Microsoft Inks Three Year Agreement with City of Charlotte on Smart City Initiative

After Houston, Microsoft enters into an agreement with City of Charlotte to make it smarter focusing on five major areas

Fremont CA: Microsoft has entered into a three-year agreement with the City of Charlotte, North Carolina as a part of smart city initiative. Through this partnership, Microsoft aims to create a regional center which will focus on STEM workforce development, internet of things (IoT), technology, and innovation.

The partnership will allow Charlotte to access Microsoft's technologies to work on programs around five focus areas: smart transit systems, public Wi-Fi networks, public safety infrastructures, safer neighborhoods, and upward mobility for residents. With this partnership, a number of new job opportunities will be opened along with the expansion of tech education.

Microsoft will support the City of Charlotte, also known as the City of Queens by providing volunteer initiatives and technology training. Charlotte is only the second city after Houston to enter into this kind of partnership with Microsoft.

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"Inspiring innovation and applying data science to make better decisions make the resident's quality of life better," Charlotte City Manager Marcus Jones said in a statement. "We are excited to work with Microsoft and value their commitment to our sustainable city strategy."

North End Smart District, un uptown area also described as "hub for city's innovation engine" has been pioneering Charlotte's work in tech and research sector. Earlier it has partnered with the utility Duke Energy to test smart home technology through the district and many other programs on energy use and tech education.

The Microsoft partnership will help build a "legacy for economic prosperity," said Kate Johnson, president of Microsoft U.S., in a press conference. The company already has an office in Charlotte employing more than 1000 people, and it would invest another $24 million in that facility to add 400 more jobs.

On the other hand, Microsoft has made a number of local investments to boost growing tech communities. The company has also announced to set up three "technology hubs" in Louisville, KY, Houston and Syracuse, NY where it aims to build a tech economy with the help of local government and startups.

This partnership has been planned such to provide volunteer initiatives and hands-on-training to allow more residents to take advantage of the new technology.

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