Indianapolis Wins Smart Cities Council Readiness Challenge

Indy Chamber News Archives

On February 8, 2017, Indianapolis was selected as one of five winners of the Smart Cities Council Readiness Challenge.  Joining Austin, Miami, Orlando, and Philadelphia, Indianapolis will receive grants to help apply smart technologies to improve urban livability, workability, and sustainability. Each winning city will receive a one-day Readiness Program workshop with participants including government leaders, private sector and academic experts, and other key local stakeholders. 

“The smart city sector has already reached more than $1 trillion in annual sales worldwide,” said Jesse Berst, Chairman of the Smart Cities Council. “But it’s not just a trend… it’s a race. In our global economy, every city is competing for jobs and talent. A smart city strategy is essential to support a 21^st century workforce and to drive economic development. We welcome the chance to help the winning cities gain a competitive edge through the creation of a robust digital infrastructure.”

Designed with each city in mind, the workshops will take into account the individual city’s immediate needs, long-term goals, and current use of smart technologies. In Indianapolis, the Readiness Workshops will be focused on modernizing utilities and transportation. Already focused on devoting resources toward smart city technology, Indianapolis has been dedicated to improving transit and building attractive innovation districts, like 16 Tech.

The Indy Chamber has led a community driven economic development strategy: Accelerate Indy.  With a strong consensus for a bold new approach, the Indy Chamber has been fast off the starting line, already moving forward on a number of Accelerate Indy priorities that will grow the Indy Region, such as leading the Marion County Transit Campaign, implementing the Metro Indianapolis Global Trade and Investment Strategy, expanding start-up and small business resources, and capitalizing on Indy’s anchor institutions.

“The Smart Cities Readiness Challenge is a great confirmation of the work we have been doing to make Indy a competitive city of the future. With the focus on transportation and infrastructure, the Smart Cities Workshop will help key community players focus on opportunities we have to support our growing digital technology industry and continue our transit momentum,” says Ian Nicolini, Vice President of Indianapolis Economic Development at the Indy Chamber and leader of Develop Indy, a business unit of Indy Chamber.

Learn more about the Smart Cities Council Readiness Challenge here.