Arlington County has been named by The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) as one of the 2010 Top Seven Intelligent Communities of the Year. The Top Seven announcement is the second stage of ICF’s annual Intelligent Community awards; Arlington County is one of only two communities in the U.S. to receive a Top Seven award.
"It is an honor to be one of just two U.S. communities selected as a Top Seven Intelligent Community," said Arlington County Board Chairman Jay Fisette. "This is important recognition, from a respected think tank with a global perspective, of Arlington's commitment to education, innovation and sustainability."
In granting the award to Arlington, the ICF noted the aspects of Arlington that make it an intelligent community, including nearly four decades of efforts to make the most of its economic ties to Federal government while maintaining an independent identity, its high quality of life, and Arlington's educational excellence in a diverse community where students speak over 100 languages and come from 128 nations. In addition, Arlington's technological advancements were singled out including Arlington's competitive broadband carriers which deliver data, voice and video services, while providing free fiber-based services to County facilities and schools
E-government services.
Finally, Arlington's nationally recognized schools were noted, which send more than 90% of our graduates to a college or university. Arlington's ability to retain its students through a professional internship program and its career and vocational centers were also highlighted.
The Intelligent Community Forum, based in New York, is a think tank that studies the economic and social development of the 21st Century community. ICF seeks to share the best practices of the world's Intelligent Communities in adapting to the demands of the Broadband Economy, in order to help communities everywhere find sustainable renewal and growth.
Arlington was among about 400 jurisdictions from around the world that submitted applications for the designation. ICF salutes Top Seven communities as pioneers and role models for the development of vibrant digital age communities.
“Arlington has certainly become a ‘smart’ community in many ways,” said Joseph Pelton, who chairs the County’s Information Technology Advisory Commission and was among those working in support of the designation.
Populations of the finalist communities range from 17,000 to more than 2 million.
The Intelligent Community Forum began issuing lists of the top seven Intelligent Communities of the Year in 2002. In May, one of the Top Seven Intelligent Communities will be selected as The Intelligent Community of the Year for 2010.
