Greitens' technology task force to visit Springfield, where tech jobs have fallen

Springfield's technology scene offers a mixed bag to Gov. Eric Greitens and his allies in the business community.

On one hand, the Queen City has resources like the eFactory — a downtown facility that aims to boost start-ups, including some in the computing industry.

And Springfield has been trying to increase the tech skills of its residents to keep up with the increased demand for workers who know how to communicate with computers.

However, well-paying tech jobs are relatively scarce and becoming ever tougher to find.

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the number of Springfieldians employed in the information sector is at its lowest point since September 2000. In the past year, the Springfield metropolitan area has lost about 1 out of every 8 information technology jobs.

This is poor, even for Missouri, where information-sector jobs dropped by about 6 percent from April 2016 to April 2017, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center.

The center also says information security analysts have the highest projected growth rate among all occupations in Greene and surrounding counties, though the estimated 50 percent jump would bring a mere 45 jobs to the Ozark region.

Greitens said Monday a new task force he created to determine how Missouri can bolster technology start-ups will visit Springfield as part of a statewide tour.

"Accelerating the growth of good paying jobs is critical to Missouri’s future," Greitens said in a statement. "Missouri must find smart, efficient ways to support innovation, entrepreneurs, and new technology start-ups."

The task force will be sponsored by the Hawthorn Foundation, a nonpartisan nonprofit whose mission is to boost economic development in Missouri. In the past, Hawthorn's activities include giving grant money to Missouri State University and covering costs for former Gov. Jay Nixon's trade trips abroad.

The task force is expected to land in Springfield on July 19 and deliver its recommendations until August.

Margaret Onken, Hawthorn's executive director, told the News-Leader she doesn't have a final list of members of the governor's task force. The governor's office did not respond to a similar request for information.

Onken described the task force as "a statewide steering committee made up of leaders in the start-up sector," including CEOs, venture capitalists and "general business folks."

The task force will be led by Drew Erdmann, who Greitens named as Missouri's first chief operating officer in January. Erdmann is being paid a salary of $125,000 to serve as a top bureaucrat in Greitens' administration.

Since his appointment, the News-Leader has made several requests to interview Erdmann, including an attempt on Monday, but the governor's office has not made him available.