“I’m a start-up operator as well,” said Mayor Brennan.
Mayor Brennan with Liz Trice, co-founder of Peloton Labs.
Mayor Brennan has been visiting businesses to learn more about their needs. His latest visit was to Peloton Labs on Congress Street at Bramhall Square.
The Mayor met a group of entrepreneurs working in industries as diverse as tourism, publishing and technology. Peloton Labs is a co-working space, where small businesses and sole-proprietors share office resources and creative energy.
The Mayor visited during snack-time, a daily activity where members can unwind, refocus, and discuss challenges and successes.
“I’m a start-up operator as well,” said Mayor Brennan, referring to his position as the first elected Mayor of Portland since the early 1900s.
The Mayor has visited 45 different businesses around the city in an effort to learn more about their needs.
He noted that 80% of the businesses he visited said their biggest problem was finding workers.
Mayor Brennan told the group of entrepreneurs that workforce development was a priority for his office, and added that a grant from the Maine Technology Institute (MTI) will help the City foster a health informatics cluster.
Health informatics is a specialization that links information technology, communications and healthcare. Business clusters are concentrations of companies that draw on a similar knowledge base and require similar workforce skills.
