In January 2011 Windsor and Essex County was recognized as one of the top 7 Intelligent Communities along with Chattanooga, Tennessee, Dublin, Ohio, Eindhoven, Netherlands, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France, Riverside, California, and Stratford, Ontario.

In the final stages of this award process, an independent research firm will re-analyze the top seven submissions and produce a new set of scores.  As well, the ICF founders are visiting each of the 7 communities and will prepare site reports with further analysis.  Both of these new groups of information is combined and will determine the #1 ranked Intelligent Community of the Year.

Things looked at will be broadband infrastructure, knowledge workforce, health care, marketing & advocacy and innovation & creativity.

Site visits will include visits to government, institutional and business facilities with technology demonstrations, meetings with formal leaders, social events, as well as speaking and media events.  Committee members will be treated to breakfast, lunches and dinners with community mayors, health care representatives and other leaders.

Other costs, such as travel and accommodations, are also factored in.

County council has approved  $200,000 for this event.