Riverside named to the Top 7 Intelligent Communities of the Year

News headline from the City of Riverside:

Intelligent Communities announced that Riverside was named to the Top 7 Intelligent Communities of the Year for the second year in a row. Riverside is one of only two U.S. cities identified as global leaders in innovation and municipal technologies.

Riverside had recently been chosen for a Smart21 Communities Award, which recognizes the top 21 intelligent cities worldwide, and with this announcement, Riverside advanced to one of the Top 7. The award recognizes Riverside for its commitment to broadband, citywide innovation and its knowledge-economy. It was specifically recognized for its collaboration to promote technology initiatives and tech-based transformation with universities and private technology executive officers.

“The Top Seven of 2012 have demonstrated a profound dedication to the future of their communities,” said ICF Co-founder Louis Zacharilla who presented the Top Seven at the awards luncheon in Honolulu. “Each of these communities has created a uniquely powerful ecosystem on a foundation of information and communications technology. By becoming platforms for innovation, they are creating a better life for citizens on all rungs of the economic ladder and a vibrant future for the next generation.”

SmartRiverside, a non-profit headed by city officials and private high-tech firms (www.smartriverside.org), is dedicated to attracting and retaining high-tech businesses, creating a tech friendly environment, as well as ensuring Riverside residents are technologically equipped to compete in school and in the workforce.

“Being named a Top 7 Intelligent Community two years running is an incredible honor recognizing that Riverside excels as a world leader in innovation and municipal technologies,” said Mayor Ron Loveridge, the chair of the SmartRiverside board of directors. “That Riverside competes, and wins, among cities across the globe illustrates our commitment to municipal innovation in technology.”

The following communities were named to the Top Seven based on analysis of their nominations by a team of independent academic experts: