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Westchester County, New York, 2007 Intelligent Community of the Year Semi-Finalist

Communities recognized for their use of broadband and information technology to attract leading edge businesses, build digital skills and generate economic growth.

Dr. Norman J. Jacknis CIO of Westchester County 

Westchester County, New York, has been selected from hundreds of submissions worldwide as a semi-finalist to become the 2007 Intelligent Community of the Year. Communities named in the Smart 21 list were recognized for their use of broadband and information technology to attract leading edge businesses, build digital skills and generate economic growth.

The sponsor of the annual competition, the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), is a non-profit international think tank that focuses on job creation and economic development in the broadband economy.

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 green 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.

The 21 communities now enter the next stage of the awards program in which the top seven intelligent communities of 2008 will be announced in January. From these seven, the Intelligent Community of the Year will be announced in New York City in May.

Westchester County was one of five American communities that made the 2008 Smart21 list. The full roster includes communities from Korea, Australia, Estonia, Canada, UK, Sweden, The Netherlands, as well as the smallest nation in the European Union (Malta) and the home of controversial TV network Al-Jazeera (Doha).

According to ICF chairman John G. Jung, "Gaining a place among the Smart21 is the first step toward greater recognition as a community or region that is either positioning itself to prosper, or already is prospering in the Digital Age. This year we found that communities have passed a threshold, and no longer question whether broadband is a key to success, but are attempting to take steps to use the technology to move forward in order to 'future proof' themselves and ensure sustainability."