Press release from 07/29/2022
The topic “Smart City” is on the agenda these days and is generating national interest. Last year, Linz was selected as one of 28 municipalities for the Smart City model region project under the motto “Out of the crisis together: room for the future”. Now the FDP parliamentary group took a closer look at the project.
Linz on the Rhine. After Linz am Rhein was selected last year together with the Linz municipality as one of 28 municipalities for the Smart City model region project under the motto “Out of the crisis together: room for the future”, the process of the strategy phase is currently in full swing. The projects that are to be implemented in Linz am Rhein over the next four years thanks to the extensive funding from Berlin are currently being defined through extensive options for citizens to participate in the form of surveys or real laboratories.
At the invitation of the local FDP district association in Neuwied, the Rhineland-Palatinate parliamentary group of Free Democrats used the project as a starting point for a visit as part of the 2022 summer tour. Thankfully, the Linz city leaders made the visit as usual uncomplicated and trustworthy. City Mayor Dr. Hans Georg Faust, Deputy Deputy Helmut Muthers and City Manager Karin Wessel were happy about the visit from Justice Minister Herbert Mertin, FDP parliamentary group leader Philipp Fernis and MP Sandra Weeser, among others. Alexander Buda (district chairman FDP Neuwied) and Philipp Amberg (chairman FDP Linz-Unkel-Bad Hönningen) took part on behalf of the Free Democrats in the Neuwied district.
The visit to Linz started at the Linzer Rheintor, from which a short walk to the town hall was taken together with Didi Pörzgen, chairman of the Linz advertising association. Pörzgen gave an insight into the retail trade in Linz and the challenges, but also opportunities of the current time. He pointed out that Linz is characterized by the close and trusting cooperation between the city and the advertising community.
In the town hall, the city of Linz informed the participants in detail about the project. In addition to the timeline, the presentation focused in particular on the five fields of action that were filled with life in the course of the strategy phase. The importance of the active participation of citizens was emphasized. There were and still are opportunities through the various surveys and workshops. All activities in the course of the project are subject to the goal of making the region sustainable and also using digital components.
Despite challenges, there is confidence
The visit was also used to openly address the challenges of the federal program. Medium-sized centers like Linz am Rhein in particular are faced with major administrative tasks in order to be able to handle such a project at all. Despite all the challenges, everyone involved showed their confidence that the region has a huge opportunity to actively shape the future with the funding and will also overcome any challenges together.
The basic prerequisite for all digital activity, the internet, was also discussed in the course of the exchange. Those present agreed that a fiber optic network is necessary for the successful design of the future in order to cover the rapid growth in bandwidth requirements. In this context, the current subsidy programs and the regional bundling of demand by private providers in the association of municipalities were discussed, which, as a conclusion of the round, is seen as a great opportunity for the region.
There is more about the Smart City project and all current participation options here. (PM)
Local: Linz & surroundings
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