Angela Shah, Xconomy -- September 15, 2015

The Dallas Entrepreneur Center is among a group of organizations that have partnered with the White House to boost smart cities.

The DEC joins other Dallas area groups and businesses such as AT&T, IBM, and Microsoft to form the Dallas Innovation Alliance, an effort to use technological innovation to promote sustainable economic growth while improving quality of life for residents. The initiative is part of a nationwide effort led by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and tied to the start of Smart Cities Week in Washington, D.C.

“Dallas has been a pioneer in driving innovative, entrepreneurial solutions in the US, and many organizations across the city are undertaking creative solutions to address urban challenges,” stated Trey Bowles, the DEC’s CEO and co-founder of the Dallas alliance. “As a major metropolitan area with a strong business climate and 21 Fortune 500 companies located in the region, this is the right time for Dallas to undertake a dedicated, comprehensive smart city plan with the goal of creating the most consumer focused Smart City strategy in the world.

Among the ways that technology could be leveraged to benefit cities include so-called smart systems for municipal lighting, parking, and transit in order to help government provide services more efficiently.

The first project will address the historic West End neighborhood of downtown Dallas. “A confluence of multi-modal transit, walkability, historic buildings, and a burgeoning innovation district will be ground zero for the city as a living lab,” according to a Dallas alliance press release. “A three-pronged strategy will center on infrastructure, mobility, and connected living.”