Should Creve Coeur Provide Wi-Fi On Olive?

In 2011, Creve Coeur resident Joe Ashkar moved his Information Technology firm GoINET's corporate headquarters out of a location in the city of St. Louis. While his company's data center remains downtown, that location was no longer convenient for his firm's employees, some who live in St. Charles and would commute downtown, only to service clients in Clayton, Creve Coeur and elsewhere. 

"We need our office to be a little more strategic," Ashkar said on the decision to move to office space on Olive Boulevard near Spoede Road.

The city of Creve Coeur is home to dozens of technology firms, many of whom don't know their cohorts in other companies are in town, according to one City Council member.

Ward 4's Scott Saunders updated the Council last week on efforts underway to connect with a wide range of those business interests, from Information Technology (IT) firms all the way to larger companies like Microsoft.

The city's Economic Development Commission has spearheaded the outreach in hopes of helping that business sector self-organize and network together on issues like workforce development and branding.

The idea of having wi-fi available along Olive is one of many ideas tossed around and is purely in the draft stage, Saunders emphasized.

This businesses sector, like others, are attracted to the city's regional accessibility, and availability of restaurants. Now, the city wants to investigate what kind of resources and ammenities it will take to help them stay here and grow.

Chief among them could be the ability to hire qualified workers.

Members of the city's Economic Development Commission have said that IT firms want to hire, but cannot find employees. Instead, they often end up hiring from rival companies. One broad concept would involve working with local schools to find and train next-generation workers.

The most noticeable idea floated so far in discussions that would stand out to city residents may be the concept of a "flyover" on Lindbergh between Olive Boulevard and Bauer Road.

What do you think? None of these ideas are set in stone, but what would you like to see happen in Creve Coeur to foster business development?