Impacts of 'Silicon Beach' Subject of Upcoming Venice Town Hall

With Digital Domain, JibJab Media and now Google in Venice a town hall meeting has been scheduled for April 12 to discuss the emergence of "Silicon Beach" on the Westside.

The meeting had been scheduled for Feb. 23, but was postponed to attract more participants and to publicize it.

The Venice Neighborhood Council and the Venice Chamber of Commerce are hosting the town hall. It will feature a one-hour showcase with representatives from high-tech companies followed by a one-hour panel discussion titled "The Emergence of Silicon Beach" that will be moderated by Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl.

Topics for the panel discussion will include the city's role in bringing high-tech businesses to the Westside; the economic impact in terms of jobs and average wages and examining why high-tech firms are moving to Silicon Beach, according to a press release Friday from the Venice Neighborhood council.

"Our culture in Venice has always lent itself to creativity and we are seeing a renaissance of industry as a result," said Linda Lucks, president of the Venice Neighborhood Council, in the press release. "With this town hall we offer a golden opportunity to bring together members of the Venice tech and residential communities to mingle in a social setting."

The burgeoning high-tech sector of "Silicon Beach" is generally considered to run from Santa Monica through Venice, Marina del Rey and Playa del Rey and through the South Bay cities of El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach.

The event will take place at Westminster Elementary, 1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd. starting at 6:30 p.m. Anyone with questions should contact Matt Kline via email.

The event also has its own Facebook page.

(Editor's Note: Updated March 2 to add new topics for panel discussion and quote.)