Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown Unveils Vision for Innovation Hub, Tech-Driven Economic Future

Mayor Lisa Brown, who took office in January after a closely contested race, has a diverse background, including positions in academia, state government, and the Washington State Department of Commerce. She spoke with GeekWire about the future of Spokane’s innovation economy and its designation as a Tech Hub by the Biden-Harris administration. Brown’s focus on regional economic development stems from her belief that higher education and good job opportunities are crucial to helping the economically struggling residents of Spokane. She sees tech as a key component of the region’s economy and envisions it playing a central role in its growth and diversification.

Brown highlights the significance of tech in various sectors of Spokane’s economy, such as aerospace, health sciences, and sustainable building. She points to the city’s quality of life and outdoor recreational opportunities as factors that attract tech workers to Spokane. Brown emphasizes the importance of collaboration and breaking down silos among higher education institutions to differentiate Spokane as a Tech Hub and meet workforce development needs. She acknowledges that workforce development, infrastructure, and environmental certifications are among the challenges in building Spokane’s innovation economy.

To encourage graduating students to stay in Spokane, Brown emphasizes the importance of a vibrant downtown, creative economy, arts, and culture. She mentions the city’s natural environment, outdoor recreation opportunities, and affordable housing as key factors in retaining young talent and families in Spokane. Brown discusses efforts to enhance bike-pedestrian infrastructure and connectivity in Spokane to make the city more appealing to young people. She believes that investing in areas like health sciences, clean energy, and building sustainability could be significant for the region’s future economic growth.

Despite the dispersion of bets on different sectors in Spokane, Brown sees potential in focusing on health sciences, innovation in clean energy, and building sustainability. She acknowledges that while there may be risks in spreading resources across multiple sectors, doubling down on health sciences and exploring new areas like clean energy and sustainability could lead to long-term economic benefits. Brown believes partnerships with private and research sectors will be critical in driving innovation in these areas. She sees Spokane’s slower-paced growth as an advantage, allowing the city more time to address affordability and quality-of-life issues before they become unmanageable.