Pathway Community Foundation welcomes the City of Rocky Mount, NC into the 2024 HBCU Smart Cities Challenge

Rocky Mount, NC – - Pathway Community Foundation expresses its sincere gratitude to the city of Rocky Mount, NC for enthusiastically joining the 2024 North Carolina HBCU Smart Cities Challenge. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our shared commitment to fostering innovation, community development, and inclusive growth.

The HBCU Smart Cities Challenge is a platform that brings together communities and historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to address urban and rural challenges through innovative solutions. As a city with a rich history and a vibrant community, Rocky Mount is poised to make a substantial impact in this transformative initiative.

City Manager Keith Rogers Jr. shared his enthusiasm stating, "We are happy to support the HBCU Smart Cities Challenge. By collaborating with HBCUs and Pathway Community Foundation, we believe we can leverage our unique strengths to create sustainable and impactful improvements that will benefit all residents of Rocky Mount."

The partnership between Rocky Mount and Pathway Community Foundation is a key element in ensuring the success of this endeavor. Pathway Community Foundation has a proven track record of supporting initiatives that drive positive change and community engagement in economically distressed areas.

The partnership will foster enriching interactions, facilitate knowledge exchange, and promote mutual growth throughout the course of the Challenge. Pathway Community Foundation’s President and Director of Partnerships, Ayinde Simon, discussed the impact of Rocky Mount’s participation, “Rocky Mount's decision to participate in the HBCU Smart Cities Challenge is not just a commitment to innovation but also a recognition of the invaluable contributions that HBCU students can make to our communities. Through this partnership, we aim to create a space where their talents are not just acknowledged but actively utilized to shape the future of great cities like Rocky Mount.”

This collaboration will culminate at the 2023-24 North Carolina HBCU Smart Cities Challenge Showcase Event taking place March 21-23 in Winston-Salem, NC. This series of events will celebrate the work of cities like Rocky Mount alongside HBCU students. Highlights include an invite-only reception event hosted by the city of Winston-Salem, a Community Tech Day

showcasing national and local emerging tech companies, and a grand finale pitch event where students compete for their share of $10k in cash prizes.

About Pathway Community Foundation

Pathway Community Foundation is a dynamic collaborative effort, committed to innovation and community empowerment. Our mission is to unite aspiring students, dedicated educators, and forward-thinking city officials in shaping the cities of tomorrow.

At the heart of our vision is the belief that diversity, creativity, and collaboration can address complex urban challenges. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and fostering inclusive, innovative thinking, we empower students to become catalysts of positive change in their communities.

About Rocky Mount

The city of Rocky Mount, located in the Coastal Plains of North Carolina, was incorporated in 1867 and lies in Edgecombe and Nash Counties. Rocky Mount is a two-time All-America City on the Tar River. The city was recognized as one of 10 winners nationwide of the 2020-21 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Prize. Serving as the Gateway to Eastern North Carolina, the city's 875 employees serve approximately 54,000 residents daily.

The city’s mission is to advance community well-being, safety and quality of life by delivering excellent public services and actively collaborating with the community toward a fulfilling and inspired future for its citizens. As a publicly owned utility, the city of Rocky Mount is committed to safe, reliable service for its customers and operates in Nash and Edgecombe counties, providing customers with electricity, natural gas, water, wastewater (sewer), refuse, recycling and/or stormwater services. To learn more, visit www.rockymountnc.gov for news and updates.