One of the founders of an organization that’s considering Grey County as the top intelligent community in the world is touring the county this week.

Louis Zacharilla is with the Intelligent Community Forum based in New York City.

Grey County is on the short list of seven communities in the world the organization considers to be using technology to enhance economic development and quality of life.

The Intelligent Community Forum announced its list of the Top7 Intelligent Communities of the Year. The 15th annual Top7 list includes communities from four nations, with Australia, Canada and Taiwan each contributing two, and Russia contributing a seventh community in a first-time achievement for that nation.

On February 9, 2017, Grey County was named one of the Top7 Intelligent Communities of 2017 by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF). The announcement was made at the conclusion of “The Internet of Cities Forum” in Taipei, Taiwan.

“We are incredibly honoured to be named one of the world’s Top7 Intelligent Communities,” said Alan Barfoot, Warden of Grey County. “This is an outstanding acknowledgement for our region. We face many unique challenges in our rural area and being named to the Top7 recognizes our community’s ability to face challenges head on and persevere.”

Grey County has been named one of the top seven intelligent communities in the world by an international network of cities and regions known as the Intelligent Community Forum.

The organization focuses on how communities use technology to enhance economic development and quality of life.

Grey Warden Al Barfoot says it’s great recognition.

Grey County might be best known for its agriculture, outdoor tourism opportunities and abundance of snow in winter, but it is now receiving international recognition for its work to create a prosperous “broadband economy.”

The county has been named one of the world's Top 7 Intelligent Communities of 2017 by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF). It is now in the running to be named Intelligent Community of the Year, an award that will be handed out at a ceremony in June in New York City.

(New York, NY and Taipei, Taiwan – 9 February, 2017) – At the conclusion of “The Internet of Cities Forum” in Taipei, Taiwan today, the Intelligent Community Forum announced its list of the Top7 Intelligent Communities of the Year to an audience of national and municipal leaders from Taiwan, Canada, Estonia, the Netherlands and Vietnam.  The 15^th annual Top7 list includes communities from four nations, with Australia, Canada and Taiwan each contributing two, and Russia contributing a seventh community in a first-time achievement for that nation.