(February 16, 2023 – New York City) – The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) today launched the world’s first Certification program for cities and regions that validates the community’s digital, workforce development and innovation assets, which form the foundation for investment attraction, job growth and entrepreneurship. It also validates the ability to attract, retain and serve their people through commitments to digital inclusion, community engagement and sustainability. Taken together, these are the critical factors that give communities a competitive advantage as great places to live, work, build a business, start a family and give a path to the next generation.

Based on an open standard and metric evaluation, Intelligent Community Certification is provided in two stages: a Provisional Certification based on self-reported data and a Full Certification that validates this data through an onsite audit. The standard is based on a proven Community Accelerator strategy developed by ICF over 20 years of work with municipalities pursuing citizen-first economic, social and cultural growth. It analyzes communities across six Factors that have been shown to contribute to long-term success.

“We originally developed this evaluation process for cities and regions for our international awards program,” said co-founder Robert Bell. “We are now ready to put it to a purpose with higher value: certifying cities and regions for economic and social development that will lead to decades of greater prosperity, inclusion and connection with the world.”

More about Certification
Meeting the Certification standard provides objective validation that a community has high-quality connectivity, effective workforce development, a business innovation system and meaningful community engagement, digital inclusion and sustainability programs in place. These qualities combine to support the growth of innovative businesses, meet their talent needs and provide a high quality of life. Certification also offers validation that local projects and programs rise to a global standard regardless of the municipality’s location, wealth or resources.

Certified Intelligent Communities gain access to ICF programs, including best practice reports, online training and a network of like-minded communities providing peer learning and engagement. Click here to learn more about Certification.

About Intelligent Community Forum (ICF)
The Intelligent Community Forum (www.intelligentcommunity.org), headquartered in New York, is a global network of over 180 cities, metro regions and counties with a think tank at its heart and a mission to make everyone’s “hometown” at great place. ICF studies and promotes the best practices of the world's Intelligent Communities as they adapt to the new demands and seize the opportunities presented by broadband and digital technology. To help cities and regions build prosperous economies, solve social problems and enrich local cultures, the Intelligent Community Forum conducts research, hosts events around the globe, publishes books, and produces its high-profile annual international awards program. The Forum sponsors research Institutes in North America dedicated to the study of the movement, and national organizations in Canada and Taiwan, both home to many Intelligent Communities. In 2012 ICF was invited to participate at the Nobel Peace Prize conference in Oslo and in 2014, its model and work was recognized by the U.S. Department of Commerce under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which, according to the American government, was "aimed at creating a more flexible and responsive system of workforce development to meet the needs of employers looking to fill 21st century jobs.” For more information, go to www.intelligentcommunity.org/icf_membership. For more details on the Intelligent Community Forum’s recent publications and programs, www.intelligentcommunity.org.

Intelligent Community Forum Contacts
Matthew Owen, Director of Operations, Intelligent Community Forum
Tel. +1 646-291-6166 (x105)
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @Newcommunities

Victoria Krisman, Communications Manager, Intelligent Community Forum
Email: [email protected]