GAGE Hires Entrepreneurship And Innovation Director

Mourer's experience includes web development positions with Healthx in Indianapolis and Escalade Sports in Evansville.

A web developer is joining the Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville as its director of entrepreneurship and innovation development. Alex Mourer says much of his focus will be on "eliminating small hurdles" to innovators and entrepreneurs through efforts including increasing access to public Wi-Fi. He says he also wants to capitalize on assets already in place, such as regular tech meetups and the city’s new maker space.

GAGE says Mourer will be the primary point of contact for entrepreneurial and tech-based activity for the organization. In addition to working with private sector companies, the group says he will create programs designed to spark interest in tech careers in children, teens and young adults.

Mourer began his web developing career in Evansville at On-Site Computer Solutions before starting his own business. His experience also includes web development positions with Healthx in Indianapolis and Escalade Sports in Evansville.

In addition to his call for better access to public Wi-Fi, Mourer says Evansville could see a big benefit in mirroring an initiative in Chattanooga, Tennessee. While he admits it’s a "long-shot" in Evansville, he says the Tenneessee city offers gigabit-speed Internet as a public utility.

Evansville’s tech sector is celebrating a recent win. eLuxurySupply.com announced in February that it would invest more than $5 million to move its manufacturing operations from Tennessee to Evansville and create more than 100 jobs. Founder Paul Saunders says the city’s focus on becoming an innovation-friendly community was one of the main reasons he decided to expand in Evansville.