Spokane looking smart

Wed., Dec. 29, 2004

By Amy Cannata amyc@spokesman.com

Technology is Spokane’s ticket of choice to the world of smart towns.

Spokane is a finalist for the 2005 Top Seven Intelligent Communities of the Year competition, thanks to an application touting the city’s wireless access “HotZone” initiative, high-speed data projects and cooperative planning for technological infrastructure in the university district among health care providers and private companies.

Two years ago, Spokane was one of the seven winners, although the top honor went to Glasgow, Scotland.

“We feel we’ve worked real hard to leverage the infrastructure we have here in the community,” said Robin Toth, a spokeswoman for the city.

Dozens of people each day take advantage of the HotZone wireless Internet access downtown.

Other technological infrastructure planning is paving the way for economic development, said Avista Development executive Kim Pearman-Gilman, who helped put together Spokane’s nomination package.

“It really fits with the overall strategy of getting Spokane on the map for economic development,” said Pearman-Gillman, who added that outside recognition of Spokane’s efforts is important to attracting companies and creative people.

The Intelligent Communities awards are given by the New York City-based nonprofit Intelligent Community Forum based on a city’s ability to deploy communications infrastructure, educate its work force, involve government in making sure all sectors of the community benefit from technology, attract creative people and use technological assets to attract economic development.

Spokane’s strength is in the cooperation between local government and private enterprise, Pearman-Gillman said.

“It’s new for a community’s municipality to take such a leadership role in technology and making sure the infrastructure is there,” she explained.

Hundreds of communities applied to be named one of the 2005 Top Seven Intelligent Communities, said Intelligent Community Forum spokesman Louis Zacharilla.

The winners will be announced Jan. 19. Spokane is one of 18 finalists for this year’s awards. The others are: Taipei, Taiwan; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Philadelphia; Sunderland, U.K.; Cleveland and northeast Ohio; Issy-les-Molineaux, France; Mitaka, Japan; Tianjin, China; Long Island, N.Y.; Calgary; London; Toronto; Pirai, Brazil; Singapore; Ontario, Canada; Dublin; and Spanish Forks, Utah.

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