#120 Illinois Smart: Bridging Tech and Policy in Small and Mid-Sized Cities Transformation

In this episode, Joe Gallo, Executive Director of the Illinois Smart City and Region Association (ISCRA) and former City Mayor, shares his journey from the high-tech medical field to leading digital transformation initiatives in Illinois communities. The conversation explores the role of healthy scepticism in evaluating Smart City technologies, emphasising the importance of long-term planning, interdepartmental collaboration, and data-driven decision making. Joe discusses the challenges small and mid-sized cities face in adopting innovation, the critical need for structural change in government operations, and the essential balance between optimism and realism when implementing smart solutions. Episode Overview: [00:02:13] Teaser Question: “If Illinois Smart City and Region Association were a superhero, who would it be and why?” [00:03:43] Our guest’s background [00:06:03] How the medical field shaped Joe’s view on cities [00:08:21] A look into Joe’s day-to-day work at ISCRA [00:09:43] Example of “connecting the dots” for local communities [00:12:10] Major challenges facing Illinois communities [00:15:15] Rethinking government structures for smart cities [00:21:11] Where cities should start their digital transformation [00:24:37] Can small cities implement innovation too? [00:28:29] Why smart city tech hasn’t scaled effectively yet [00:31:50] Biggest disconnect between smart city promises and reality [00:36:07] Balancing healthy scepticism with innovation [00:42:53] Podcast Segment: Shout-out to local changemakers [00:43:45] Ending Question: “To you, what is a Smart City?”   Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it! Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page.