March 05, 2009

The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) think tank, which studies the impact of technology on global communities, has recognized County Executive Andy Spano as a “remarkable leader” who represents “innovation and dedication to results in today's broadband economy.”"

Spano is one of three recipients announced today that will be presented with annual Founders Awards in May from the ICF, a non-profit group that recognizes technology-related accomplishments each year by announcing a list of Intelligent Communities. Under Spano's leadership, Westchester County was named a Top Seven Intelligent Community in 2008 and named to ICF's list of the Smart21 in 2009.

The other recipients are David Carter, head of the Manchester Digital Development Agency in the United Kingdom and Taoyuan County in Taiwan. The awards will be presented in New York on May 15, during the annual Building the Broadband Economy Summit. The Summit is organized by ICF and hosted by the Polytechnic Institute of New York University.

According to ICF, Westchester County has made its broadband and telecommunications strategy the foundation for continued innovation, growth and access. When carriers refused to introduce broadband beyond the profitable business corridor, the county government worked with local governments, libraries, schools and hospitals to aggregate demand to finance a fiber network. That network today serves 3,500 businesses and is saving government and public-service agencies large amounts of money. The network has been instrumental in attracting new investment, improved educational achievement, job creation and an enhanced quality of life. Spano's “lifetime of innovation in re-engineering local government processes, which has saved tax dollars and created a local culture of use that has made the Internet a major form of communication between government and citizens” was also noted.