Columbus, Ohio Named ‘Smart City’ Winner
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced that Columbus, Ohio, has won the Smart City Challenge. With its win, the city will receive $50 million in grants to create a first of its kind city that uses data, technology, and creativity to model the future.
Columbus will receive support and $10 million of the grant money from high-tech industry sponsors, such as from Amazon, Vulcan, AT&T, DC Solar, MobileEye, among others.
Making Cities Smart
Columbus officials say they plan to use the money for connecting its citizens and visitors, provide sustainable transportation options, and improving job opportunities. Anthony Foxx, the secretary of the DOT, says Columbus’ focus on improving the health and lives of the community was key in it being named the winner.
Foxx says the Smart City Challenge was created to “challenge cities to inventory the challenges they faced and how they would use innovation and technology to solve those challenges.” The DOT expects to see implementation of solutions in Columbus within the next few years. The other six finalist cities in the Smart City Challenge will also receive support from industry sponsors. Those six finalist cities included: Austin, Texas; Denver, Colo.; Kansas City, Mo.; Pittsburg, Pa.; Portland, Ore.; and San Francisco, Calif.
Seventy-eight medium-sized cities from 35 states submitted proposals for the challenge.
Source: “Columbus Wins the Smart City Challenge and $50M Grants,” Forbes.com (June 24, 2016)
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