Commerce Street

Port San Antonio and the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology are teaming up with local partners to create a tech training hub to fill hundreds of open jobs in growing industries in a time when much of the economy has been hammered by the pandemic. KENS 5 Commerce Street’s Erica Zucco speaks with Port San Antonio President/CEO Jim Perschbach, SAMSAT President/CEO Doug King, District 4 Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia and Workforce Solutions Alamo CEO Adrian Lopez about their hopes for San Antonians using the center- and what this moment means for economic development in the years to come.

Editor’s note: These interviews were conducted via Zoom - we’re working through snags presented by the pandemic and appreciate your patience!

UPDATE: This program is underway and students are already taking classes. We hope you enjoy this episode as well as our update episode from Oct. 21, 2020 titled, First wave of students begin free job training program at Port San Antonio. It contains interviews with students about their experiences in the training.

“From deep sea to deep space” | The scientists and engineers at the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) are putting San Antonio on the map when it comes to collaboration and innovation. The unique method combining expertise across a diverse number of projects attracts some of the greatest minds in the world to the Alamo City. In this episode of Commerce Street, we spoke with SwRI president and CEO Adam Hamilton and Hakima Ibaroudene, who was part of a team that won an international competition with a revolutionary way to diagnose breast cancer.

 Read more: https://www.kens5.com/article/tech/commerce-street-southwest-research-institute-launches-into-the-future/273-41f9238c-ab2a-4342-bec7-00031b6d701f

Note: This episode of Commerce Street was recorded on March 3, 2020. Due to a change in operations at KENS 5 because of COVID-19, publishing had to be delayed.

Every aspect of our lives has been affected by the coronavirus and there will be many coronavirus angles to cover in the coming months, from medical to education to behavioral and many more. But today, as many San Antonians find themselves furloughed, unemployed or concerned for the future, we talk with the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation’s SA Works Executive Director, Romanita Matta Barrera, about short and long term plans to get San Antonio back to work and which industries are actually on the rise compared to the start of 2020.

Full story: https://www.kens5.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/beyond-covid-19-san-antonios-resilient-economy-set-up-for-future-success-commerce-street-podcast/273-f6129a12-1b01-4902-b6a2-56108ad82bc9

St. Mary's University in San Antonio is adding Esports to its Athletic Department. In this episode of Commerce Street from KENS 5, we take a look at what went into planning for the big change and the future of this multi-billion dollar industry.

As concerns about coronavirus dominate national headlines, San Antonio industry leaders are keeping in contact with officials and monitoring the situation to see how, if at all, reaction to the virus could impact the local economy. On this episode of Commerce Street from KENS 5, we tell you what you need to know as the news about the coronavirus unfolds.

A recent survey showed San Antonio was in the top ten of the most affordable cities for startup companies, according to the website listwithclever.com. In this episode of Commerce Street, a podcast from KENS 5, Eyewitness News reporter Erica Zucco and producer Kristin Dean talked to two startup company leaders about their experiences in the Alamo City.

Read more: https://www.kens5.com/article/news/commerce-street-sa-becomes-magnet-for-startups/273-6ae9a4a7-f6c2-4813-8add-ddd9b2400967

Building a thriving business in the heart of downtown is not for the faint of heart. On this episode of Commerce Street, a podcast by KENS 5, we are taking a look at two success stories. One of them is the story of brothers who got to know San Antonio and built the bakery empire of La Panaderia. The other is the story of Rosella, a cozy coffee shop that found a niche in a trendy area and grew into a household San Antonio brand name.

Read more: https://www.kens5.com/article/news/commerce-street-downtown-business/273-dfc07b37-5ea5-4b3a-84a9-2a81598f480e

The rising tech industry in San Antonio demands training programs that are breeding the best tech leaders of tomorrow. In the latest episode of Commerce Street by KENS 5, we explore two programs, each with a different demographic, but both with the same mission of supplying local industries with top talent.

In some ways, technology helps communities connect; in others, it can do the opposite. A recent report by the Pew Research Center raised concerns about social isolation as a lot of people spend more time online. Brick and mortar businesses could play a role in stemming that tide. KENS 5 Eyewitness News sat down with Gold Coffee Company owner Jason Tantaros to discuss his ethos for starting a shop- with fostering community in mind.

The City of San Antonio’s Chief Innovation Officer, Brian Dillard, sits down with KENS 5 Eyewitness News to explain what a “Smart City” is, what “Smart SA” means, and what projects are ahead- including testing autonomous vehicles, piloting “smart streetlights” and closing the digital divide.