Las Vegas Leaders Led by Paul Murad Announce Alliance With World's First Smart City

Partnership Aims to Create Green Jobs in Nevada

LAS VEGAS, May 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Las Vegas businessman Paul Murad is leading a group of Las Vegas community leaders in the launch of a Sister City alliance with global urban technology specialist Living PlanIT and the Municipality of Paredes in Portugal.  Paredes will be the site of PlanIT Valley, designed to be the first of a new generation of intelligent cities.

The Las Vegas-Paredes Sister City Alliance will focus on business by developing commerce between the two cities.  Living PlanIT will export its intelligent urban technologies from Paredes to Las Vegas.  New jobs will be created as the process of knowledge and technology transfer develops.  

Las Vegas is the first city in the U.S. to create such a partnership with Living PlanIT, and may pave the way for other U.S. and global cities to engage in similar alliances. The private sector drove this initiative but will also engage with local and state governments.

The move has been applauded by both, Portuguese political leaders and key Living PlanIT business partners. Celso Ferreira, Municipality President of Paredes, said, "PlanIT Valley will be a living laboratory where global businesses will come together to develop technologies that will revolutionize energy consumption and lifestyles around the world."

Living PlanIT CEO Steve Lewis added, "Our business is all about building partnerships that contribute to the new wave of intelligent cities, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to work with this far-sighted group in Las Vegas to establish permanent and productive links with our urban scale laboratory in Paredes."

Paul Murad is also a candidate for Nevada Lieutenant Governor.  He has been involved with Sister City partnerships since the early 1990's.  He serves on the Nevada Advisory Committee of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition and is also a member of the Las Vegas World Affairs Council (www.PaulForNevada.com).

When asked why he became interested in Paredes as a Sister City, Murad said, "Nevada is poised to become a leader in renewable energy generation and green technology development.  This three-way agreement between Las Vegas, Paredes, and Living PlanIT will help diversify our economy and create jobs as well as build international trade and understanding.  Now is the perfect time for us to start this Sister City partnership."

According to the group, Las Vegas has been looking for ways to focus on green and sustainable energy initiatives, attract businesses that feature new technology, and enhance the credibility of Las Vegas as a global hub for commerce.

About Living PlanIT (http:www.living-planit.com)

Living PlanIT S.A. is a technology company focussed on developing innovative and sustainable urban-scale environments.  The company brings together people, industry and educational institutions to create innovation cities where emerging technologies are developed, perfected and experienced.

SOURCE Nevadans for Paul Murad