Herndon, VA, March 27, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) announced today a partnership with Stafford County to help define “smart” for the new smart Downtown Stafford, including issuance of an open RFI (Request for Information) by CIT to solicit concepts for inclusion.
Stafford County is preparing in 2019 to begin building the new "smart" Downtown Stafford near the current Stafford Government Center. CIT is leading the Smart Communities initiatives on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia, so a partnership between the County and State efforts is a natural. To that end, CIT has now issued a Request for Information seeking public inputs on what a "smart" Downtown Stafford would include.
The RFI is available at:
http://www.cit.org/assets/1/7/Smart_Town_Center_Specification_RFI.pdf and inputs will be accepted through the end of August 2019 for potential inclusion in an “Innovation Library” for Stafford.
Stafford County has been laying the groundwork for this development for some time. The conceptual plans for Downtown Stafford and other data justifying its development and land use mix is available at:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bibpqqjz34ccf0i/Downtown%20Stafford-BoardWorkshop_180814-DRAFT6.pdf?dl=0
According to John Holden, Director of Economic Development “we expect our new Downtown Stafford to anchor development in our region for decades to come, and help make Stafford a place where people want to visit, live, and raise their families. The opportunity to partner with CIT and access the types of expertise they can bring to the table will help us define the enduring vision for Downtown Stafford, and make it a leading example of how smart communities can transform a region.”
What makes a community smart? Many people think of the technology, smart lighting or connected trash receptacles or Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, and those and other technologies certainly can play a role. But in the end, a smart community is one that provides the built environment and community services that make people want to live, work and play there.
According to David Ihrie, CTO of the Center for Innovative Technology “the interest and response from communities all over Virginia has been very high. Stafford County is moving ahead at an exciting time in the development of these ideas, and our collaboration will provide one model for how a community can establish a vision for their future and then take the steps towards making that future a reality.”
Stay tuned as the concept of a smart Downtown Stafford take shape over the next few months!
About The Center for Innovative TechnologyThe Center for Innovative Technology (CIT), a nonprofit corporation, has been Virginia’s primary driver of innovation and entrepreneurship since 1985. CIT accelerates the next generation of technology and technology companies through commercialization, capital formation, market development, and revenue generation services. To facilitate national innovation leadership and accelerate the rate of technology adoption, CIT creates partnerships between innovative technology start-up companies and advanced technology consumers.
To learn more, please visit www.cit.org or www.cit.org/vasmart
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