LI business leaders seek Silicon Valley inspiration

How did Silicon Valley become Silicon Valley?

Long Island business and political leaders are hoping to get some answers at a meeting Thursday with officials of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, which represents companies in America's top tech spot.

The meeting was arranged by Rep. Steve Israel (D-Dix Hills) and will include Israel, Long Island Association president Kevin Law and members of an initiative called Accelerate Long Island.

Accelerate Long Island includes such institutions as Brookhaven National Laboratory, Stony Brook University, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health Systems and Hofstra University.

The meeting will be hosted by CA Technologies Inc. at its headquarters in Islandia.

In a statement, Israel said, "I invited the Silicon Valley Leadership Group to Long Island because I believe we can generate jobs by showcasing our workforce to business leaders around the country. In this economy we need to use every tool in the toolbox to maximize our economic potential."

Law said Friday, "We can learn a lot from them in terms of how to grow a new economy here. This is to learn how they got their act together in Silicon Valley."

Among those coming from the SVLG are Carl Guardino, the chief executive, and Tom Werner, the group's chairman.

Steve Wright, an SVLG spokesman, said about a dozen Silicon Valley chief executives will also be on hand for the meeting.

Wright said SVLG has been meeting with business groups around the country to cement relationships over such issues as tax and immigration reform.