PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach is launching its new Smart City Initiative program, the Long Beach Collaboratory (LB Co-Lab), to engage residents with civic technology design and equip them with technology skills to thrive in our “smart” economy. The LB Co-Lab will engage local Long Beach stakeholders in a collaborative community engagement process to scope and implement a pilot technology project. The technology implemented through this program will ensure the City invests in technology enhancements based on community-identified needs, while also teaching community members about technology design and development.

“The LB Co-Lab is an innovative program that will work with residents to foster technology skills and help us invest in the technology and services that will be most useful to our community,” said Mayor Robert Garcia.

The LB Co-Lab will strengthen planned City community engagement activities by generating excitement around new technology and giving communities the ability to design technology solutions that work for them. The community engagement will lead to the implementation of an accessible technology infrastructure in four Long Beach neighborhoods of focus: Hamilton, Ramona Park, Willmore and the Lower Westside. The City analyzed data on internet access, unemployment, age and COVID-19 cases to identify these four neighborhoods of focus. In order to participate in the program, individuals must live, work, study, or have some affiliation with one of these neighborhoods. This community engagement will also kickstart additional economic investment funds and cultural development towards technology skills for the City. Those interested in participating in the program are encouraged to submit an interest form on the LB Co-Lab webpage.

The City will engage residents and stakeholders from these neighborhoods to join a community working group that will scope out and implement a pilot infrastructure or technology project as part of the LB Co-Lab. Participants will receive training in technology development, earn a professional certificate, receive a $1,000 stipend, and make recommendations for scaling the project beyond the initial pilot phase. The community working groups will deploy, prototype and test the proposed solution. The community working groups will play an active role in evaluating submissions and selecting a winner for the pilot technology project.

To learn more about the Smart City Initiative, including guiding principles, pilot programs and exciting new projects, go to the Smart City Initiative webpage. To read more about the LB Co-Lab, please visit https://longbeach.gov/smartcity/pilot-programs/lb-co-lab.

The Long Beach Collaboratory aligns with Goal 4 of the Racial Equity and Reconciliation Initiative, to increase funding and other resources for technology efforts for resident, workers, and business owners. 

This program is made possible in part by the Long Beach Recovery Act, a plan to fund economic and public health initiatives for Long Beach residents, workers and businesses critically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of $70,000 has been allocated to support the Long Beach Collaboratory Program. More information about the Long Beach Recovery Act is available at longbeach.gov/recovery.

The Long Beach Collaboratory is supported by a grant of $150,000 from The Knight Foundation Donor Advised Fund held at the Long Beach Community Foundation. The City is also working with the Pacific Gateway Workforce Innovation Network to provide participants with access to technology training, certificates, and career development.