Intelligent Community Certification is provided in two stages: Provisional Certification based on self-reported data and Full Certification that validates this data through an onsite audit.

Provisional Certification

The municipality, county or region completes an online questionnaire with guidance from ICF. It reports on connectivity, workforce development, public and private-sector innovation, digital inclusion, public engagement and sustainability and resilience.

ICF applies its proven analytic methods to the data provided in the completed questionnaire and produces both detailed and summary scoring. For communities whose summary score meets or exceeds the standard, ICF provides:

• Provisionally Certified listing and detailed profile on the ICF website.
• Free Community Assessment Report that benchmarks your readiness for whole growth against ICF’s global dataset on Intelligent Communities.
• Issuance of a press release upon Provisional Certification.
• For members of ICF, 20% discount on Certification fees using their unique member code.
• Consideration, unless you opt out, for the Intelligent Community Awards program in the next three annual cycles.

Full Certification

Full Certification requires an onsite audit by ICF. In a site visit lasting up to two days, an ICF auditor validates the information provided by the community for its Provisional Certification and learns more about the programs and practices that make it an Intelligent Community. Following the audit, the auditor prepares a report detailing results and updates the scoring of the community based on the audit.

ICF issues a Full Certification to qualifying communities, which is good for a period of three years, after which it must be renewed by an update to the questionnaire and a new site audit. With Full Certification, in addition to Provisional benefits, comes:

• Certified Intelligent Community logo for economic development and other marketing.
• A copy of the auditor’s report and the Community Assessment report
• Issuance of a press release upon certification and future renewals.
• Ongoing email and social media promotion of all Certified communities to a combined audience of 12,000 contacts.
• For members of ICF, 20% discount on Certification fees using their unique member code. For non-members, free one-year membership in ICF, providing access to research, training and discounts on additional programs:
  • Factor reports that offer strategies and tactics for improvement, illustrated by use cases from around the world.
  • Community Accelerator Training to build the capacity of staff and partners for progress.
  • Community Accelerator Coaching, providing presentations, workshops and ongoing support for your Intelligent Community journey.
• Consideration, unless you opt out, for the Intelligent Community Awards program in the next three annual cycles.