FAIRFIELD – Fairfield and Jefferson County are becoming known around the world as a hub of innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainability.

International organizations are taking notice, and one of them bestowed one of the highest honors possible on Fairfield by naming it one of the Top 7 Intelligent Communities of 2025. The honor was bestowed by the Intelligent Community Forum, which made the announcement on June 17 during an awards dinner in Madrid, Spain.

FAIRFIELD – Bob Ferguson is on a mission to rid downtown Fairfield of weeds.

Ferguson is a member of the Fairfield Beautification Commission, and is spearheading its “weed-free team” that’s tackling undesirable plants that grow in sidewalk cracks and in the alleys. He dons a backpack sprayer filled with a non-toxic weed killer made of a gallon of vinegar, a cup of Epsom salt and a tablespoon of dish liquid (though Ferguson personally likes Shaklee Basic-H Cleaner). This solution desiccates the weeds, and within a few days they’re dead.

In this episode of The Intelligent Community, ICF Co-Founder Lou Zacharilla has a conversation with Michelle Crandall, City Manager, Hilliard, Ohio.

For the fourth consecutive year, Durham Region has been recognized as one of the world’s Top7 Intelligent Communities by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), according to a recent announcement from the region.

Smart, forward-thinking and bursting with bold technological advancements and community-driven engagement have earned Durham Region recognition as one of the world’s Top 7 Intelligent Communities for the fourth consecutive year.

Joining Durham on the global list compiled by the Intelligent Communities Forum (ICF) was Fairfield/Jefferson County (Iowa, USA), Hilliard (Ohio, USA), Assai (Parana, Brazil), Bursa (Turkey), Las Rozas de Madrid (Spain) and Kingston, Ontario, which is making its first appearance in the top seven since 2014.

Cities in Brazil, Canada, Spain, Türkiye and the USA become finalists for Intelligent Community of the Year Award

(17 June 2025 – New York, NY, USA & Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain) – At a festive, sold-out Awards dinner tonight, the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) named the Top7 Intelligent Communities of 2025. The announcement was made at the conclusion of the Top7 Conference hosted by Las Rozas de Madrid – a two-time Smart21 Community in ICF’s Awards program – and its mayor, Jose de la Uz.

The seven cities become finalists in ICF’s annual Awards program. One will succeed 2024 Intelligent Community of the Year Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil in December at the ICF Global Summit (www.icfsummit.com) in Binh Duong Smart City, Vietnam. Curitiba was in attendance in Spain for the program.

(4 June 2025 – New York City, NY, USA & Limburg, The Netherlands) – The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) announced today that the Brightlands-Limburg Region will host the 2026 Top7 Conference and Announcement, the second phase of ICF’s annual Awards Program. The event will bring together thought leaders from the global Intelligent Community movement for workshops, panel discussions, and keynote addresses, and will provide regional and international attendees with the opportunity to tour the Limburg Region, which exemplifies Intelligent Community development.

The conference will also feature the announcement of the Top7 Communities of 2026, finalists in ICF’s annual Intelligent Community Awards Program. The Top7 Communities are seven leading examples of excellence in Intelligent Community development in line with ICF’s Community Accelerator Strategy.

In this episode of The Intelligent Community, hear from Executive Director Matt Owen about the Top7 Conference and Announcement event, and from the Mayor of Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain, Jose de la Uz.

A “smart city” often evokes images of a futuristic, high-tech metropolis. However, an analysis of projects recognized by leading international forums reveals that innovation isn’t always about cutting-edge technology.

This is how Curitiba has earned awards for initiatives such as a solar power plant built on a former landfill, a health appointment app, and community gardens on abandoned land. The term smart city generally applies to municipalities that address urban challenges in a sustainable, connected, and efficient manner.

In this episode of The Intelligent Community, ICF Co-Founder Lou Zacharilla speaks with Dan Mathieson, Former Mayor of Stratford.