It has become commonplace for cities and states to seek out and court entrepreneurs and startup firms. Regions compete aggressively and many offer attractive incentives to startups, especially emerging technology firms. But, how does a city or a state really deal with startups? Not too well in most cases. Public officials who make contracting decisions […]
New executive titles on organizational charts in U.S. cities substantiate that cities are experiencing radical change. City divisions such as public works, economic development, technology, parks and planning are still vital, but newly hired sustainability officers, data chiefs, innovation directors, etc. reflect how cities are addressing new concerns that point to an evolving culture. Two […]
Government furnishes most utilities to citizens in the United States – basic necessities which include water, electricity and gas. But, in today’s digital age, there is something else just as necessary to everyday life, and government is scrambling to make it available to all citizens. The expansion of utilities now includes access to the Internet. […]
You’ve probably seen one – an abandoned and ugly vacant big box store. Usually, there is graffiti covering broken glass doors and a huge, empty parking lot. These buildings have been designated “ghostboxes.” When big box stores and super centers hit hard times, many were simply were shuttered. The result was lots of large empty […]
In a world of drone package delivery and self-driving cars, it’s clear that all kinds of everyday activities are being impacted by technology. That’s especially true when it comes to transportation. Mobile app-based ridesharing is a trend that has tremendous energy behind it … and, it has created a few road bumps along the way. […]
A “surge of network upgrades” in capital expenditures for municipal water and wastewater utilities in the United States is being predicted for between 2016 and 2025, according to a newly issued forecast from Bluefield Research. The report predicts a 28 percent increase – or more than $532 billion – over capital expenditure spending during the […]
There’s a $36 billion marketplace that may double in size in the near future. It’s the renewable energy sector – and it’s definitely worth watching. The United States ranks second only to China in leading the world in electricity generated from renewable sources. And, interestingly enough, Texas is home to one of the world’s largest […]