The Connective's vision is that through a community-driven applied research model and intentional, unprecedented collaboration, the consortium of public, private, university, and community partners will empower Greater Phoenix communities to build the nation's largest, most connected smart region, developing and deploying technology-scalable solutions rooted in connectivity, mobility, equity, and sustainability. This constitutes a big bold new vision for Arizona!

"This is the first major regional effort in the United States to engage communities across such a broad range of municipalities in co-designing and co-investing in our smart and connected futures," says Lev Gonick, chief information officer at Arizona State University (ASU).

While ASU is planning its own smart city project, they're also uniting with the Arizona Institute for Digital Progress (AZiDP), Arizona Commerce Authority, Maricopa Association of Governments, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, and 22 Greater Phoenix cities and towns to create and build The Connective.