Syracuse was chosen to be one of 24 cities to receive IBM's Smarter Cities Grant. The grant, which is worth up to $400,000, sends up to 10 IBM experts to Syracuse to develop a software-based planning tool to combat the problem of vacant properties in Syracuse, a problem designated by city officials. The team of experts plan to do this by blending information about a wide range of factors like crime rates, poverty, tree cover, trash collection, etc. to predict problems with vacant housing and efficiently allocate resources. The city expects work on the project to start next fall.Of the 24 cities chosen by IBM, only 8 are in the United States and Syracuse is the only recipient in New York State.
For more information visit http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/03/syracuse_named_one_of_ibms_sma.html.
