aware. Chicago has good cuisine for anything. The Italian beef stuff though seems to be pretty unique, I haven't see anywhere else.

SIGSEGV · #11 Posted **May 30, 2021, 7:54 PM**

So what I'm getting is that these recruiters of UIUC / NW/ UC grads should be sending Lou's?

twister244 · #12 Posted **May 30, 2021, 7:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.

Ya but

WTF is this ^^^^?

That's not Chicago style pizza. Maybe Milwaukee style?

Anyways...... I would love to see Chicago lure tech workers. I've been to Austin once, and it's a great city, but it just doesn't offer anything close to the city life that Chicago has. I can see how taxes, etc can be bad, but for me the pros outweigh. Then again, I'm not a business owner.

craigs · #13 Posted **May 30, 2021, 8:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIGSEGV

So what I'm getting is that these recruiters of UIUC / NW/ UC grads should be sending Lou's?

Lou Malnati's for the win.

Seriously, Chicago has a great food scene and that would be one good reason, among others, to move there and work remotely rather than in a smaller metro like Austin. Chicago also has amazing museums, fantastic architecture, the amenities of the wide-open waterfront--in the competition for remote tech workers, it should put its best foot forward. Why the hell not?

SIGSEGV · #14 Posted **May 30, 2021, 8:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by twister244

WTF is this ^^^^?

That's not Chicago style pizza. Maybe Milwaukee style?

Anyways...... I would love to see Chicago lure tech workers. I've been to Austin once, and it's a great city, but it just doesn't offer anything close to the city life that Chicago has. I can see how taxes, etc can be bad, but for me the pros outweigh. Then again, I'm not a business owner.

looks like a tiny Pequod's pizza or something?

LA21st · #15 Posted **May 30, 2021, 8:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigs

Lou Malnati's for the win.

Seriously, Chicago has a great food scene and that would be one good reason, among others, to move there and work remotely rather than in a smaller metro like Austin. Chicago also has amazing museums, fantastic architecture, the amenities of the wide-open waterfront--in the competition for remote tech workers, it should put its best foot forward. Why the hell not?

Lou's is my favorite but Piece (New Haven style) in Wicker Park is close. I've gone to Phoenix for Lou Malanatis' lol.

I heard there were plans for Lou's in Silverlake in LA before covid but it screwed the plans up. Not 100 percent sure though.

38 Geary · #16 Posted **May 30, 2021, 9:14 PM**

I can’t speak for others but if I had to pick, I’d choose to — up the winters and live in Chicago over Austin for all the reasons stated above. It’s probably even cheaper to live there than in Austin. As nice as Austin probably is for a smaller metro it’s not in the same league as a world class city like Chicago. It’s definitely underperforming on the tech front relative to its size, so there’s only room for improvement.

the urban politician · #17 Posted **May 30, 2021, 9:45 PM**

We also have a lot of beautiful gold digging women looking for men with money.

Make your tech dollars and then go visit the — Triangle at Rush and Oak and you will find your second bride (and stepmom to your 18 year old kiddies)

harryc · #18 Posted **May 30, 2021, 9:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LA21st

Chicago offers alot more than good food lol.

A power grid that stays up - reproductive rights - 597' above sea level .

and better burritos.

JDRCRASH · #19 Posted **May 30, 2021, 9:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LA21st

Lou's is my favorite but Piece (New Haven style) in Wicker Park is close. I've gone to Phoenix for Lou Malanatis' lol.

I heard there were plans for Lou's in Silverlake in LA before covid but it screwed the plans up. Not 100 percent sure though.

With Masa nearby in Echo Park I wonder how it would’ve done.

iheartthed · #20 Posted **May 30, 2021, 10:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by homebucket

I can’t speak for others but if I had to pick, I’d choose to — up the winters and live in Chicago over Austin for all the reasons stated above. It’s probably even cheaper to live there than in Austin. As nice as Austin probably is for a smaller metro it’s not in the same league as a world class city like Chicago. It’s definitely underperforming on the tech front relative to its size, so there’s only room for improvement.

Urbanity-wise, it's downright insulting to compare Chicago to Austin. And Austin's summer heat detracts a little from the appeal of moving there for the weather, albeit not as much as Chicago's winters.