The mayor decided to break his State of the City address this year into quarterly speeches, each focusing on a different theme.
During the speech on Wednesday, which was held at the Aurora factory and headquarters of Gripple Inc., Irvin said that Aurora has a history of innovation, such as its early adoption of electric street lights, and the city is continuing to embrace that spirit as it heads into the future.
“Aurora is no longer simply the City of Lights. We are becoming a city of bytes, bandwidth and breakthroughs. We’re becoming the City of Light Speed,” he said.
Irvin declared the state of innovation and technology in Aurora is “community focused, commerce driven and competitively positioned to make Aurora a ‘smart city’ for others to model for years to come.”
While the city has made “significant strides” in recent years to be a regional hub of innovation through partnering with tech companies, local startups and academic institutions, it is also working toward a “digitally-inclusive future” through projects like expanding access to broadband internet and “smart city initiatives,” according to Irvin.
He said Aurora has attracted investments from businesses like CyrusOne, which have driven economic growth and created high-paying jobs in the community. The city is also the site of the first-ever “smart neighborhood” by Nicor Gas and Habitat for Humanity, which is a planned community with 17 affordable and carbon neutral single-family homes, he said.
However, the city also understands that innovation also comes from “the entrepreneurial spirit of individuals with bold ideas,” which is why it has “prioritized fostering an environment where small businesses and startups can thrive” through initiatives like technology incubators, business mentorships programs and funding opportunities, Irvin said.
Aurora’s city government has itself made a number of technological advances, including the launch of its new open data portals for many city departments, such as the police department and the mayor’s office of economic development, with more set to be launched soon, he said.
Technological advancements like upgraded cameras and cybersecurity upgrades have also helped to make the city safer, Irvin said.
The city’s recently launched Destination Aurora app was also highlighted during Irvin’s speech. The app allows users to explore and book downtown dining, shows and hotels all in one place.
But innovation within Aurora goes beyond technology, according to Irvin. He said city staff is working to solve social issues through creative programs and practices such as the Financial Empowerment Center and the new Aurora Promise program, which looks to give all kindergarten students in Aurora an educational savings account with a starting balance of $50.
Aurora is continuing to look to the future and how new technology will impact it as it is developing a “comprehensive policy strategy and road map” around generative artificial intelligence, according to Irvin.
He said that the “initiative aims to address unique challenges and harness the transformative potential” of generative artificial intelligence.
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