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Houston’s East End Rebrands Itself As Hub For Entrepreneurs, Millennials And Tech Start-Ups

The historic neighborhood is attracting businesses involved in that sector.

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  • Brad Rossacci works as director of innovation for the company 900LBS of creative and is usually involved in virtual reality projects. He rents office space at Headquarters. (Photo Credit: Alvaro 'Al' Ortiz/Houston Public Media)
    Brad Rossacci works as director of innovation for the company 900LBS of creative and is usually involved in virtual reality projects. He rents office space at Headquarters. (Photo Credit: Alvaro 'Al' Ortiz/Houston Public Media)
  • Devin Licata, one of Headquarters’ co-founders, says the East End has “a different vibe.” (Photo Credit: Al Ortiz)
    Devin Licata, one of Headquarters’ co-founders, says the East End has “a different vibe.” (Photo Credit: Al Ortiz)
  • Headquarters used to be a warehouse. Devin Licata and her brother Peter renovated it and it has become a 35,000 square foot modern facility that provides office space for start-ups and entrepreneurs, and everything in between. (Photo Credit: Al Ortiz)
    Headquarters used to be a warehouse. Devin Licata and her brother Peter renovated it and it has become a 35,000 square foot modern facility that provides office space for start-ups and entrepreneurs, and everything in between. (Photo Credit: Al Ortiz)

Houston's East End is rebranding itself as a hub for entrepreneurs, technology start-ups and Millennial professionals, and part of the strategy is attracting more small companies that operate in the technology sector.

One of the goals of the plan is that the neighborhood's residents become the workforce of those companies, through training and new educational projects.

Patrick Ezzell, director of economic development for the Greater East End Management District, which is spearheading the initiative through its ‘2017-2020 Economic Development Strategy,’ explains that "you could take an individual that’s making $12 to $15 an hour in construction and move them to $25, $30 an hour into these high tech jobs."

The plan also entails attracting businesses that provide office space to start-ups and entrepreneurs, and everything in between.

That is what a new company called Headquarters does.

Located on Canal Street, it offers 35,000 square feet of work suites and conference rooms with a Millennial feel.

"The tech entrepreneurs are looking for something that is a little different, it has a different energy to it, a different vibe, and I think the East End provides that," Devin Licata, one of Headquarters' co-founders, tells Houston Public Media.

Brad Rossacci works as director of innovation for the company 900LBS of creative and is usually involved in virtual reality projects.

He rents a suite at Headquarters and agrees with Licata.

"We really thrive on a certain type of culture, a certain type of vibe," notes Rossacci, while adding "the ability to take a space like the East End and reimagine that blank canvas in a way that can effectively be anything we want it to, I think is every creative’s desire."

Other shared workspaces have also opened in the East End with projects related to 3D printing, drones and computer animation, among other things.