WASHINGTON—The National Governors Association (NGA) has selected Colorado, New Jersey, Nevada, North Dakota and Virginia to participate in the NGA Center for Best Practices’ Smarter States, Smarter Communities Learning Lab. NGA Chair and Governor Brian Sandoval of Nevada announced the selection at the NGA Summer Meeting in Santa Fe, N.M.
Smarter States, Smarter Communities will help governors develop statewide programs to leverage information and communications technologies and the “internet of things” to deliver services that improve the quality of life for citizens. The learning lab is the first phase of a three-phase Smarter States, Smarter Communities initiative in which NGA will work with states educate, accelerate and replicate smart activities across the country. The initiative will initially focus on opportunities in energy, transportation, public safety and emergency management, where states are already making strides. The learning lab will also address fundamental components to smarter states initiatives, such as governance, stakeholder engagement and telecommunications policy in both rural and urban regions.
Having set out two years ago to become the first smart state, Illinois will serve as the host state for this learning lab, allowing state policymakers to learn from Illinois’ Smarter Illinois Initiative.
Governor Sandoval announced the new program at the 2018 NGA Summer Meeting in Santa Fe, NM. He applauded the initiative, which built upon the progress he made as part of his 2017-18 NGA Chair’s Initiative, Ahead of the Curve: Innovation Governors.
“Smarter States, Smarter Communities will build upon the progress we’ve already made by developing statewide programs that provide effective technology solutions and that help governments and the private sector better serve citizens. I’m proud of the work we’ve completed thus far and I’m excited to see the progress we will make over this multi-year program,” said Gov. Sandoval.
NGA CEO and Executive Director Scott D. Pattison said that this initiative represents NGA’s leadership on technology policy issues. “I believe that this initiative will equip governors of all states with the tools they need to implement effective technology policy and I’m proud that NGA is leading on this critical issue,” said Pattison.
To learn more about NGA, visit www.nga.org.
About the National Governors Association
Founded in 1908, the National Governors Association (NGA) is the collective voice of the nation’s governors and one of Washington, D.C.’s most respected public policy organizations. Its members are the governors of the 55 states, territories and commonwealths. NGA provides governors and their senior staff members with services that range from representing states on Capitol Hill and before the Administration on key federal issues to developing and implementing innovative solutions to public policy challenges through the NGA Center for Best Practices. For more information, visit www.nga.org.
