Arlington Named a Smart21 Community

The Intelligent Community Forum has named Arlington one of the world’s Smart21 Communities of 2015, according to a news release from the county. Here’s more about the special designation, from the release:

The County is one of only four communities in the United States to achieve the honor, which recognizes economic and social improvements. This is the fourth time Arlington has achieved the Smart 21 designation.

“It is an honor for Arlington to be listed among these prestigious communities from around the globe,” said Cindy Richmond, acting director of Arlington Economic Development. “Arlington has worked hard to become a community that not only attracts national high-tech and research companies and is known as the heart of the growing eastern tech corridor, but also is incredibly resilient and offers its residents excellent quality of life.”

Evaluation of Intelligent Community Forum Awards Program nominations is based on the five Intelligent Community Indicators, which provide the conceptual framework for understanding all of the factors that determine a community’s competitiveness and point to its success in the broadband economy. This year’s Awards also will be guided by the theme, The Revolutionary Community, which focuses on the study of urban and regional planning and how it is impacting the way people live, work and create in their cities and towns. Watch ICF’s video about the Smart21 for 2015.

The Smart21 Communities of 2015 is comprised of five communities from the United States; four communities from Australia; four communities from Taiwan; three communities from Canada; and one community each from Brazil, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya and New Zealand.

This select group of communities is now in contention for the prestigious designation of Intelligent Community of the Year, which will be awarded in June 2015.