Hilliard, Ohio, is charting new territory as the first city in the U.S. to hold the title of a fully certified Intelligent Community. This week, the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), an organization that advocates for smart city growth, awarded Hilliard for its comprehensive adoption of technology that streamlines and enriches the lives of its residents. This certification is not just a fancy title; it's the ICF's nod to the city's achievements in connectivity, digital equity, innovation, and green initiatives.
The ICF not only dug through Hilliard's digital strategy but also examined the outcomes, and they liked what they found. In a statement obtained by the Hilliard official website, ICF co-founder Robert Bell spoke of Hilliard's projects that drive economic expansion and citizen engagement - not just their existence but the synergy between them that positions Hilliard as a community looking firmly towards the future.
Not new to acclaim, Hilliard has been in the ICF spotlight before, landing a spot among the Top7 Intelligent Communities twice, and is currently a finalist for the gold standard of ICF honors, the Intelligent Community of the Year, set to be announced in Barcelona next month. This recent certification places Hilliard in the global limelight, affirming its policies and practices that foster an environment conducive to growth for both business and culture.
Linking broadband to every nook and corner, nurturing a workforce tailored for the digital age, and throwing a wide net of inclusion are only some ways that Hilliard is crafting an intelligent city model. It's a playbook that promises growth, sustainability, and quality of life for its citizens. "Meeting ICF’s Certification standard validates Hilliard as a community that supports the growth of innovative businesses, meets its talent needs, and provides inclusive prosperity and a high quality of life," the City of Hilliard's website quotes.
Readers can visit the City of Hilliard's official website for more information on the ICF and what it takes for a city to be recognized as an "Intelligent Community."
