City Tech Fall 2020 Update

COVID-19 is still wreaking havoc in cities across the world, driving sudden vacancy rates that threaten to outlast the virus. Some people with the means to do so aren’t just working from home…they’re also picking up and moving out.
 
Many are abandoning metropolises in favor of small and mid-sized cities. Plenty of articles have referenced this population shift (see Bloomberg , Time , Fortune , and Forbes ) but the jury is still out on the final numbers and whether or not this flight will last.
 
Despite uncertain times, we know that the driving forces that built our cities – including our quest for commerce, culture, and camaraderie – are alive and well despite COVID’s best efforts. We know cities’ density sparks new ideas and reduces carbon footprints. We know not everyone can afford to retreat when urban life gets tough. And we know that up-and-coming cities are now beginning to face many of the same challenges that beguile their larger siblings.

As smaller cities begin to grapple with “big city” traffic, flooding, infrastructure demands, pollution, homelessness, and more, it broadens and democratizes challenges that were previously unique to urban dwellers. It also increases our urgent need for innovative solutions.

City Tech believes technology has a special role to play in improving urban life, whether cities are shrinking, growing, or shifting. Temporary or permanent, change creates new opportunities for collaborative innovation.

Cities aren’t dead – they’re preparing for rebirth.

These challenges are front of mind this fall as we consider the future of our workforce , engage residents in developing new technology , launch a new innovation testbed challenge at Chicago’s Millennium Garages , and support cities’ re-openings.
 
Warmly,

- Brenna Berman, CEO  | City Tech Collaborative