Mayor Kenney To Attend SXSW
by Melony Roy
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Over the years, Philadelphia's presence at the South by Southwest tech, music, and film conference has grown.
The latest Philadelphian heading to Austin in March isn't a "techie" at all.
No Philadelphia mayor has yet attended South by Southwest, but Mayor Kenney is on his way to Austin.
"We hope to bring more of a presence of Philadelphia to that event, which is a very successful and longtime event," said Kenney.
He will be apart of a United States Conference of Mayors delegation.
"I've said before that tech will be one of the solutions to our poverty problem, when we get kids engaged in the tech world. The best way to do it is to go to where all the tech folks are going, and to try to show Philadelphia off," he said.
Amplify Philly is leading an effort to get more tech companies to Austin through grants to help pay for their participation.
"We have a lot things going for us: affordability, walkability, good neighborhoods, great culture, and we just want to make sure people understand that and consider Philadelphia as a spot to either start a business, expand a business, or move a business," Mayor Kenney said.
Some Philly-based companies planning to attend the conference include ROAR for Good, Social Ladder, Comcast, CHOP and PENN.