Colorado Smart Cities Alliance Receives Grant to Create Colorado Open Lab Supporting Smart Cities Development

DENVER, September 18, 2018 (Newswire.com) - The Colorado Smart Cities Alliance will partner with Arrow Electronics Inc. to create the new Colorado Open Lab – a large-scale showcase and innovation lab dedicated to fast-track development of Smart Cities and Smart Regions throughout the state of Colorado.

Located within the Denver South region of Colorado, the Colorado Open Lab will feature an engineering and innovation facility, a Smart City experience center and a Live Experience of Smart City showcases featuring various technologies and solutions deployed across a jurisdiction.

...with the support of the Advanced Industries Grant Program, the Colorado Open Lab will bring leading technology companies here to Denver South and Colorado to work alongside Colorado cities and other public sector leaders to co-develop the next generation of smart cities technologies.

Jake Rishavy, VP Innovation, Denver South Economic Development Partnership

The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) funded the further development of the Colorado Open Lab through a $500,000 Advanced Industries Collaborative Infrastructure Funding Grant, allowing Colorado Smart Cities Alliance’s 19 municipal members and the Colorado Department of Transportation to utilize the Open Lab to collaborate, discover, innovate, test and confidently validate Smart City solutions prior to deploying at scale within their jurisdictions.

OEDIT Deputy Director Michelle Hadwiger said, “The Colorado Open Lab is just the kind of forward-thinking, innovative program that the Collaborative Infrastructure Grant was designed to inspire. By accelerating commercialization and innovation of our advanced industry cluster and cultivating a workforce that supports its needs, we further our economic diversification while reinforcing our position as an industry leader.”  

“Our partners at Arrow Electronics have one of the broadest global technology networks in the world,” said Jake Rishavy, vice president of innovation, Denver South Economic Development Partnership, a founding organization of the Colorado Smart Cities Alliance. “Now with the support of the Advanced Industries Grant Program, the Colorado Open Lab will bring these leading technology companies here to Denver South and Colorado to work alongside Colorado cities and other public sector leaders to co-develop the next generation of smart cities technologies. As they do, these companies will build valuable networks and relationships – deep roots – here in Colorado.” 

While located in Denver South region, the Colorado Open Labs will impact economic development and quality of life issues across the state of Colorado.

“In addition to supporting business attraction in two of the fastest-growing technology markets - smart cities and the Internet of Things (IoT) - the Colorado Open Labs will help to redefine public-private partnerships to bring new solutions to complex challenges like mobility, sustainability, public health and public safety,” said Hadwiger.

This cross-sector, cross-jurisdictional collaboration will become ever more important in coming years.

“The challenges facing our communities are so complex that no one city or company can solve them in a vacuum,” said John Tolva, co-founder, The Colorado Smart Cities Alliance. “The Colorado Smart Cities Alliance and now the Colorado Open Lab provides the collaborative infrastructure that will help facilitate cross-jurisdictional, cross-sector collaboration to tackle these challenges on behalf of all Colorado residents.”

About Denver South Economic Development Partnership

Denver South Economic Development Partnership, a 35-year-old non-profit public-private partnership, is committed to providing visionary economic development leadership, civic innovation and positive business advocacy in a non-partisan and collaborative manner. The organization’s mission is to continuously improve the region’s economy and world-class quality of life. Among other roles, Denver South functions as a smart city technology scout and strategic partner to its constituent communities, including two counties and four cities. denversouthedp.org

About Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade

The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) works with partners to create a positive business climate that encourages dynamic economic development and sustainable job growth. Under the leadership of Governor John Hickenlooper, we strive to advance the State’s economy through financial and technical assistance that fosters local and regional economic development activities throughout Colorado. OEDIT offers a host of programs and services tailored to support business development at every level including business retention services, business relocation services, and business funding and incentives. Our office includes the Global Business Development division; Colorado Tourism Office; Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office; Colorado Creative Industries; Business Financing & Incentives division; the Colorado Small Business Development Network; Colorado Office of Film, TV & Media; the Minority Business Office; and the Colorado Innovation Network. Learn more at www.choosecolorado.com. 

About The Colorado Smart Cities Alliance

Formed in 2017 by the Denver South Economic Development Partnership and established as a standalone non-profit organization in 2018, the Colorado Smart Cities Alliance is the first state-wide alliance of public, private, federal research, academic and business sector leaders in the United States. Together, the Alliance is committed to accelerating the adoption of smart cities projects and initiatives throughout the state and creating the first true “Smart Regions.” coloradosmart.city

About Arrow Electronics

Arrow Electronics guides innovation forward for over 150,000 of the world’s leading manufacturers of technology used in homes, business and daily life. With 2017 sales of $26.6 billion, Arrow aggregates electronics and enterprise computing solutions for customers and suppliers in industrial and commercial markets. The company maintains a network of more than 345 locations serving over 80 countries. Learn more at FiveYearsOut.com. 

Media Contacts:

Jake Rishavy (CO Smart Cities Alliance), jake@denversouthedp.org, 720.231.6542

John Tolva (CO Smart Cities Alliance), john@coloradosmart.city, 312-375-4961

Source: Colorado Smart Cities Alliance

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