one smart city at a time
For cities to maximize the benefits of next-generation technologies, cross-sector partnerships and information-sharing are key. From funding opportunities to data tools, MiNextCities gathers resources for small and midsized Michigan communities to best incorporate next-generation technologies into their planning and maintenance activities. Check back often to view updates, or reach out if your organization has a resource you would like shared with the MiNextCities network.

In this report prepared for the MiNextCities program, Public Sector Consultants investigates examples of smart city programs across the country and highlights best practices employed to overcome barriers to successful projects and deployments.
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In this newly updated guidebook, the EPA offers communities a detailed overview of best practices and questions to considers in planning and collecting air quality measurements using air sensors.
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NextEnergy is developing MiNextCities one smart city at a time.
The MiNextCities program is engaging stakeholders statewide to identify and deploy tailored solutions that improve energy efficiency, reliability, sustainability, safety, and quality of life for a broad spectrum of residents.
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Findings from a performance benchmark for cities who modernized their street lighting infrastructure with LED luminaires and smart control systems. What benefits do these upgrades offer? Have installation costs improved over time? The study is a great resource for communities and street lighting providers who might be on the fence about pursuing these upgrades.
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Final report from the Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Outdoor Lighting Accelerator initiative which aimed to help municipalities and other public agencies overcome barriers in upgrading their street lights to modern, efficient, and high-performance systems. The report highlights pathways cities took to enhancing their street light systems, including incorporating smart street light elements such as sensors, adaptive lighting, and wireless communication capabilities. Pathways to energy savings, cost reduction, and technology enhancement are provided for municipally-owned systems as well as utility-owned and operated systems.
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Evergreen Collaborative offers this roadmap for how the Biden Administration can use executive action to move the United States toward 100% zero-emission buildings. While written to analyze potential federal action, state and local executives can use this roadmap as inspiration for their own building and zoning standards.
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This insight report from the World Economic Forum dives into why we should care about decarbonizing our cities – particularly our buildings – and how to get there. The report offers numerous case studies of how peer communities around the world have addressed this problem and discusses the challenges and opportunities facing the global building decarbonization effort as we continue into the 2020s.
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A list of programs and incentives provided by federal legislation such as the IIJA and IRA available for home energy upgrades.
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A guide for local officials and staff in communities engaged in the MEDC’s Redevelopment Ready Communities program to holistically incorporate resiliency strategies into their strategic planning efforts. The toolkit is designed to meet communities where they are, regardless of size, capacity, local goals, and other factors.
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