(May 20, 2020 - New York City) – The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) today released Investment-Ready Abbotsford: The Story of an Intelligent Community. The new research report details a multi-year program developed by ICF and the leadership of Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada to deepen understanding of today’s economic development challenges and opportunities, and to contribute to the evolution of new strategies and programs.

“Abbotsford is typical of small-to-midsize cities around the world in having a legacy industry – agriculture in their case – that cannot provide job growth today. It is not typical in its ambition to change that situation and build a dynamic, job-creating economy on the solid foundation of its agricultural strengths. Investment-Ready Abbotsford tells its story.”

Beginning in 2018, the city of Abbotsford in British Columbia, Canada engaged in ICF’s Community Accelerator program. Its goal was to increase the city’s ability to attract inward investment and stimulate greater investment by companies already in the community.

Through its Canadian national affiliate, ICF Canada, the Forum delivered workshops, metric analysis and advisory services to the leadership of the city to deepen understanding of today’s economic development challenges and opportunities, and to contribute to the evolution of new strategies and programs.

Investment-Ready Abbotsford reports on that process, the community’s progress, and the road ahead. It is available as a free download on ICF’s Website.

About the Intelligent Community Forum
The Intelligent Community Forum is a global network with a think tank at its center. It connects hundreds of cities and regions on five continents for collaboration on economic development and for exchange of expertise and information that drives progress. Through this network, ICF researches how Intelligent Communities use information and communications technology to build inclusive prosperity, solve social problems and enrich their quality of life in our connected century. ICF is headquartered in New York City, is a worldwide organization that is renowned for its efforts recognizing Intelligent Community excellence through its annual awards programs, workshops, conferences and other support. Today there are over 180 Intelligent Communities around the world, and growing annually, with Intelligent Community representatives on every continent. The Intelligent Community Forum Foundation (ICFF) is the association of these Intelligent Communities, aimed at working together to share information and develop more Intelligent Communities throughout the world. As ICF’s principles are sought after around the world, there is an opportunity for each country to focus its ICF-related efforts within their region. For more information, visit www.intelligentcommunity.org.

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

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