From the Trussville Tribune staff reports
According to the Smart Cities Council website, the Smart Cities Council announced Thursday that Birmingham is one of the 2018 winners of its second annual Readiness Challenge. Other cities in the winner’s circle include Cary, NC; Las Vegas, NV; Louisville/Jefferson County, KY; and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
These winners of the Readiness Challenge shared three traits:
* Focusing on breaking down silos to help departments provide better, more efficient service by working together.
* Emphasizing coordinated collaboration, not just internally, but also with the community and nearby regions.
* Determined to use smart cities strategies to lift up underserved and vulnerable populations.
Winners will receive a full year of expert, vendor-neutral mentoring plus on-site Readiness workshop trailers to community needs and priorities.
They will also receive free products and services worth hundreds and thousands from leading organizations and Smart iris’s Council partners including Qualcomm, Battelle, SYNEXXUS, CompTIA, and IES.
In addition to the five winners, Puerto Rico, which was one of the 10 finalists, was awarded its own special humanitarian grant in order to speed recovery after last year’s devastating hurricane.
“Since we launched the Smart Cities Council Readiness Challenge last year, we’ve seen cities make great strides,” Smart Cities Council member, Jennifer James.
“This year’s entrants are knowledgeable and committed, and they have large ambitions. They are moving beyond the ‘pilot phase’ to deploy strategic at-scale programs that will generate lasting benefits.”
Smart Cities Council envisions a world where digital technology and intelligent design have been harnessed to create smart, sustainable cities with high-quality living and high-quality jobs. To tap into the transformative power of smart technologies, cities need a trusted, neutral advisor. The Smart Cities Council provides that help and are a network of leading companies advised by top universities, laboratories and standards bodies.
For more information visit www.smartcitiescouncil.com and https://www.comptia.org/.