Mayor Jeff Genung is fired up after attending the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) Conference in Las Vegas, NV. He's confident Cochrane can attract more startup high-tech industry and believes we have a good shot at securing one of the federal Smart Cities Challenge prizes up for grabs.

Genung and Cochrane CAO Dave Devana joined 184,000 delegates at the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) conference, Jan. 9 -12, to explore the opportunities that exist to attract more innovators to the community for what is certainly a technology boom in the making. They spent the majority of their time in the Smart Cities area of the massive conference.

There were 900 startup companies among the 3,900 exhibitors at the show that spans over 2.75 million net sq. ft. Genung and Devana visited with many representatives to learn what features they sought in communities. He says most commonly the answers came back lifestyle and fibre and Genung believes we have the added advantage of a reasonable tax rate, location and the lower Canadian dollar.

"We're actually right there," says Genung. "There are so many things that we have going for us. We just need to get out there and showcase our community."

Genung believes startup companies are the key.

"If a business can start up in Cochrane they are more apt to stay in Cochrane. So, where I'm trying to address my focus is on startups. Perhaps we can attract businesses by having an incubator, an affordable housing project for tech businesses where they share resources."

He believes one possible site is the commercial area in the proposed Greystone subdivision on the expiring Burnco pit. For one, the town's fibre optics run close by along Griffin Rd. The site also has the advantage of being brand new with no potential infrastructure shortfallings of existing structures and locations.

He will likely be presenting the information gathered to town council on Jan. 22.

"We have to have all of council onboard and get their feedback on everything and their blessings, then move forward from there."

Smart Cities Challenge

An Infrastructure Canada contest is in the early stages for funding of $5 million, $10 million and $50 million and being awarded one of these prizes would go a long way in helping the town's push. An initial 50-word Challenge Statement needs to be submitted by Apr. 24 and the finalists will be selected this summer. Each finalist will receive a $250,000 grant to refine their proposal and business case. Winning municipalities of the grants will be announced in the spring of 2019.

Federal government officials says it's common to hear concerns about traffic congestion, trouble accessing services, or challenges with public transit. The Smart Cities Challenge is asking civic leaders to team up with pioneering businesses, academia, and civic organizations to design innovative solutions to their most pressing challenges using data and connected technologies.

Public engagement on what exactly that 50-word statement should be will begin as early as next week. 

"We're just circulating it with staff right now and getting a few suggestions. As early as next week we're going to launch our public engagement to collect ideas from the public."

They're also getting support from existing hi-tech companies.

"I think we have an advantage with the businesses we have in town already and they're willing to help and they're excited to help."

He sees a positive ripple effect from winning the funding.

"If we can start to implement a lot of these ideas into our new growth we will become a community that other people will want to visit to see how we're doing it. Automatically, we'll attract the eyes of the outside world."

"I've heard every year I've ever been on council that we need to create a community where our kids can find good jobs and live and raise their own family. And we're there."

The future is now

The technology now exists and the biggest hold back is people's fear of change.

"The technology is there for us to use. We as a society--and I mean globally--are not ready to use it yet. That's the leap. I heard that so many times during the week."

He says the technology he viewed can improve upon efficiencies within town infrastructure, everything from street lights to garbage collection. That includes a prototype of a "smart" driverless transit system he viewed. He invited the company to use Cochrane as one of their pilot projects.

"They were actually quite keen on that. I gave one of our brochures and I'm waiting for them to reach out. Who knows, right?"

"I can see with this conference what is out there. Technology is limitless at this point. What I think is important is Cochrane needs to be willing to go there. I think we're at an important place in our history."

"Technology is available that we need to jump on. And if we can, people will start to look to us as "How the West is Now" (that is our slogan), and we can build on that."

A cost breakdown on the trip will be made public in the near future and Genung believes it was money well spent.

"It was well worth going to learn and see what we're capable of and I'm excited to bring that back and have Cochrane on the cusp of innovation."