Smart Cities Council Joins the White House Commitment to Further Advance Smart Cities in the U.S.

Smart Cities Council has announced that it will award five challenge grants to help five American cities apply smart technologies to improve urban livability, workability and sustainability. The grant is in support of the White House’s call to action to accelerate the development of smart cities, which was just announced today. This is the second year that the White House issued a major announcement to kick off Smart Cities Week – North America’s premier smart cities conference, convening over 1,500 participants from all levels of government and the private sector on September 28-29 in Washington, D.C.

Last September, the Administration launched the White House Smart Cities Initiative, announcing an initial investment of over $160 million in research funds devoted to growing the pipeline of proven new technologies available to help cities solve pressing challenges. The initiative includes a range of partnerships with cities and universities collaborating to launch more than 60 new smart city projects across the country.

“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 21st 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.”