Top state leaders and cities to launch Colorado Smart Cities Alliance

Groundbreaking public-private initiative will accelerate the development of intelligent infrastructure projects to improve the lives of Colorado residents

The Colorado Smart Cities Alliance, a first-of-its-kind initiative in the United States, officially launched Monday September 25, 2017. The statewide, multi-jurisdictional, public-private coalition aims to make Colorado a leader in the development of intelligent, 21st century infrastructure, improving everything from transportation and housing to public safety and the environment for the state’s 5.5-plus million residents.

With more than three million additional people expected to move to Colorado by 2050—a more than 50 percent increase—there is an urgency for community leaders to collaborate on finding innovative, cost-effective ways to better monitor, manage and improve infrastructure and public services.

The Denver South Economic Development Partnership identified this need, and founded the Colorado Smart Cities Alliance to provide an open, collaborative and active platform where local business and citizen leaders, public officials and community stakeholders could come together in their efforts to continually improve the region’s economic foundations for future generations.

Watch the Colorado Smart Cities Alliance Video
“The Colorado Smart Cities Alliance is advancing policies and technologies that will better equip Colorado residents to live, work and play in a future that is increasingly being shaped by the complex challenges of urban growth,” said Jake Rishavy, vice president of innovation at the Denver South Economic Development Partnership. “We’re working to create a 21st-century technology infrastructure right here in Colorado that will help to enhance everyone’s quality of life, particularly as our communities continue to grow. With our citizen-centered approach to design and public policy, this alliance is going to put Colorado on the map as a smart cities leader.”

The alliance also includes notable research partners:
The Colorado Innovation Corridor, The Innovation Corridor, a partnership between Formativ, the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).

The Colorado Technology Association, a connector that brings together public organizations, academic institutions and private enterprise to advance the tech ecosystem across the state ensure Colorado leads the way in smart city innovation.
The University of Colorado, a premier public research university and the largest institution of higher education in the state, is the alliance academic partner. CU Denver, Colorado’s only public urban research university, will lead the university’s efforts for the alliance.

Colorado’s largest company by revenue, global technology-solutions provider Arrow Electronics is serving as a technology advisor to the alliance, helping member cities design and pilot projects. Arrow is also building a platform where alliance members can securely share, aggregate and analyze data while piloting and improving upon smart cities projects.
Learn more about the Colorado Smart Cities Alliance: http://coloradosmart.city/