March 17, 2008

Westchester County has been named one of the Top Seven Intelligent Communities of the Year by a non-profit international think tank that focuses on job creation and economic development in the broadband economy.

The designation by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) puts the county in the company of other progressive communities from Scotland, Canada, South Korea and Estonia that also provide “role models for the world’s best practices.”

“Getting into the top 7 just reinforces what we’ve known all along – that we are at the forefront when it comes to technology, education and economic development,” said County Executive Andy Spano. “For years, we’ve had some of the most innovative policies and programs, as well as one of the best telecommunications infrastructures in the U.S. Now we can be measured in an international arena.”

Gaining a place among the Top Seven is a major achievement as well as a step toward even greater recognition for Westchester’s efforts to successfully use broadband and information technology to attract leading edge businesses, stimulate job creation, and generate sustainable economic growth.

For the first time, the Top Seven included three American communities, plus three from the rest of the world that were named to the list a second time. The other finalists included Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom; Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada; Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea; Northeast Ohio, USA; Tallinn, Estonia; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.  South Korea took the top honor on May 16. For more details, see http://www.intelligentcommunity.org/. 

Summarizing Westchester’s achievements, ICF noted that the county “was largely ignored by broadband carriers until it amassed demand from public agencies and built a multi-gigabit fiber network that now serves over 3,500 companies. Determined to maintain the quality of life that is its most compelling advantage, the county has invested in promoting business growth, improving the skills of its workforce and fighting digital exclusion in a community that has seen new immigrants become 35% of its population.”

 Spano noted that the county’s telecom network was repeatedly cited by ICF as a major contributor to new investment, educational opportunities, employment growth and an overall better quality of life. The 800-mile fiber optic network, initiated by the county and built by Cablevision’s Lightpath, links local governments, libraries, hospitals and schools, and helped spark competing rings that ultimately created one of the best local telecom infrastructures in the United States. 

“This information superhighway, which we had the foresight to create ten-plus years ago, is a big part of what put us on the map,” Spano said.

This year’s theme – “sustainability” – allowed the county to highlight many of its green initiatives, ranging from the global warming task force to new county policies in favor of sustainable economic development.  Westchester’s application also described contributions made to local innovation and economic prosperity by partnering organizations, including local universities, libraries and private sector firms.